Open Thread – Nice Ash!
Nothing draws my attention in a museum than a nice display of rocks and minerals – the raw materials of the planet that are sometimes naturally more spectacular and beautiful than anything humans can do with tools. So, while traipsing through the Juneau State Museum last week, I came upon a beautiful display of all kinds of rocks and minerals. You can imagine in a mining town, where the primary activity is digging holes in the earth, that they’ve come up with some real gems (pun intended).
But the thing that intrigued me the most was not from around Juneau – it was from Katmai National Monument from a place romantically named “The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes” which is a volcanic area full of fumeroles and all kinds of steaming and belching and geologic carryings-on. It’s located in Southwest Alaska as you head out the Aleutian chain, across the Shelikof Strait from the big emerald green island of Kodiak.
The test tube above shows all the different kinds of ash collected at the site. It reminded me of one of those 1970s art projects with all the different layers of colored sand.
And below is a great vintage photo of a couple guys frying bacon over a fumerole – one of the ten thousand smokes. Mmmm…. that little added twang of sulpher and Hydrochloric acid.
For more information about the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, brought to you by the eruption of Novarupta in 1912, click HERE.
Really good laugh when he references watching Palin & O’Reilly, Michael Moore gave an exceptional speech in Madison WI today. Nobody can tell a story like MM drawing pieces together, IMO. Lengthy but worth every minute. I also had to laugh at the blow up palm tree waved at intervals in front of the photographer by a protester, as a reference to Fox “news” reporting no doubt.
‘America Is NOT Broke’: Michael Moore Speaks in Madison, WI — March 5, 2011
Uploaded by mmflint on Mar 5, 2011, 29 minutes (Full speech)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgNuSEZ8CDw&feature=player_embedded
It’s really late, but thanks for the link, Kath the Scrappy. I’ll watch tomorrow. ♥
We are so proud of Michael Moore. He has done so much for this community – first the Film Festival and then the renovation of the beautiful movie theatre. He is a very courageous individual and what he said in Madison is bang on.
I’m imagining a future episode of “Iron Chef America” with a chef serving bacon fried over a fumerole, and one of the judges saying, “I like how you incorporated that hint of sulphur; it harmonizes with the preserved lemon and th flying-fish roe.”
sand art by, Iiana Yahau- Let’s Get Together: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2pLHLOnG6I&feature=related
Curiously, the ash from the 1992 Mt. Spur eruption, and the 2009 Mt. Redoubt eruption can be picked up with a magnet. I am presuming this is because of a static charge, rather than a high iron, nickle, or cobalt content.
stef g. – if it were due to a static charge (which does occur abundantly during eruption hence often lightning accompanies ash eruptions) it would dissipate quickly and while still charged would be picked up by any oppositely charged material not just magnets. The magnetic effect is more likely due to the fact that most volcanic rocks are fairly high in iron content and much of that iron can occur as the mineral magnetite.
Thank you, Krubozumo Nyankoye. That was fascinating. The next time I watch a video of an eruption, I will have a deeper appreciation of the process.
Shout out to AKM: see what you have wrought? Your blog is an amazing place – full of wonder and wonderful people! Your own sense of curiosity and wonder has allowed and encouraged all of us to share our hidden geekness, information, insights and talent. I absolutely love this blog! (I know – stating the obvious, but . . . .)
ks sunflower – you should note the current change in eruptive mode at Kiluea that occurred yesterday. That volcano has been erupting continuously now for about 27 years.
Someone said they were eager to learn more.
Volcanic ash is really a size classification. It refers to particles of volcanic rock of any composition and whether crystallized or glassy smaller than 2mm.
If an ashfall is hot enough and undisturbed it will sometimes fuse forming a semi-indurated to well indurated rock called tuff. Near the point of eruption a wide range of particle sizes are present from ash to house-sized boulders. Farther away the particles become well sorted and an ash fall may be composed of almost homogeneous particles. They are usually glassy as opposed to crystalline because it takes time for crystals to form in a melt and the liquid particles released by an eruption of the right type will freeze too quickly to become crystalline.
In terms of composition most volcanic rocks are composed mostly of silica. It is difficult to characterize volcanic rocks and rocks in general compositionally because they are composed for the most part of several minerals each of which manifests concentrations of different elements.
