A new and fascinating geologic mystery is under review at The Carver Agate Field,-in Alpine, Texas.
In 2019, while excavating a large caliche pit on his property, John L. Carver, exposed an unexpected smaller pocket. The space, measuring approximately 30 x 50 feet, contained more than a thousand agate nodules. The site, named “deep pit” by Carver, is on property not incredibly far from the Paisano volcano (peak and caldera). The larger pit area is sufficiently lower than the surrounding area and serves as a frequent repository of incoming debris.
Many of the nodules are geodes (hollow inside) and, when exposed, were surrounded by an ashy greenish/ white material, believed to be volcanic tuff. There is no sorting of material by size or layering typical of water deposited material. Among the geodes discovered, several contain gorgeous amethyst, smoky quartz, and citrine crystal filled cavities. Others contain beautiful calcite crystalline specimens mixed in with the smoky quartz crystalline geode interiors. Additionally, there are nodules with stunning deep blue banded agate, including a few with extremely fine blue banding and very petite sparkling crystal centers. Interestingly, the “deep pit” nodules lack the color and sagenitic variability that has been the hallmark of agates from The Carver agate field.
During his study of the north wall of the pit, Bill notes a clear indication of multiple lava flows. These materials consisted of fine-grained ash/mud debris containing little or no larger objects. Some of these finer materials seemed to consist mostly of carbonates from eroding limestone. One instance of mudflow carried very large pieces of rhyolite. The Paisano volcano reportedly produced a shield-like area of lava with the volume of approximately 150 cubic kilometers, which, as Bill explained, is a gigantic volume.
UNCOMMON NODULES
This story is from the October 2020 edition of Rock&Gem Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 2020 edition of Rock&Gem Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORGAN HILL POPPY JASPER
In California, there are very few places to collect semi-precious stones. Many locations from the past have been either exhausted of the material or the land has been developed.
THE ACORN
The briolette gemstone has the same design attributes of a regular gemstone, however, the pavilion is elongated and the crown is usually domed. This is perfect for an elegant pendant, earrings or a pendulum.
HOW TO PUT A PROTECTIVE CAP ON A CAB
To protect a specimen cab, often a cap is needed. In my case, I had a slab with the because of the color of the background and the pattern. This background had a more silicified consistency than most sandstones. It had no graininess like most sandstone, so I'm inclined to compare it to a jasper. The pattern was typical of a dendrite.
The Resilient Revival of Anne Brontë & Her Stones
For the first time, the Anne Brontë rock collection underwent complete description and identification, and along with Professor Hazel Hutchison of Leeds University and Dr. Enrique Lozano Diz at ELODIZ (a company specializing in spectroscopy analysis), an analysis of that collaboration, Anne Brontë and Geology: A Study of her Collection of Stones, was published in April 2022 in Volume 47, Issue 2 of the peer-reviewed journal, Brontë Studies & Gazette.\"
Amazing Women with Rock-Solid Careers
Explorers, Geologists, Educators & Jewelry Makers...
The Case of the Bleeding Glacier
It's a gory sight called Blood Falls. Ever since British geologist Thomas Griffith Taylor first noted it in 1911, it has been a mystery.
Asteroid Samples Are Said to Hold Invaluable Secrets
If Only Scientists Can Pop the Lid!
Paleontologists Embrace a New Method for Seeing Fossils within Rock
Fossil bone can be delicate. Attempts to remove it from a hard rock matrix by picking and scratching or etching with acids can be time-consuming and/or may end up obliterating that which you hope to study.
Need a Map of the Ocean Floor?
Call in the Seals!
A Step Closer to Hydrogen, the "Climate-Friendly Fuel"
As I reported last June, the world is racing to find sustainably renewable, nonpolluting sources of energy to replace our carbon-based reserves of coal, oil and gas.