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- 💎 Jasper paints quite a sunset
💎 Jasper paints quite a sunset
You haven't seen anything like this...
Hello rockhound,
Another week has past and a lot of us have been busy outside. We’ve got a lot of incredible photos and info to share this week so let’s get to it!
This week we cover
Some absolutely incredible tourmaline
A rainbow geyser
Chatgpt’s rock diet
Jasper that looks like a sunset
Much more!
Happy rockhounding!
Keith
A little sparkle to start
Tourmaline
Not one, not two, but three beautiful colors mixed together make up this tri-color Tourmaline from Paprok, Afghanistan. The vibrant colors of the tourmaline are caused by varying trace elements like iron and titanium.
Brazil and Pakistan are the primary sources of this fascinating multicolored mineral. These vibrant gems are primarily found in the rugged mountains of the Nuristan region.
Afghan tourmaline is highly prized for its clarity and unique color zoning, where different hues blend seamlessly within a single crystal. The challenging terrain and political climate make mining tourmaline in Afghanistan an adventure the few are up for!
A Quick Recommendation
When I’m tired from a long day of rockhounding I often enjoy relaxing with a little fishing. I’m not particularly good but I try!
What improvements I’ve made are mostly from things I’ve read or seen online. Early Bird Fishing (see the button below), has been pretty helpful in that regard.
They give solid tips once a week in a short email. Check it out if you’re looking to catch more and bigger fish!
Other people won’t understand….
I don’t know of AI is all that bright yet….
Find of the week
Chicken Track Picture Jasper
Check out this incredible find from a fellow rockhound in Oregon that looks like a mountain sunset! This is Chicken Track Picture Jasper.
Chicken Track Picture Jasper is a captivating variety of jasper known for its unique and intricate patterns that resemble ancient chicken tracks. Found in the Owyhee Mountains, this jasper is a favorite among rockhounds for its distinctive appearance and earthy tones, typically featuring a blend of browns, reds, and creams.
The "chicken tracks" are dendritic inclusions, created by manganese or iron oxide, forming beautiful, tree-like structures within the stone.
This jasper is often polished into cabochons or slabs, revealing stunning scenes reminiscent of natural landscapes or abstract art. Its rarity and the effort required to extract it from the remote, rugged terrain of southeastern Oregon make it highly coveted.
Send me photos of your rocks and minerals!
I want to see what you’re finding and adding to your collection! Send me photos of the rocks and minerals that you’re discovering in your rockhounding journey or bought and added to your collection so I can share it with the community.
Send your best photos and descriptions to [email protected] or just reply to this email!
Geology Highlights
Liddicoatite crystals photo provided by Weinrich Minerals
There are 15 different types of Tourmaline that we know of and all of them are incredible. We’re going to go through the different types and share some beautiful photos of each type.
Check it out!
Earth Enigmas
Each week we ask a fun trivia question here. We’ll share the answers and the community responses for everyone to read next week. Show off your rockhounding chops!
Here are the results for last week’s question of “What is the most abundant mineral in Earth's crust?”
Quartz is a good guess but the answer is Feldspar, Making up nearly 58% of rocks that are accessible to geologists. Feldspar is a group of silicate minerals that contain aluminum and silica (SiO2) in their chemistry.
It is usually a complex mixture of oxygen, silicon, aluminum, and trace elements like sodium, potassium, calcium, and barium.
Here is this weeks question!
What is the hardest natural substance on Earth? |
Geology highlights
Fly Geyser in Nevada is a unique and colorful geothermal feature located on private land in the Black Rock Desert. Unlike natural geysers, Fly Geyser was accidentally created in 1964 during well drilling for geothermal energy.
The well was improperly capped, allowing mineral-rich water to escape and create a stunning formation.
Over the years, the minerals in the water built up, forming terraces and cones of vibrant red, green, and yellow due to the presence of thermophilic algae and minerals like calcium carbonate. The geyser continuously sprays hot water, reaching heights of up to five feet.
Rockhounding
This is a great video from The Crystal Collector as he hunts for massive tourmaline in Colorado. If you’ve ever wanted to find some yourself this is both fun and helpful!
Geology Highlights
If you’re looking to plan a rockhounding trip there are some incredible destinations in the US you need to check out.
These are some of our favorites!
Shower thoughts
Test post shower thoughts about rockhounding and geology
Geology highlights
The Flysch formations on the coast of Zumaia, Spain, located on the Basque Coast, are a fascinating geological wonder. These formations are composed of alternating layers of hard limestone and softer claystone, created over millions of years.
The layers are tilted and exposed along the coast, forming dramatic, steep cliffs that extend for miles. They record about 100 million years of Earth's history, including significant events like mass extinctions. The distinct layers were formed by sediments deposited in ancient seas, later uplifted by tectonic activity.
Geology highlights
Blue Diamond photo provided by HenryDiamondJewelry
I’m a sucker for blue crystals. There is something about them that just make them sparkle a little bit brighter to me.
Here are 20 of the most beautiful blue crystals that I’ve seen.