Formation of travertine and siliceous sinter by the vegetation of hot springs
Weed WH. 1889. Formation of travertine and siliceous sinter by the vegetation of hot springs. Pages 613-676. In Author unknown. U S Geological Survey Annual Report, 9th, 1887-88
Among the many interesting natural phenomena that claim the attention of the visitor to the Yellowstone National Park, the geysers and hot springs rank first in general interest. Their novelty and beauty are sure to attract universal admiration, while the vast quantities of hot water that flow from the ground are convincing evidences of the nearness of internal heat. These steaming fountains and boiling pools are usually surrounded by snowy white borders of mineral matter deposited by the hot waters. At the Mammoth Hot Springs this consists of carbonate of lime, that forms the unique marble terraces and pulpit basins of those springs. (PI. LXXIX.) At the Geyser basins the waters deposit silica, that forms the fretted rims of the pools and the beautifully beaded and coral-like deposits of the cones, and covers large areas of ground about the springs with a sheet of white and glaring sinter. Not only are the occurrence and the nature of these deposits such as make them of interest to every visitor, but the problem of their origin has proved to be one of the prominent features in the scientific investigation of the hydrothermal phenomena of the park, as it has been found that such deposits are very largely due to the growth and life of a brilliant colored algous vegetation, living in the hot mineral waters.
- Type
- Book Chapter
- Authors
- Weed, Walter
- Units
- HIST , YELL
- Keywords
- Algae, Algous Sinter, Diatom beds, ehistory, Geology, Geothermal Activity, History, Hot Springs, Hydrothermal Activity, Mammoth Hot Springs, Siliceous Sinter, Travertine, Upper Geyser Basin of the Firehole River, Vegetation