Tafoni

As Tafone (plural Tafoni, from the Corsican, see pietra tafunata " holed stone " ) is a form of weathering in medium-to coarse-grained rocks is called, remember their " crumbling caves " structures located on honeycomb. When Tafonierung formed by chemical weathering from the inside out ( " core weathering" ) spherical to kidney-shaped cavities with a diameter of a few centimeters to half a meter and more. Sometimes weathering rinds are preserved and form overhangs.

Occurrence

Tafoni world there are several types of rock - especially sandstone, greywacke, granite, granodiorite and gneiss, but also limestone, lava and tuff - and in different climates, but mainly in coastal areas of temperate climates and in cold or hot dry desert areas.

In Europe Tafoni are found mainly in the Mediterranean region, including in Elba, Ischia, Sardinia ( Capo Testa ), Corsica ( in Restonica Valley and around the Bavella pass ) as well as in Sicily. The excavations of the Corsican Tafoni ( inter alia, in the Calanche of Piana) are usually spherical or ellipsoidal. Outside the Mediterranean in Europe there are more occurrences of this weathering form so. Approximately at the Extern Stones in the Teutoburg Forest, in the southern Palatinate or rock in Luxembourg

Formation

Tafoni among the geomorphological dwarf forms in NanoRelief ( extension: 10 cm, area: 100 cm ²). Their exact mode of origin is controversial, but is probably related to mountain humidity differences in the rock: evaporated seepage water in the rock and continues its cargo from solution on the surface; gradually the stone disintegrates from the inside and make it to the small, round cavities. Mechanisms of salt weathering can also contribute to Tafoni - emergence.

Similarities to merely reticulated " stone lattice " or " honeycomb weathering".

Use

Towards the end of the Neolithic occurred in Corsica on the culture of Tafoni Tombs. They were sealed burial sites in the smallest natural caves that have been discovered so far in three places on the island in Sartenais and Porto -Vecchio. Grave goods were clay pots with feet and ornate handles.

Oriu ( plural Orii ) are buildings that were built in Corsica under a Abri or in Tafonis.

Climbers offer the Tafoni an exceptionally catchy rock formation which is, however, quite fragile and thus requires a lot of experience and caution.