Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Crystal Geyser


Near Green River, Utah, there is a little place called Crystal Geyser. It is partially man made, partially reclaimed by nature. 

 Confused yet?

 So here's how it happened.

 Utah has a lot of natural resources. While drilling a pipe into the ground, the folks looking for some in this area came across a small problem. Actually, a big problem. You see, the pipe that was supposed to draw up oil or natural gases started spraying freezing cold water and sulfur-smelling fumes in their faces. After jumping back, they hopped in their car and left.

 Alright, I'm sure it wasn't actually that simple of a decision to leave. After all, they were expecting a money maker and got water to the face. And its cold. Then again, maybe it was that simple.

 So instead of a pipe here, nature started to take its course. But not like it does in the beautiful pine forests that I'm used to where there is a natural succession of species that slowly take over based on how fast they grow and their resilience against shade. Instead, the geyser, which can spew about thirty feet into the air, sends mineral-laden water from below down the rocks and into this section of Green River.

 So now, instead of a mining site, this area has become a favorite family picnic spot. It's like a beach, but without sand. And with a very fast river that you probably shouldn't swim in because of the current, and instead of sand there is mud that you should be careful not to get stuck in. But wading is fun, and when the geyser starts to bubble it sends waterfalls cascading down the now-colorful rocks. There is also a layer of salt deposit, evaporates, that I got to teach the two younger girls with us how to test to see what it is: TASTE IT!!


I then proceeded to turn to the mom and apologize for teaching them to lick rocks, in case she was a grossed out. She laughed; apparently her kids were among those that grew up playing outside and had probably eaten worse than natural salt.

 Good, they learn better that way :)

 I also taught one of the girls who was very interested in minerals how to use my hand lens. Her face went from confused to amazed when she finally figured out how to focus it.

Off the clock but still doing my job as part-educator. Whoops. Couldn't resist.

 Thanks again to my home-away-from-church-home adopted family for the summer for taking me with them!!

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My Story (Very briefly...)

Lots of people claim that they wanted to be paleontologists at the age of 3. So did I. The problem is, I never really grew out of it. My third birthday party had dinosaurs. Everywhere. I grew up digging in fossil dirt from Aurora, NC, looking for coral and shark teeth. I practically lived at my local science museums (and still do, only now I get to do research, fossil preparation, and work in collections!) When local paleontologists discovered a dinosaur with a "fossilized heart" (no longer considered such) when I was little, I got to meet the man who led the work. And then, years later a dinosaur bone with soft tissue turned up. I was officially hooked.
No longer was I dreaming about dinosaurs. I was actively pursuing the science behind prehistoric creatures. I didn't want to read about it, I wanted in on the action. So I started working at the museum, and finally going on my own adventures. And thus, I needed a place to share them and maybe inspire others the way I was inspired. I have gone from watching fossils be prepared from one side of the glass at the museum to working on them on the inside of the glass. I am a student working toward my goal. I can finally start to call myself a paleontologist.