This is further complicated by the fact that in many instances, the same elements may be present
but in different proportions in many different minerals. In general we use from 12 to 16 elements to classify the overall composition of a given rock by “whole rock analysis”, wherein we homogenize a sample, divide it up into many smaller samples and analyze it for that matrix of elements that seems most likely to characterize the rock.
Generally speaking, the composition of the eruptive products of a single volcano do not change much over the course of an eruption or a period of many eruptions.
Ash if formed by an interesting process so far as we understand it. Volcanos rich in silica have very viscous magmas (magma = lava under ground (liquid or mostly)). The temperatures of these magmas may be very low on the order of 600 degrees celcius (1,112 F) but still contain up to a few percent of water because they are also under high pressure. If anything disturbs the pressure that is keeping the superheated water dissolved in the molten rock, it can lower the pressure to the point where the water comes out of solution, much like when you open a beer that is warm and well shaken most of it will gush out when you pop the top… suddenly the dissolved water within the molten rock expands to steam, an increase in volume of about 400 times. The explosive expansion of steam entrains and atomizes particles of melt and they subsequently freeze. But they can be so small and be so violently ejected that they reach the stratosphere and are carried around the world by air circulation.
There is of course, more to the story than this. The types of volcanos that result in Katami type eruptions occur in specific regions for specific reasons. There are several other major types of volcanos that are less common but also have significance in our overall perception of the earth.
You seem to really know minerals and such….What are your thoughts on using “coral calcium powder” as tooth powder?
dreamgirl – I would be concerned about the propetry of “hardness”. Teeth are composed of calcium compounds and may have an equal or lesser hardness than your coral calcium powder would could result in abrasion. Particularly over extended periods of time.
Thank you for your response. I am using tooth-powders now and was just wondering. Really, thank you very much.
dreamgirl – you’re welcome. I have read that the tradition of serving aged mature cheese as the last course of a meal derives from the fact that such cheese is fairly acidic and this inhibits the growth of the bacteria that cause tooth decay. I have no idea if this has ever been tested but it sounds plausible and more pleasant than scrubbing one’s mouth with an abrasive.
P.S. I’m shooting for Wed. opening but probably Friday. Though monday after is most likely.
* Fingers crossed*
Dreamgirl, it’s hard to make sandwiches or serve coffee with your fingers crossed! Just sayin’.
😕 🙂
Does anyone know why no Iditarod start coverage this year? AKM, did you go this year?
Starts are/were covered on Cable GCI Channel 1, Saturday morning, also scheduled for Sunday am from Willow, trail updates, Finish in Nome in 8-10 days.
Also, if in the Bush, ARCS is doing the same schedule.
I found this over at Daily Kos a very interesting discussion of the impact of the Great Recession.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/03/05/952732/-America-Will-Never-Recover-Until-Wall-St-Is-Prosecuted
Another wonky but excellent read is from my hero Simon Johnson.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/simon-johnson/a-healthy-financial-syste_b_831844.html
And on Tuesday, March 8 “Inside Job” is out on DVD.
Bobo’s Market-Cafe
1953 w Chicago ave. (near Damen)
I will make every mistake in the “Book of Mistakes” when opening a new business, so wish me well.
I jumped into a rabbit hole feet first… I’ll let y’all know if or when I hit the bottom.( Gah, why did I do this to myself?)
Best wishes for success, dreamgirl. If we’re ever in Chicago, we will drop by, say “hi,” and eat ourselves silly.
Congratulations on being a risk taker. Only those who dare succeed.
How exciting to pursue your dream. Most people never muster up the courage to do it. We are all so proud to know you have both the courage and the desire to really embrace life, and we wish you well! Mudpups are indeed special folks.
Just the pursuit alone will be a wondrous adventure! We will all send positive energy to you!
Thank you all! I will use all the positive, calming and good organizational vibes I can get!
On their way to you. As a Reiki Master, I will also send energy for good health because the stress of opening a business can affect your health. We won’t let that happen! Again, dreamgirl, best wishes – though from your enthusiasm, I doubt that you really need them. Such enthusiasm generates its own good luck because I know you have been working hard to make this happen!
