The Backyard Science group regularly publishes The Daily Bucket, which features observations of the world around us. Insects, weather, meteorites, climate, birds, flowers and anything natural or unusual are worthy additions to the Bucket and its comments. Please let us know what is going on around you in a comment. Include, as close as is comfortable for you, where you are located. Each note is a record that we can refer to as we try to understand the patterns that are unwinding around us.
Please continue below the aerial view of the orange caldera for a Hemingway-like account of powerful natural forces and the resulting breathtaking beauty.
It was 1.7 million years ago. We called it the Middle Proterozoic. No one watched the volcano erupt and the river flood at the same time. Those forces slammed into what would be Montana's Belt Supergroup. We called it the Prichard Formation. Prichard Creek was just over the next ridge.
The water and fire split the sedimentary cliffs along its bands. That revealed its argillite. We called those bands of blue and grey indurated mud. What caught my eye was the oxides of iron that stained its sandstone surface.
One slab fell heavily. It bridged the surging river beneath. The Gods could not have placed it better.
I used this iron-stained slab of sedimentary rock to bridge my little creek in the Frog Mitigation Area. It took powerful forces, the danged thing weighted 80 lbs.
"Spotlight on Green News & Views" will be posted every Saturday at 1pm and Wednesday at 3:30 pm Pacific Time on the Daily Kos front page. Be sure to recommend and comment in the diary.
Now It's Your Turn What's interesting to you? Please post your own observations and your general location in the comments.
Thank you for reading. I'll work this morning so I'll respond to comments before lunchtime, PDT.