little circular holes in which water collects in a rock
English translation: pits, pitting, solution pit, kamenitza
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18:56 Mar 28, 2008
English to English translations [PRO] Science - Geology
English term or phrase:little circular holes in which water collects in a rock
See this photo of a rock with little circular holes in which water collects. What are these holes called? Not grooves please, becuase I have that word as a translation for another item:-)
Explanation: "...small-scale solution represented by solution pits of several millimetres to a centimetre in diameter and up to several millimetres deep. Some of these pits show rounded, smooth edges, whereas others have irregular and sharp edges
These solution pits are termed "kamenitzas" and in modern environments generally range from millimetres to several decimetres or even metres in diameter, and from millimetres to tens of centimetres in depth.
Their formation is attributed to water collecting in tiny, previously existing hollows (due to slight irregularities of the surface), and enlargement of these hollows by solution."
They are round to oval with flat bottoms and commonly have steep sides: the edges may be sharp because of solution by free-flowing water (Sweeting, 1973). They are known
from all climatic regions.
The size of these features depends on a number of factors such as vegetation cover, slope of the surface, climate, different chemical reactions, lithology and texture of the rock, and the availability of water. http://strata.geol.sc.edu/PDF-Files/IchnoGlossofungites/SilD...
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"Rock-holes, another unusual feature of the Bynguano Ranges, were created by swirling torrents of water gouging out circular holes like wells into the rock surfaces."
Explanation: I certainly wouldn't call them potholes - that brings to mind huge deep holes that people go exploring in (broken road surfaces obviously being out of context here). I'd suggest depressions. But I'm not a geologist, hence the CR 3.
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From wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pothole:
Pothole (northern Britain) is also a term for a deep cave[1]; from this sense, the derivation potholing is a synonym for caving and a potholer is a caver.
from answers.com: http://www.answers.com/pothole&r=67:
2. A *deep* (my emphasis) round hole worn in rock by loose stones whirling in strong rapids or waterfalls.