Good luck, dreamgirl.
(And just hand over those macaroons and nobody will get hurt.)
I do love macaroons. My sweet Momma makes them, but not often enough.
Best of luck! And making mistakes is how most of us learn–and sometimes a spark of genius comes from a so-called “mistake.”
Here’s to the Idiot Savant! Wheeeee!
(hopefully more on the savant side though, can’t afford the idiot much more)
Best Wishes Dreamgirl! As hard as you’ve worked, I have no doubt it will be a success.
My cafe is opening this week in Chicago! Opening weeks will my a bit wonky but I am so excited and scared!!!
I will have coffees, natural meat sandwiches, homemade macaroons, nougats, chocolate truffles….
I’m really excited about selling is Chicago raw honey by Sweet Beginnings: Honey made by ex-convicts who want to work and are succeeding due to this fantastic organization!
http://www.neln.org/programs/beelines.php
Now for me: Curtis Mayfield, Superfly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAh_4s_-tas&feature=related
sweet beginnings: http://www.sweetbeginningsllc.com/
Dreamgirl, where is the cafe going to be in Chicago?
1953 W Chicago ave. (Chicago and Damen)
wonderful news Dreamgirl. wishing you every success. i certainly wish is could have a bite of your macaroons and a cup of coffee.
do let us know where your cafe is, dreamgirl.
son is going to chicago booth and if lives close he could bring in a few fellow students.
Good luck Dreamgirl with the shop. It sounds wonderful.
Congratulations, and best of luck! Bravo!
I am having a virtual hot chocolate, sandwich, and macaroons–all smothered in that honey. Mmmm! (Glad it’s virtual. I’m not sure all that honey would taste good in person) 🙂
Virtual hugs and real best wishes to you.
Have a dozen and one on me!
Oops, hope this link works; http://www.nlen.org/programs/beelines.php
(sorry for grammar, my dyslexia really kicks in when I’m nervous or excited… Opening week will B E a bit wonky. )
Chocolate truffles…yummmmmm!
Best of luck with your exciting new adventure and may all of Chicago be lining up at your door!
I love Chicago but haven’t been for years…it looks like I’ll need to plan a trip!
{{{{{dreamgirl}}}}}
Fumeroles… learn something everyday. Love the photo!
Some will gather chairs and couches about them and it becomes…..A fumerole parlor.
Smore “fumerole parlor”! While the others gather a few wire coat hangers, marshmellows, couple of hershey bars and graham crackers.
With a young ragamuffin named Oliver Twist plaintively pleading, “Please, sir, may I have a s’more?”
Mike—-I am too old to be offended. If you were a Republican, that would be a different story. That said, If the Republicans have their way, we will all be buried in a “potter’s field”. Whew!!!!!!
Now we had better knock it off, or we both might be sent to the funny farm.
Interesting enough,there is a nut-hut about 20 miles from where I live. It is in my hometown of Cherokee,Iowa and has been converted from all mental cases to the criminally insane and our criminally insane,retread guv Terry Braindead just cut 28 beds from the place.
Oh, AKM, you probably have a field day at any natural history museum you visit.
Hope all is well with you, Buf and Spouse and that the book project works out for the best.
Mike—this is news to me. I must have my grandson check out this place as he lives in New York when he is between gigs. (Musician on a cruise ship)
Lacy Lady-I must confess this was done tongue in cheek,on my part about Potter’s field, It does exist,but not as a burial grounds for talented person’s such as you. I will apologize to you in advance and check my sense of humor in to rehab as soon as the doors open on Monday.Please,please,please do not be offended in any way.
Mike – I thought it was funny.
Hmmmm…tongue in cheek post intended to bamboozle the poor, trusting soul into envisioning a final resting place filled with clays, glazes, kilns and kick wheels.
Me thinks that Ike from Miowa has been up to his naughty tricks again!!! 😉
ARGH!!!!!!! I hope that was loud enough to get your attention. Please all Alaskans, respond to this lying 6itch’s claims that Obama wants to raise taxes on oil when the queen of quitting raised taxes on oil producers more than any other gov. in Alaska’s history.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/05/sarah-palin-obama-inexperienced_n_831879.html
Watch then post and yell from the roof tops about this fraud of a…a….a…I can’t think of anything except things that I must not print.
