Geyserite (Travertine)

LL Demos & Labs: Rock Profile: Geyserite

This rock is very colorful and is full of swirls, bands, and twists. It comes from an area in central Utah near the Green River. Geyserite is formed when mineral-rich water boils from the ground, erupting into the air. Once the water is outside the ground, it immediately begins to cool and evaporate, depositing a thin layer of minerals near the geyser. This happens several times a day and, over time, these thin mineral layers add up to large layers of rock.