May 2014

Unique Rosette Spherocobaltite Crystals

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Spherocobaltite<br />
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Formula: CoCO3<br />
System: Trigonal<br />
Hardness: 3 - 4<br />
Member of: Calcite Group<br />
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From: Bou Azzer, Tazenakht, Ouarzazate, Souss-Massa-Draâ, Morocco<br />
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Unique Rosette Spherocobaltite Crystals

Spherocobaltite Formula: CoCO3 System: Trigonal Hardness: 3 - 4 Member of: Calcite Group From: Bou Azzer, Tazenakht, Ouarzazat...

Amazing Smithsonite Crystal

Minerals 1:31 PM

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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Smithsonite</b> is a gemstone quality zinc carbonate, sometimes referred to as "zinc spar".</span></div>
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</div>Smithsonite | ‪#‎Geology <br /> <br /> System: Trigonal<br /> Colour: White, grey, yellow, ...<br /> Lustre: Vitreous, Pearly<br /> Hardness: 4 - 4½ <br /> From Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Otjikoto, Namibia </div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Smithsonite is a variably colored trigonal mineral which only rarely is found in well formed crystals. The typical habit is as earthy botryoidal masses. It has a Mohs hardness of 4.5 and a specific gravity of 4.4 to 4.5.</div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Smithsonite occurs as a secondary mineral in the weathering or oxidation zone of zinc-bearing ore deposits. It sometimes occurs as replacement bodies in carbonate rocks and as such may constitute zinc ore. It commonly occurs in association with hemimorphite, willemite, hydrozincite, cerussite, malachite, azurite, aurichalcite and anglesite. It forms two limited solid solution series, with substitution of manganese leading to rhodochrosite, and with iron, leading to siderite.<br /> </div>

Amazing Smithsonite Crystal

Smithsonite is a gemstone quality zinc carbonate, sometimes referred to as "zinc spar". Smithsonite | ‪#‎Geology S...

'British scientists clone dinosaur'? They haven't, they won't, and they never will - here's why

dinosaur, Fossils 6:40 PM

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<span style="font-size: large;">'British scientists clone dinosaur'? They haven't, they won't, and they never will - here's why</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption">fake photo in fact it is for is a baby of  kangaroo</td></tr>
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An extraordinary story of the world’s first cloned dinosaur has got a lot of traction on Twitter and inspired alarmist comparisons to Jurassic Park. It is also, not unexpectedly, a complete fake. </div>
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The article claims that scientists at Liverpool’s John Moores University are currently incubating a baby Apotosaurus nicknamed "Spot" after retrieving the creature’s DNA from a fossil and injecting it into the womb of an ostrich.</div>
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"Those in the scientific community say the dinosaur cloning – the first ever of its kind – is a milestone for genetic engineering," reads the article posted on news-hound.org, a site that has previously fooled the internet with its story about a "Shipwrecked British woman saved by Google Earth".</div>
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The hoax even includes a picture of the supposed baby dinosaur (it’s actually a very young baby kangaroo) as well as fabricated quotations from scientists at the University, one of which just happens to share the same name as the survivor in the fake shipwreck story. From the article:</div>
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"I used to think this kind of thing could only happen in the movies," said Dr. Gemma Sheridan, a LJMU chemistry professor. "But we’re making it happen right here in our lab. It’s astounding."</div>
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Interestingly, there is actually a real Gemma Sheridan, but she is neither a shipwreck survivor nor a chemistry professor. Instead, she happens to just be a friend of the owners of the site, who apparently keep on using her name as a joke (for which she attracts a fair bit of attention on Twitter).</div>
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The story has certainly caused a stir on social media sites, with users sharing the story and commenting that "this is not going to end well". There are also the expected comparisons to Jurassic Park – best seen as a testament to the just-plausible-enough-sounding science at the heart of the story.</div>
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In the film, scientists clone dinosaurs by extracting dinosaur blood (and DNA) from mosquitoes fossilised in amber. Unfortunately, this method of bringing back to life ancient ‘ thunder lizards’ was thoroughly debunked in September last year, when a group of scientist put "the final nail in the Jurassic Park coffin".</div>
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The researchers from Manchester University attempted to extract DNA from insects preserved in copal (an intermediate stage between tree resin and amber) that ranged in age from 60 to 10,600 years old. Using the most advanced extraction methods available (which have previously been successful in retrieving DNA from other types of preserved life forms) they were completely unable to reclaim any DNA – ancient or otherwise.</div>
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This is simply because DNA molecules just aren’t that tough. They have a half-life of only about 521 years and various environmental conditions – including temperature, microbes, and oxygenation – will only speed up the process of degradation. And although the oldest authentic DNA sequence is thought to be about half a million years old, this is still 65 million years too young to have anything to do with dinosaurs.</div>
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For fans of Jurassic Park, this is probably mixed news - dinosaurs going on a rampage on a remote island certainly sounds pretty terrifying but it would also be a sci-fi dream come true. If you're still determined to get some face time with a Velociraptor then forget about the DNA and try building a time machine instead.</div>
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source: <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/british-scientist-clone-dinosaur-they-havent-they-wont-and-they-never-will--heres-why-9225781.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a></div>
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'British scientists clone dinosaur'? They haven't, they won't, and they never will - here's why

