#geological features

[ancientfrozenglaciershark]

Happy June 30th! Earth says: Pride FOREVER!

[mazingamazingly]

Is Kjelfossen Norway's Tallest Waterfall? The Truth Revealed

Kjelfossen stands at 225 meters tall, making it one of Norway's highest uninterrupted waterfalls Vinnufossen, not Kjelfossen, ranks as Norway's tallest waterfall at 860 meters when counting all tiers Most of Norway's tallest waterfalls are concentrated in Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane counties Glac

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[mazingamazingly]

Is Kjelfossen Norway's Tallest Waterfall? The Truth Revealed

Kjelfossen stands at 225 meters tall, making it one of Norway's highest uninterrupted waterfalls Vinnufossen, not Kjelfossen, ranks as Norway's tallest waterfall at 860 meters when counting all tiers Most of Norway's tallest waterfalls are concentrated in Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane counties Glac

Read the full story →

[mazingamazingly]

Is Kjelfossen Norway's Tallest Waterfall? The Truth Revealed

Kjelfossen stands at 225 meters tall, making it one of Norway's highest uninterrupted waterfalls Vinnufossen, not Kjelfossen, ranks as Norway's tallest waterfall at 860 meters when counting all tiers Most of Norway's tallest waterfalls are concentrated in Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane counties Glac

Read the full story →

[mazingamazingly]

Is Kjelfossen Norway's Tallest Waterfall? The Truth Revealed

Kjelfossen stands at 225 meters tall, making it one of Norway's highest uninterrupted waterfalls Vinnufossen, not Kjelfossen, ranks as Norway's tallest waterfall at 860 meters when counting all tiers Most of Norway's tallest waterfalls are concentrated in Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane counties Glac

Read the full story →

[mazingamazingly]

Is Kjelfossen Norway's Tallest Waterfall? The Truth Revealed

Kjelfossen stands at 225 meters tall, making it one of Norway's highest uninterrupted waterfalls Vinnufossen, not Kjelfossen, ranks as Norway's tallest waterfall at 860 meters when counting all tiers Most of Norway's tallest waterfalls are concentrated in Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane counties Glac

Read the full story →

[sakuraswordly]

Source: HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION AND VEINING IN BASALT

Hydrothermal Alteration

Hydrothermal alteration refers to the chemical and mineralogical changes in rocks caused by interaction with hot, mineral-rich fluids. These fluids can circulate through fractures and pore spaces in rocks, often at mid-ocean ridges, volcanic systems, or near intrusive bodies. The original minerals in the rock are altered or replaced by secondary minerals such as calcite, quartz, celadonite, saponite, and iron oxides.

Veining in Basalt

Veining in basalt occurs when cracks or fractures in the basalt are filled by minerals precipitated from hydrothermal fluids. These veins can form due to tectonic stress, cooling contraction, or fluid pressure. The mineral content of the veins provides important information about the temperature, composition, and evolution of the hydrothermal system.

Here's a brief description on the image below:

Panel A (Macroscopic View of Basalt Core, ~30 cm):

Displays a vertically oriented basalt core showing distinct structural and mineralogical features.

Chilled margin at the top suggests rapid cooling at the flow margin.

A vertical chill fracture filled with hydrothermal minerals: calcite, Fe-oxides (Fe-ox), quartz, and celadonite, indicating fluid flow along cooling fractures.

Subhorizontal veins appear lower in the core, likely formed during later fracturing episodes.

Vein halos represent zones of alteration surrounding the veins, showing the extent of fluid-rock interaction.

Celadonite (green), saponite (clay), calcite, and Fe-oxides are all secondary minerals produced by hydrothermal alteration.

Panel B (Cross-Polarized Light):

Shows a mineral-filled vein with Fe-ox, saponite, quartz, and calcite.

Textures indicate the sequence of mineral precipitation from hydrothermal fluids.

Panel C (Photomicrograph):

Illustrates calcite vein with direction indicators, showing extension direction during each mineral fill stage—evidence for multiple episodes of fracturing and fluid injection.

Panel D (Plane-Polarized Light):

Close-up of a thin celadonite vein cutting through the host basalt.

Celadonite’s distinct green color marks it as a product of low-temperature alteration.

Panel E (Plane-Polarized Light):

Shows Fe-ox and celadonite within the basalt matrix and fractures, highlighting replacement textures associated with fluid pathways.

Interpretation

This basalt sample provides strong evidence of hydrothermal alteration through fracturing and veining, likely in a seafloor or volcanic setting. Multiple generations of fluid flow altered the original basalt, forming a complex assemblage of secondary minerals. The orientation and mineralogy of veins reflect changes in fluid chemistry, temperature, and tectonic stress over time.

[eclectic-kid-ruins]

i aspire to live on a vast plateau or steppe