Siletzia, A Gold Mine In Washington, The Yellowstone Caldera, and The Geology Of The Pacific Northwest... Amazing...
This is quite an interesting video that was posted in a comment by reader "ignore amos". Central Washington University geology professor Nick Zentner discusses
the accretion of an oceanic terrane, Siletzia, which set the stage for
gold deposition in Liberty, Washington. Siletzia was created by the
Yellowstone Hot Spot. Filmed at the Hal Holmes Center in downtown
Ellensburg, Washington. February 17, 2016.
I have always been found these things to be amazing. Just the thought of the time frame of 50 million years is mind boggling when you compare it to 70-80 years for the average human life span. We have only been here for the blink of an eye.
Take a drive through the Wind River Canyon south of Thermopolis, sometime. The rock formations in the canyon are marked and labeled, and there are pull-outs and places to park where you can look at them up close. They run from 200 million years old to 2.9 BILLION years old, Triassic to Precambrian. https://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=88141. The photos don't do the canyon justice, though. It really is a beautiful drive between Thermopolis and Riverton. These are a better, on some guy's blog: http://noospheregeologic.com/blog/tag/wind-river-canyon/. Scroll down for some good photos of the canyon.
BTW, Thermopolis has the world's largest mineral hot springs - both a free state park with a bath house and some commercial attractions (a water park, etc.),
There are two campgrounds _in_ the Wind River Canyon, IIRC, a public one for tents and small campers/trailers, and a large commercial RV campground that will take bigger trailer, fifth wheels, and motorhomes. Just south of the canyon, there is a huge public campground (Boysen State Park) on the Boysen reservoir that runs from there down toward Riverton. (There is also an RV campground in Thermopolis, if you prefer RVing instead of the motels in town, and want to stop in Thermopolis for the night.)
Oops. I never stated that this is in Wyoming. If you are going to Yellowstone but driving up from the south - say, after having visited Bryce, Zion, Arches, and other incredible parks in Utah (or heading to Utah from Yellowstone) - the Wind River Canyon is really a great drive.
Thanks for the video...This is in my neighborhood..Nick is well known around here.. I've just been messing around but I just spent the last hour(?) watching the vid. I have yet to find any gold myself...
Finally watched that and thanks for posting it.
ReplyDeleteMost interesting video I've watched in a while.
I have always been found these things to be amazing. Just the thought of the time frame of 50 million years is mind boggling when you compare it to 70-80 years for the average human life span. We have only been here for the blink of an eye.
DeleteTake a drive through the Wind River Canyon south of Thermopolis, sometime. The rock formations in the canyon are marked and labeled, and there are pull-outs and places to park where you can look at them up close. They run from 200 million years old to 2.9 BILLION years old, Triassic to Precambrian.
Deletehttps://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=88141. The photos don't do the canyon justice, though. It really is a beautiful drive between Thermopolis and Riverton. These are a better, on some guy's blog: http://noospheregeologic.com/blog/tag/wind-river-canyon/. Scroll down for some good photos of the canyon.
BTW, Thermopolis has the world's largest mineral hot springs - both a free state park with a bath house and some commercial attractions (a water park, etc.),
There are two campgrounds _in_ the Wind River Canyon, IIRC, a public one for tents and small campers/trailers, and a large commercial RV campground that will take bigger trailer, fifth wheels, and motorhomes. Just south of the canyon, there is a huge public campground (Boysen State Park) on the Boysen reservoir that runs from there down toward Riverton. (There is also an RV campground in Thermopolis, if you prefer RVing instead of the motels in town, and want to stop in Thermopolis for the night.)
Oops. I never stated that this is in Wyoming. If you are going to Yellowstone but driving up from the south - say, after having visited Bryce, Zion, Arches, and other incredible parks in Utah (or heading to Utah from Yellowstone) - the Wind River Canyon is really a great drive.
DeleteThanks for the video...This is in my neighborhood..Nick is well known around here..
ReplyDeleteI've just been messing around but I just spent the last hour(?) watching the vid.
I have yet to find any gold myself...