Tufa
Tufa is a sedimentary rock made out of calcium carbonate. It typically forms when bodies of water with a lot of calcium evaporate.
The role of Tufa in California’s Vineayards
Many tufa deposits are along the shores of vanished lakes and near natural springs with high calcium content.
Tufa has a rough texture and often forms into strange looking rocks. It has a high pH and is very porous. Lakes with a lot of lime will leave tufa along the shoreline. As water evaporates, calcites crystallize, forming tufa.
Most tufa is red or yellow in color and contains some iron oxides. This gives it its rusty color. The rock has been used in construction throughout history.
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