'British scientists clone dinosaur'? They haven't, they won't, and they never will - here's why fake photo in fact...

Amazing Mimetite Crystals

Minerals 9:23 PM

Amazing Mimetite Crystals

Mimetite Formula: Pb5(AsO4)3Cl System: Hexagonal Colour: Pale-yellow, ... Lustre: Sub-Adamantine, Resinous Hardness: 3½ - 4 From...

Excellent Erythrite

Minerals 8:55 PM

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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--0rVGEPYgYc/WBx-mKE0BcI/AAAAAAAAKDg/HnaN9dPgEEcnTRXHvlI0N1u-GEGh1HzcACLcB/s1600/t_erythrite__bou_azzer_morocco_987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--0rVGEPYgYc/WBx-mKE0BcI/AAAAAAAAKDg/HnaN9dPgEEcnTRXHvlI0N1u-GEGh1HzcACLcB/s640/t_erythrite__bou_azzer_morocco_987.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Erythrite | ‪#‎Geology <br /><br />Formula: Co3(AsO4)2·8H2O <br />System: Monoclinic <br />Colour: Crimson to peach red, ... <br />Hardness: 1½ - 2½ <br />Member of: Vivianite Group <br />Name: Named in 1832 by Francois Sulpice Beaudant From the Greek έρυθρος for red. <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">From: Bou Azzer, Tazenakht, Ouarzazate, Souss-Massa-Draâ, Morocco</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>

Excellent Erythrite

Erythrite | ‪#‎Geology Formula: Co3(AsO4)2·8H2O System: Monoclinic Colour: Crimson to peach red, ... Hardness: 1½ - 2½ Member of: Viviani...

Stunning Cacoxenite Crystals From Spain

Minerals 7:45 PM

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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">From: La Paloma Mine, Zarza la Mayor, Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cacoxenite</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Formula: </span></span>Fe<sup>3+</sup><sub>24</sub>Al(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>17</sub>O<sub>6</sub>(OH)<sub>12</sub>·17(H<sub>2</sub>O)</span></span><br />
System: Hexagonal<br />
Colour: Yellow to brownish ...<br />
Hardness: 3 - 4<br />
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It was first described in 1825 for an occurrence in the Hrbek Mine, Bohemia, Czech Republic. It occurs as a secondary phase in oxidized magnetite and limonite deposits. It also occurs in novaculites and in iron and phosphorus rich sediments.<br />
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Stunning Cacoxenite Crystals From Spain

From: La Paloma Mine, Zarza la Mayor, Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain Cacoxenite Formula: Fe 3+ 24 Al(PO 4 ) 17 O 6 (OH) 12 ·17(H 2 O) ...

