Yellowstone's Thermal GeologyAug 1-4, 2007. We are staying in Grizzly RV-Park in West Yellowstone, Montana just out the west gate of Yellowstone National Park. We stayed in a different site every night because we did not have reservations and at this time of year they are FULL. The only way we got to stay there for 4-nights was to move into cancellation sites. The rates range from around $37 to $47 depending on a variety of things but generally back in sites were cheaper than pull-thru sites. Then they charge $4 for wifi. I suppose the pull-thru sites are a bit larger so the BIG rigs would probably be forced into one of them. Grizzly is a nice park, the nicest campground in the area. Bottom line is if you are planning to visit WEST YELLOWSTONE during July thru Aug-15 you need a reservation as every campground in the area is FULL. After August 15 you can have your choice of campgrounds with no reservations.
Roaring Mountain
This is Roaring Mountain. It is a living landscape. Amid Roaring Mountain's steam and sulfur-rich gases, microscopic organisms are hard at work. This barren slope, inhospitable to humans, is the perfect home for billions upon billions of thermophiles that live here, wearing away the mountain.
Roaring Mountain was named for the sound of steam fumaroles that became very active and noisy in 1902, killing a mountainside of trees. The activity subsided in the 1920s and has been relatively quiet ever since. The acidic pool near the road is called Lemonade Pond. Ground heat and acid prevent trees from growing in much of the area. Fumaroles are holes in a volcanic region from which hot gases and vapors issue. Hot gasses and vapors are the trademark of fumaroles. Fumaroles are also referred to as steam vents. In simplest terms, a fumarole is a vent in the Earth's crust. The supply of water around a fumarole is not as plentiful as in hot springs and geysers. Modest amounts of groundwater come into contact with hot rocks underground and are turned to steam. This steam rushes up through a series of cracks and fissures and out the vent, sometimes with enough force to create a loud hiss or roar. Roaring Mountain can be seen from Grand Loop Road between Norris and Mammoth (the northwest side of Yellowstone).
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
This is looking into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
Measuring 1,200 feet at its deepest point, 4,000 feet across and 24 miles long, the canyon is basically a river eroded geyser basin. Hot acidic water from numerous hot springs in the canyon have weakened the volcanic rocks here, making them vulnerable to rapid erosion and allowing the creation of a fast-expanding canyon.
Hydrothermically altered rock
This is a close-up of that volcanic rock (most likely rhyolite) that has been altered and weakened by the hot acidic water from the hot springs (hydrothermically altered rock is the result). I think this would fit into the category of metamorphic rock since it is a changed igneous rock. How about that for remembering some earth science from high school, or was it middle school, when we learned about the three types of rocks, igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. It has been a LOOOOONG time! Amen.
Grand Canyon of the Yellsowstone
This is again looking down into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. This is where the Yellowstone River got its name.
Yellow mineral patches on the canyon walls indicate hot springs and fissures. Even a minor tremor can trigger a landslide from these thermally weakened cliffs.
Calcite Springs
In cool weather, wisps of steam rise from Calcite Springs---the pale slope near the river. There the Yellowstone River flows above a volcanic fracture zone that allows geothermal discharge to reach the surface. Chemicals from Calcite Springs' hot water vents are slowly turning the cliff to whitish, yellowish pulp.
Is this an example of "Hydrothermically" altered rock?
Further down the canyon wall is this layer of turquoise colored sedimentary rock. While I can follow this layer of sedimentary rock for approximately one half mile only certain sections have turned this turquoise color. The remainder is just a lighter color gray. I suspect that acidic steam from a fumeral has something to do with this change but certainly have no knowledge of that.
Geothermal activity along the Yellowstone River
Here the Yellowstone River is again flowing above a volcanic fracture zone that is allowing geothermal discharge to reach the surface. Chemicals from hot water vents along the river are slowly turning the cliff to whitish, yellowish pulp. The area most likely is composed of a high degree of sulfuric acid.
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Mike & Joyce Hendrix
Mike & Joyce Hendrix who we are We hope you liked this page. If you do you might be interested in some of our other Travel Adventures: Mike & Joyce Hendrix's home page Travel Adventures by Year ** Travel Adventures by State ** Plants ** Marine-Boats ** Geology ** Exciting Drives ** Cute Signs ** RV Subjects ** Miscellaneous Subjects
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