Tufa formation in Tatar A.S.S.R

Tufa occurs widely in the Tatar A.S.S.R. and adjacent republics. It is associated with springs escaping from aquifers in deposits of Permian age. No tufa deposits were observed in the region where Jurassic and later deposits are developed. Tufa deposits occur because of a breakdown of calcium bicarbonate to CaCO₃, water and CO₂. The presence of organic matter and phosphorous inhibits this reaction, accounting in part for the lack of tufa deposition in the other regions. It appears also that tufa deposition is favored by 1) increase of water surface, hence increased evaporation and CaCO₃ concentration and 2) slopes where argillaceous material is present.—J.J. Finney