Perfect Cuprite

Minerals 8:12 PM

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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Cuprite </span></b><br /><br />Formula: <span> Cu₂O </span><br />System: Isometric<br />Colour: Dark red to cochineal<br />Lustre: Adamantine, Sub-Metallic, Earthy</div>
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Hardness: 3½ - 4 </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span>Its dark crystals with red internal reflections are in the 
isometric system hexoctahedral class, appearing as cubic, octahedral, or
 dodecahedral forms, or in combinations. Penetration twins frequently 
occur.</span><span><span> </span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">From Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Namibia </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></b></div>
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Perfect Cuprite

Cuprite Formula: Cu₂O System: Isometric Colour: Dark red to cochineal Lustre: Adamantine, Sub-Metallic, Earthy Hardness: 3½ - 4 ...

The Formation of Foliated Metamorphic Rock

Metamorphic, Rocks 8:14 PM

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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slate --- Phyllite ---------- Schist ----- Gneiss --- Migmatite</td></tr>
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<b>Regional metamorphism</b> covers large areas of continental crust typically associated with mountain ranges, particularly those associated with convergent tectonic plates or the roots of previously eroded mountains.<br />
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Conditions producing widespread regionally metamorphosed rocks occur during an orogenic event. The collision of two continental plates or island arcs with continental plates produce the extreme compressional forces required for the metamorphic changes typical of regional metamorphism.<br />
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These <b>orogenic </b>mountains are later eroded, exposing the intensely deformed rocks typical of their cores. The conditions within the subducting slab as it plunges toward the mantle in a subduction zone also produce regional metamorphic effects, characterised by paired metamorphic belts.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Environments of metamorphism in the context of plate tectonics: (a) regional metamorphism related to mountain building at a continent-continent convergent boundary, (b) regional metamorphism of oceanic crust in the area on either side of a spreading ridge, (c) regional metamorphism of oceanic crustal rocks within a subduction zone, (d) contact metamorphism adjacent to a magma body at a high level in the crust, and (e) regional metamorphism related to mountain building at a convergent boundary</td></tr>
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The techniques of structural geology are used to unravel the collisional history and determine the forces involved. Regional metamorphism can be described and classified into metamorphic facies or metamorphic zones of temperature/pressure conditions throughout the orogenic terrane.<br />
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If the parent rock (see Figure , above) was composed of several mineral types and the agents of metamorphism included directed and/or shear stress, a planar fabric called foliation will usually be present in the resulting metamorphic rocks. <br />
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Foliation may be expressed as (1) alternating layers of differing mineral composition or (2) parallel alignments of platy minerals. Foliation is usually developed during metamorphism by directed stresses; either in the compressional mode (perpendicular) or as <b>shear </b>(parallel).<br />
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In order to understand the development of metamorphic <b>foliation</b>, let's consider what would happen to a shale undergoing increasing temperature and pressure in a convergent plate boundary, for example. Recall that shale is a sedimentary rock , which consists mainly of clays. These clays have formed from the chemical weathering of many of our rock-forming minerals that we have examined in the igneous rocks. The clays are deposited as flat layers of microscopic clay flakes.<br />
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As metamorphism begins, the clay particles or flakes are slowly heated and "squished" by the increasing pressure. Generally the pressure imposed on the clay minerals is stronger in two directions than in others, and a compressional force begins to affect the minerals. Lower pressures cause only a slight change in the clay flakes in that they are compressed very close together and become much more densely packed.<br />
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Some of the clay flakes may begin to <b>recrystallize </b>into very small crystals of mica minerals. Any water remaining in the clay is driven off. During this process, a more dense platy metamorphic rock called slate will form. This rock very closely resembles shale; the difference can be determined by the fact that slate will "clink" like fine china when it is dropped, and only the shale will smell "muddy" when it is wet. Because the clays have begun to recrystallize into micas in slate, this rock has a microcrystalline texture.<br />
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As the process of metamorphism continues, additional pressure and temperature will cause the minerals to continue to recrystallize and become larger. The next stage in this transition will be the formation of a <b>phyllite,</b> which has slightly larger (but still microscopic) mica crystals than the <b>slate</b>. Because of the slightly larger crystals, the microcrystalline phyllite will display a characteristic "sheen" that resembles the shine of satin.<br />
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Continuing to increase the temperatures and pressures will allow the minerals to recrystallize into still-larger crystals. At this stage, the mica crystals will become <b>visible </b>on the surface of the rock (as may other minerals), and the rock will be called a <b>schist </b>and have what we describe as a crystalline texture.<br />
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Finally, temperatures and pressures may increase to the point that the mica crystals can recrystallize into higher temperature and pressure minerals such as feldspars and amphiboles. These minerals will occur as alternating layers of black and white visible crystals. This type of rock may also form from the metamorphic alteration of a felsic igneous rock. In either case, the rock is called a <b>gneiss </b>(pronounced "nice") and it displays a crystalline texture.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Read also:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.geologyin.com/2014/11/hydrothermal-metamorphism.html" target="_blank">Hydrothermal Metamorphism</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.geologyin.com/2014/07/classification-of-metamorphic-rocks.html" target="_blank">Classification of Metamorphic Rocks</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.geologyin.com/2014/03/contact-metamorphism.html" target="_blank">Contact Metamorphism</a></span></div>

