rocks
Blue Sky over Junipers
We’re expecting a major storm front in Northern California. I thought I’d post a recent photo from October to offset the cloudy stormy weather.
Fall on the Merced River
Being in California, I’m very fortunate that Yosemite is a few hours away. I usually don’t venture into the park during the holidays but I thought it would be fun to look for something interesting to shoot. It’s Fall now and there are the fallen leaves that line the shores of the Merced River for additional color. I liked how in the top of this photo it’s calm and in the foreground there is all this motion.
South Fork Tuolumne River
The South Fork of the Tuolumne river feeds the Rainbow Pools. I ventured upstream a bit to take some long exposures of the water flows.
Go Climb a Rock
Obviously, it’s taken a long time for this tree to grow over this rock but looking at it reminded me of an old tagline “Go Climb A Rock” when I was growing up.
When the Earth Moved
Hiking in the back country near the PCT, I found this cool formation. The Tahoe basin was formed about 24 million years ago and several areas show evidence of this rise & fall of the landscape due to faulting.
WHOA!
Got near the top of the hillside and looked back at the view. Whoa! Amazing view of Hope Valley below!
Trailblazing Pup
Going here and there in search of vermin, the trailblazing pup!
Granite Pegmatites
Walked across this ridge and it was loaded with quartz crystals. You can see the faint veins of white running through the granite. When I got back, I searched the web for “red granite with crystals” and this is what I learned.
What is Pegmatite?
Pegmatites are extreme igneous rocks that form during the final stage of a magma’s crystallization. They are extreme because they contain exceptionally large crystals and they sometimes contain minerals that are rarely found in other types of rocks.
To be called a “pegmatite,” a rock should be composed almost entirely of crystals that are at least one centimeter in diameter. The name “pegmatite” has nothing to do with the mineral composition of the rock.
Most pegmatites have a composition that is similar to granite with abundant quartz, feldspar and mica. These are sometimes called “granite pegmatites” to indicate their mineralogical composition.
Colors and Textures
Some people might find this photo of a rock, a tree and a mountain. What I see is the rusty hues in the boulder, hard and mottled with lichen. A tree with textured bark that reaches down into the roots. A peak in the distance with lofty white clouds of various shapes and size set in a blue sky. To me, lots of cool colors and textures.
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Snapshots by Kats 