tufa Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a soft porous rock consisting of calcium carbonate deposited from springs rich in lime
    calc-tufa.
  2. noun hard volcanic rock composed of compacted volcanic ash
    tuff.

WordNet

Tu"fa
Etymology
It. fufo soft, sandy stone, L. tofus, tophus. Cf. Tofus, Toph, and Tophin.
Definitions
  1. (Min.) (a) A soft or porous stone formed by depositions from water, usually calcareous; -- called also calcareous tufa. (b) A friable volcanic rock or conglomerate, formed of consolidated cinders, or scoria.

Webster 1913