The Formation of Foliated Metamorphic Rock

Slate --- Phyllite ---------- Schist ----- Gneiss --- Migmatite Regional metamorphism covers large areas of continental crust typi...

Beautiful Azurite Crystal

Minerals 6:42 PM

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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Azurite |‪#<span lang="AR-SA">‎</span>Geology</span></span></div>
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Formula: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2<br />System: Monoclinic<br />Colour: Azure blue, blue, light ...<br />Lustre:Vitreous<br />Hardness:3½ - 4<br /><br />A secondary copper mineral frequently found in the oxidized zones of Cu-bearing ore deposits.<br /><br />From Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Otjikoto, Namibia<br /></div>

Beautiful Azurite Crystal

Azurite |‪# ‎ Geology Formula: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 System: Monoclinic Colour: Azure blue, blue, light ... Lustre:Vitreous Hardne...

Petrified Forest National Park

Fossils 9:14 PM

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<b>Petrified Forest</b> is known for its fossils, especially fallen trees that lived in the Late Triassic, about 225 million years ago. The sediments containing the fossil logs are part of the widespread and colorful Chinle Formation, from which the Painted Desert gets its name. Beginning about 60 million years ago, the Colorado Plateau, of which the park is part, was pushed upward by tectonic forces and exposed to increased erosion. All of the park's rock layers above the Chinle, except geologically recent ones found in parts of the park, have been removed by wind and water. In addition to petrified logs, fossils found in the park have included Late Triassic ferns, cycads, ginkgoes, and many other plants as well as fauna including giant reptiles called phytosaurs, large amphibians, and early dinosaurs. Paleontologists have been unearthing and studying the park's fossils since the early 20th century.</div>
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Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest is known for its fossils, especially fallen trees that lived in the Late Triassic, about 225 million years ago. The ...

Vanadinite

Minerals 6:39 PM

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<b>Vanadinite</b> is a mineral belonging to the apatite group of phosphates, with the chemical formula Pb5(VO4)3Cl. It is one of the main industrial ores of the metal vanadium and a minor source of lead. A dense, brittle mineral, it is usually found in the form of red hexagonal crystals. It is an uncommon mineral, formed by the oxidation of lead ore deposits such as galena. First discovered in 1801 in Mexico, vanadinite deposits have since been unearthed in South America, Europe, Africa, and in other parts of North America.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TJpjpeacqVw/U39qddzqdQI/AAAAAAAAA4s/FItUt8BK7Tk/s1600/Mibladene_Vanadinite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="434" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TJpjpeacqVw/U39qddzqdQI/AAAAAAAAA4s/FItUt8BK7Tk/s1600/Mibladene_Vanadinite.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morocco ,Size: 9x6x5.8 cm.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deep red vanadinite crystals on baryte, from Mibladene, Midelt, Khénifra Province, Meknès-Tafilalet, Morocco (size: 92 mm x 62 mm; largest crystal size: 12 mm; weight: 236 g)</td></tr>
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Vanadinite

Vanadinite is a mineral belonging to the apatite group of phosphates, with the chemical formula Pb5(VO4)3Cl. It is one of the main indust...

