Mysterious Intruder

black mambablack mamba Registered Users Posts: 8,323 Major grins
in Other Cool Shots

Imagine this thing popping up in your backyard. It's in the Mammoth Springs area of Yellowstone. I tried to include something that would give a sense of scale but nothing was handy. I can tell you that it's huge....probably 25-30 feet tall and 50-60 feet long.

I always wanted to lie naked on a bearskin rug in front of a fireplace. Cracker Barrel didn't take kindly to it.

Comments

  • EiaEia Registered Users Posts: 3,627 Major grins

    the Blob? Interesting. The water on the bottom left gives a bit of scale.... What nature is this? Great capture

    ~AnnaMaria~ My little life in God's big universe
  • RichardRichard Administrators, Vanilla Admin Posts: 19,967 moderator

    I'd get out---fast. Cool shot. I'd also be interested in knowing what formed it. Volcanic? Mineral deposits from a geyser? Prehistoric aliens?

    My Pics
  • denisegoldbergdenisegoldberg Administrators Posts: 14,383 moderator

    @Richard said:
    I'd get out---fast. Cool shot. I'd also be interested in knowing what formed it. Volcanic? Mineral deposits from a geyser? Prehistoric aliens?

    Looks like it's formed from thermal water rising through limestone then depositing the material.
    https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/terraces.htm

    https://www.denisegoldberg.com ... https://denise.smugmug.com

    Musings & ramblings at https://denisegoldberg.blogspot.com
  • black mambablack mamba Registered Users Posts: 8,323 Major grins

    @Eia said:
    the Blob? Interesting. The water on the bottom left gives a bit of scale.... What nature is this? Great capture

    Thanks for the visit, Eia. The "Blob " works for me. When you talk of nature, I assume you're inquiring as to how this thing was created. I can't remember. I was in sensory overload about the time I saw it and I've forgotten some of the back stories to a lot of this stuff.

    I always wanted to lie naked on a bearskin rug in front of a fireplace. Cracker Barrel didn't take kindly to it.
  • black mambablack mamba Registered Users Posts: 8,323 Major grins

    @Richard said:
    I'd get out---fast. Cool shot. I'd also be interested in knowing what formed it. Volcanic? Mineral deposits from a geyser? Prehistoric aliens?

    Well, my wife swears that she can see a crouched animal within this thing's image. I'm not about to refute her perception so I'm calling this bad boy a left-behind pet, abandoned by the aliens you speak of.

    Stay safe, my friend,

    Tom

    I always wanted to lie naked on a bearskin rug in front of a fireplace. Cracker Barrel didn't take kindly to it.
  • black mambablack mamba Registered Users Posts: 8,323 Major grins

    @denisegoldberg said:

    @Richard said:
    I'd get out---fast. Cool shot. I'd also be interested in knowing what formed it. Volcanic? Mineral deposits from a geyser? Prehistoric aliens?

    Looks like it's formed from thermal water rising through limestone then depositing the material.
    https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/terraces.htm

    Great to hear from you, Denise. Your assessment seems logical to me. You can see smaller versions ( very much smaller ) in other areas where the bubbling water, and the sediment build-up, is well underway.

    Take care,

    Tom

    I always wanted to lie naked on a bearskin rug in front of a fireplace. Cracker Barrel didn't take kindly to it.
  • denisegoldbergdenisegoldberg Administrators Posts: 14,383 moderator

    @black mamba said:

    @denisegoldberg said:

    @Richard said:
    I'd get out---fast. Cool shot. I'd also be interested in knowing what formed it. Volcanic? Mineral deposits from a geyser? Prehistoric aliens?

    Looks like it's formed from thermal water rising through limestone then depositing the material.
    https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/terraces.htm

    Great to hear from you, Denise. Your assessment seems logical to me. You can see smaller versions ( very much smaller ) in other areas where the bubbling water, and the sediment build-up, is well underway.

    I'd love to see more of your photos from Mammoth Hot Springs if you have them. I was fascinated by this area when I visited a few years back - seeing your photo makes me realize I'd like to return.

    https://www.denisegoldberg.com ... https://denise.smugmug.com

    Musings & ramblings at https://denisegoldberg.blogspot.com
  • StumblebumStumblebum Registered Users Posts: 8,480 Major grins

    Really cool Tom!

  • willard3willard3 Registered Users Posts: 2,580 Major grins
    edited March 18, 2017

    Pretty cool.

    I would guess limestone with some iron in it, Tom

    It is better to die on you feet than to live on your knees.....Emiliano Zapata
  • roaddog52roaddog52 Registered Users Posts: 1,323 Major grins
    edited March 21, 2017

    Nice capture of the Orange cone @ the upper terrace.

    These structures were formed as water and snow melt and seep into the ground. As the water becomes heated some of the underlying limestone is dissolved and flows back to the surface, as the heated water escapes. Once the water starts to cool the limestone solidifies, creating these travertine terraces. (The simple explanation)

    Phil

    I don't know where I'm going, but I'm going anyway.

    Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity!
  • black mambablack mamba Registered Users Posts: 8,323 Major grins

    @Stumblebum said:
    Really cool Tom!

    Thanks, Taz. I hope you're doing well.

    I always wanted to lie naked on a bearskin rug in front of a fireplace. Cracker Barrel didn't take kindly to it.
  • black mambablack mamba Registered Users Posts: 8,323 Major grins

    @willard3 said:
    Pretty cool.

    I would guess limestone with some iron in it, Tom

    I appreciate the visit, willard. I think you're right about the makeup of this thing. It's quite startling when you first see it.

    I always wanted to lie naked on a bearskin rug in front of a fireplace. Cracker Barrel didn't take kindly to it.
  • black mambablack mamba Registered Users Posts: 8,323 Major grins

    @roaddog52 said:
    Nice capture of the Orange cone @ the upper terrace.

    These structures were formed as water and snow melt and seep into the ground. As the water becomes heated some of the underlying limestone is dissolved and flows back to the surface, as the heated water escapes. Once the water starts to cool the limestone solidifies, creating these travertine terraces. (The simple explanation)

    Phil

    Hey, Phil. The simple explanation is plenty for me. I wonder how long it took for this thing to reach its present proportions.

    I always wanted to lie naked on a bearskin rug in front of a fireplace. Cracker Barrel didn't take kindly to it.
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