I hear your pain and frustration and join it!
With ya.
I thought this was a very informative article about the Muslim Brotherhood (that I found in La Monde diplomatique) to combat the disinformation that the far right is throwing around:
http://politico-junkie.blogspot.com/2011/03/france-us-vs-muslim-brotherhood-in.html
Interesting link, OMG. Thanks.
I was struck by the irony of the following statement in the article:
“The (Muslim) Brothers “envision the establishment of a democratic, civil state” but oppose the “secular liberal democracy of the American and European variety, with its firm rejection of religion in public life” ”
Sarah Palin’s and the Muslim Brotherhood’s views of American democracy have quite a bit in common, eh? She’s just too stupid to recognize it in herself. She and the Muslim Brotherhood would get along famously……if they only agreed on the specifics of religious doctrine. Tsk. Tsk. There’s the rub. As usual.
I’d laugh at the irony, but it’s just too pathetic.
As a woman, I am not a particular fan of sharia law. But then, I am not a fan of fundamentalist Christian roles for women.
Any fundamentalist movement is suspect of wanting to oppress women and the public in general.
The article was informative, but as Lee323 said, there is little difference, in essence, between Sarah’s dominionist theories (not that she herself understands them at a philosophical level, mind you, that would take brains and some study) and those of the fundamentalist Muslim movement. Should the Brotherhood succeed in establishing Sharia law as the basis for the new Egypt, I doubt most of us will find it comforting. But then, as I say, I don’t want our government based on a fundamentalist Christian view either.
Turkey and the United States got it right: secular government, private religion. It is the only way that everyone’s religious faith (or lack thereof) can be respected and tolerance be nurtured.
And getting back to our illustrious Founding Fathers – wasn’t that their intention all along? Too bad it’s been so misconstrued over the years. And it seems to be getting worse.
I think I posted this linke before, but maybe not.
You might have already seen this, if you get the Smithsonian mag
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Americas-True-History-of-Religious-Tolerance.html
Good article on the history of religion and politics in the US.
Are we getting worse, maybe not.
SP doesn’t understand corn flakes at the philosophical level. It comes from having an unupholstered brain.
My two trips out to Katmai NP were definitely the highlight of my 26 years in Alaska. It is the most beautiful place (in my opinion) in all of the Great Land. I gained such respect and admiration for the Aluqtiq people; their resourcefulness, toughness, faith, and communal spirit. I am very grateful for the experience.
very interesting. As a potter, I have used ashes for making glazes. volcanic ash is rich in potassium. I have expermented in using wood ashes from our fireplace, to make glazes. Ashes are washed and the water can become very caustic which can cause severe skin irritation, so rubber gloves should be warn.
What’s even more interesting Ms Lacy Lady is the fact that you and people in your chosen field have their very own cemetery in New York City called,curiously enough, Potter’s Field. This must be some sacred,hallowed ground where the gifted go to get interred. I would have thought it should be in the shape of a potter’s kiln,to show that you guys have a sense of humor. On a different note,I wonder if anyone pays attention to the number of visits to this site. I check each time I show up and so far today the site has gone from 11.7 million visits to 11.4 million visits. Must be new rethuglican math,where more is less or something. In one more weekand a day we get to set our clocks an hour ahead again. If I was working,I’d be unhappy to lose an hour of sleep again.
Groan! I hate Daylight Savings Time.
Actually, Potter’s Field is a traditional term for a cemetery set aside for the burial of the poor and indigent who can’t afford funerals.
Spoil sport.
“Politics in a Culture of Ignorance”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-stoller/politics-in-a-culture-of-_b_831832.html
To the Nation Builders (aka Teachers) among us; you have my deepest respect and sincere gratitude. I ♥ Nation Builders!