Corkite

Minerals 3:15 PM

Corkite

Corkite from Schöne Aussicht Mine, Dernbach, Odenwald, Germany

The Fire Mountain Yanar Dag

tourism 10:31 PM

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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">is a natural gas fire which blazes continuously on a hillside on the Absheron Peninsula on the Caspian Sea near Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, which itself is known as the "land of fire." Flames jet out into the air 3 metres (9.8 ft) from a thin, porous sandstone layer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Yanar Dag is also known by other names such as "pilpila", "bozdagh", "ahtarma" and "gaynarja." Unlike mud volcanoes, the Yanar Dag flame burns fairly steadily, as it is not a periodic eruption, but a steady seep of gas from the subsurface. It is also claimed that the Yanar Dag flame was only noted </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">when accidentally lit by a shepherd in the 1950s.</span><br />
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The Fire Mountain Yanar Dag

is a natural gas fire which blazes continuously on a hillside on the Absheron Peninsula on the Caspian Sea near Baku, the capital of A...

Perfect Isolueshite

Minerals 2:44 PM

Perfect Isolueshite

Isolueshite Formula: (Na,La,Ca)(Nb,Ti)O3 System: Isometric Lustre: Adamantine Hardness: 5½ From: Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblas...

Extraordinary Wulfenite Crystal

Minerals 12:39 PM

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<b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Wulfenite | ‪#‎Geology</span></i></b></div>
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Formula: Pb(MoO4)<br />
System: Tetragonal<br />
Colour: Orange-yellow, yellow, ...<br />
Lustre: Adamantine, Sub-Adamantine, Resinous<br />
Hardness: 2½ - 3<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">From: Albuñuelas, Granada, Spain </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Photo:  Christian Rewitzer</span></b></div>
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Extraordinary Wulfenite Crystal

Wulfenite | ‪#‎Geology Formula: Pb(MoO4) System: Tetragonal Colour: Orange-yellow, yellow, ... Lustre: Adamantine, Sub-Adamant...

Dioptase Crystals On Calcite

Minerals 9:46 PM

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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Dioptase | ‪#‎Geology </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Formula: CuSiO3 · H2O<br /> System: Trigonal<br /> Colour: Emerald Green, blue-green<br /> Lustre: Vitreous<br /> Hardness: 5<br /><br />Locality: Tantara Mine, Kakounde, Likasi, Shaba Congo D.R.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">by <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">usageology</span> on Flickr.</span></span></b></div>
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Dioptase Crystals On Calcite

Dioptase | ‪#‎Geology Formula: CuSiO3 · H2O System: Trigonal Colour: Emerald Green, blue-green Lustre: Vitreous Hardness: 5 Lo...

Amazing Rare Opalized Wood Boulder Opal

Fossils 7:49 PM

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One of a kind Opal Real Museum grade Opalized wood displaying beautiful clear concentric growth<br />
 rings</div>
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Bright Emerald Greens Aqua Blues Clear Concentric growth rings.<br />
Simply Stunning Investment Grade Opal<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bXw2itC6gfQ/U3zY1njeF8I/AAAAAAAAA2c/b6N-R4QwIlI/s1600/L55fUpX.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Amazing Rare Opalized Wood Boulder Opal." border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bXw2itC6gfQ/U3zY1njeF8I/AAAAAAAAA2c/b6N-R4QwIlI/s400/L55fUpX.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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Amazing Rare Opalized Wood Boulder Opal

One of a kind Opal Real Museum grade Opalized wood displaying beautiful clear concentric growth rings Bright Emerald Gree...

