Last night we stayed in Butte, MT. We could see Our Lady of the Hills from our hotel and the site of one of the worse mining disasters in US history. This morning we had a beautiful drive to Spencer Idaho to hunt for opal. Leighton and Perry worked the rock pile all day looking for opal. I hunted a short while and then found my opal in their store. We drove on to Pocatello and on the way the green hills turned into strange dark rock. We stopped and found out it was a lava field. There was a hiking area through the field that was wonderful. Apparently Idaho and Hawaii both share Pahoehoe which is lava field stone. Tomorrow we will meet Perry in Kemmerer to hunt for fossil fish. Looking forward to finding fossils tomorrow.
This is where Donna hunted (shopped) for opals and she found some real treasures. However I didn’t find enough to cover what she “found” but we did have fun.
Perry and I had to work the rock pile looking through many, many rocks to find our measly few that showed any fire.
Driving down I15 we kept seeing what looked like broken up asphalt. Finally we saw a sign that said Geological Information ahead so we pulled in and discovered Devils Half Acre, an ancient lava flow site. There was a nice trail through it with information markers along the way explaining what you were seeing and how the area evolved into what it now is.
During the first stage of decomposition of the rock, lichens (part fungus, part algae) produce water and salts that break the rock into particles. Over generations of time other plant life takes hold and grows.
TRHis is an example of what we were seeing along the Interstate.
Exposed lava that is just getting started breaking down.
A twisted tree growing out of a crevice.
We saw this black semi hard moss like material growing on some of the rocks. At this point we don’t know what it is but if anyone following this blog knows, please let us know.
A mixed view of some of the lava that has been covered with soil and some only weathered.
An informational sign at the entrance to the Devils Half Acre providing some info on how this area was formed and is being changed into the surrounding landscape.
finally retired! 