Silver Peak, Nevada - 1981
In 1981 Vern explored the Conder Cone (Caldera) left by a Volcano eruption 1500 years ago.
See path of Vern's quest at the SATELLITE VIEW.
Two views of the single igneous rock Vern brought home. It now decorates his front lawn.
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IGNEOUS
ROCK geologists find is a magma which is usually a mush. — a
liquid carrying a load of mineral
crystals. Because
they solidified
from a fluid state, igneous rocks tend to have an equigranular
texture, a
uniform fabric without layers, and the mineral grains are packed
together tightly. Think of the texture of a piece of bread as a similar
example.
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View of cone on road leading to Silver Peak
View of cone from south
| Looking
north across a lithium brine pond, in which the cinder cone is
reflected. Clayton Valley is the site of the largest lithium mine in
the United States of America. It is an unusual mine in that the lithium
occurs in underground water in sediments that fill the valley. The
lithium-rich water is pumped to the surface and partially evaporated,
past the saturation point for halite (NaCl), the salt that coats the
rocks in the foreground of this picture. The lithium-rich brine is then
processed to produce useful products for batteries, medicines, and
other uses. Contributed by J.G. Price and E.M. Price |
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