Giant dinosaur unearthed in Argentina

dinosaur, Fossils 7:56 PM

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<b>As heavy as 14 elephants, as long as 2 tractor trailers: Meet Mr. Titanosaur</b><br />
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They may be the biggest boys on any block -- any block, ever.</div>
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In fact, the dinosaurs unveiled Saturday by Argentina's Museo Paleontologico Egidio Feruglio may be the largest to grace the Earth. At about 130 feet (40 meters) long and 180,000 pounds (80,000 kilograms), it's no wonder, then, that these colossal creatures are dubbed titanosaurs -- titan being a nod to the giants of ancient Greek mythology.</div>
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"It's like two trucks with a trailer each, one in front of the other, and the weight of 14 elephants together," said Jose Luis Carballido, a dinosaur specialist at the Argentinian museum who played a big part in the discovery.</div>
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And, like your mother might have told you, these dinosaurs grew big and strong eating their vegetables.</div>
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These herbivores dated back to about 95 million years ago, in the late Mesozoic Era. In 2011, scientists exploring a remote swath of Argentina's Patagonia some 160 miles (260 kilometers) from the city of Trelew came across a site with 200 fossils -- a find that the museum characterized as "a dinosaur cemetery."</div>
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 Giant fossilized dinosaur discovered Scientists discover 'chicken from hell' Could this be the cousin of T-Rex?</div>
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According to a news release from the museum, these experts were able to piece together seven specimens of titanosaurs out of this. The belief is that they died together there, perhaps from dehydration or being stuck in the mud.</div>
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The discovery of more than 60 teeth from large carnivore dinosaurs (albeit no bones of carnivores) suggests what happened next: the titannosaur remains were eaten up.</div>
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"Probably, they went to (eat) the herbivores' dead bodies," said Carballido. "But the feast came at a price: The carnivores would lose many of their teeth as they attempted to bite the hard skin and flesh."</div>
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Giant dinosaur unearthed in Argentina

As heavy as 14 elephants, as long as 2 tractor trailers: Meet Mr. Titanosaur They may be the biggest boys on any block -- any b...

These Colorful Hills in Oregon Create A Real-Life Landscape Painting

places to visit, tourism 10:03 PM

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X-wm8htnDys/U3esk8G7n7I/AAAAAAAAA0Y/SkPIQdMiNrU/s1600/Grant_Collier_Painted_Hills_John_Day_Fossil_Beds_National_Monument_3_of_3__Oregon-690x459+(1).jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X-wm8htnDys/U3esk8G7n7I/AAAAAAAAA0Y/SkPIQdMiNrU/s1600/Grant_Collier_Painted_Hills_John_Day_Fossil_Beds_National_Monument_3_of_3__Oregon-690x459+(1).jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: inherit;"> You might be confused the first time you see these colorful hills. But calm down, you’re not stuck in a landscape painting – you’re just in Wheeler County, Oregon’s Painted Hills, a unit in John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The hills aren’t painted on purpose. It’s a product of nature that has been through various geological eras, formed 35 million years ago. This was just a river plain that gradually sculpted and airbrushed into layers of ash filling the place with splashes of colors, thanks to ancient eruptions. Now see each colored-layer composed by different minerals: lignite for black; mudstone, siltstone and shale for gray; and laterite soil for red and orange.</span></div></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HySLrJ5dmh4/U3esijeTKII/AAAAAAAAA0Q/IgOn8OHkHHE/s1600/5810502511_79556d0855_b-690x458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HySLrJ5dmh4/U3esijeTKII/AAAAAAAAA0Q/IgOn8OHkHHE/s1600/5810502511_79556d0855_b-690x458.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The hills beautifully shift from light colors to intense throughout the day, in different seasons, and in various sun angles. That’s why this is a favorite not only among travelers but among photographers and artists as well. A single visit isn’t enough for you to fully see this amazing masterpiece.</span></div><div style="width:100%;margin: 0px auto"><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script><br />
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