Michael Moore Marches Into Wisconsin and Burns Down The Big Budget Lie
By Jason Easley and Sarah Jones
…..”the great conservative redistribution of America’s wealth a heist, “It has been transferred in the greatest heist in American history from the workers and consumers to the banks and portfolios of the uber-rich. Right now this afternoon just 400 Americans have more wealth than half of all Americans combined. Let me say that again, and please someone in the mainstream media, just repeat this fact once. We’re not greedy. We’ll be happy to hear it just once. 400 obscenely wealthy individuals, 400 little Mubaraks, most of whom benefited in some way from the multi-trillion dollar taxpayer bailout of 2008 now have more cash, stock, and property than the assets of 155 million Americans combined.”..snip..
http://www.politicususa.com/en/michael-moore-wisconsin-rally
On Wisconsin petition: “I support the Wisconsin 14 and will stand with them in their brave opposition to Governor Walker’s radical attacks on workers.” http://pol.moveon.org/wisconsin14/?rc=homepage
This goes nicely with the Daily Show’s Wisconsin segment the other night.
I am Wisconsin.
As a fellow mineral lover, kudos to AKM for spotting the vial of ash.
It’s fascinating; I know so little of these things, but am open for education. Thank you, AKM, for your interests and understanding which you share so entertainingly to the rest of us. I think of you so often, rejoice in the knowing of you and wish everything for you, truly. Tough times, but hoping for better.
They sure had long-handled fry pans in the good old days. Couldn’t they have built the fire a little closer to their lunch site? BTW,I remember as a sixth grader here in Iowa the earthquake that devastated Anchorage(1964). Whatever became of the humongous hole where the Pacific Ocean was swallowed up?
Might be of interest………..
The Most Fascinating Holes on Earth: http://goo.gl/0tOJ
very interesting look at holes. Much thanks.
Uh-oh. First ash, now holes. Disturbing trend here.
teehee
but,but,but,but…… I thought we weren’t SUPPOSE to be talking about Palin……
oh, that was LAST month….
Great link some I have seen some I have not
The hole’s largest diameter is 72 feet and narrows to about 28 feet. For obvious reasons, swimming near the glory hole is both prohibited and stupid.
http://goo.gl/Gc4f
When I was much younger we took a “trip” here and skateboarded…..was listed under the hole article though easy to over look. Odd………the STUPID stuff we, do and try as young ones 🙂
That is totally awesome. I have ash from Mount St. Helen’s, but nothing colored, just gray.
I have a coffee cup made from Mt. St.Helen’s ash. It’s a beautiful swirl pattern of cream & lte brown. I got it at the visitor center on the mountain.
Love, love, love minerals of all kinds. My uncle was a rock hound supreme, I took after him and my granddaughter takes after me. Put me in a rock store or museum & you can be rid of me for hours on end. I bought so many specimens for GD in a rock store in Colorado, it put me over the weight limit for baggage for the trip to CA to see her. It was worth it to see her face light up when she got her “rocks.”
We live in a beautiful world. It’s a tragedy there’s so much hate between it’s human inhabitants.
My sister-in-law sent me Mount St. Helen’s ash when we still lived in Wichita. I still have the little jar, and several things made from it. And then we moved to the Puget Sound 3 months after St. Helen’s.
National Geographic had several series of excellent articles on that at the time. This pic was probably taken on an expedition they sponsored.
The 1912 Katmai eruption left a layer several inches thick of buff colored ash over all of Kodiak. I experimented with mixing it with white portland cement to make stucco.
My grammy remembered the eruption which created what became called the Valley of 10,000 Smokes.
http://afognak.org/education/history_chapter2.php
Here is a rather nice addition to AKM’s link to learn more about the people closest to the the eruption.
http://www.nps.gov/katm/historyculture/upload/Witnessweb.pdf
Oh my… we could be related.
Outstanding links, ty, Pi.
It said in the article that lighting storms did not happen in Alaska is that true??Interesting and informative articles
They are very infrequent.
thunder and lightning is uncommon on the coast, but in interior in the summer, it can be frequent. Alaska is so big with so many climates.
This is off topic, but I finally figured out why I can’t stand that Progressive Insurance lady… She reminds me on someone… Any guesses… Hint… (it’s the bumpit…)
http://celebrity-pics.movieeye.com/celebrity_pictures/Stephanie_Courtney_716549.jpg
LOL Thats all I can say
wow, you really are a mineral geek, huh? 😉