 EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes
and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and
archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


 Colorado’s Red Mountain Creek Lives Up to Its Name

   October 07, 2020

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   Photographer:  Patti Weeks
   Summary Author:  Patti Weeks

   When  silver was discovered—and later lead, zinc, copper and gold—in
   the 1880s in southwest Colorado’s  San Juan Mountains,  mining
   towns popped up in a concentrated location along the  Red Mountain
   Creek. Miners, equipment and metal ores were hauled by horse-drawn
   wagons and later via railroad. A wagon toll road, connecting Silverton
   and Ouray across the high mountain passes, was built in 1882 and was
   paved in 1924. Nicknamed the  Million Dollar Highway, this 25-mile
   (40 km) portion of  U.S. Highway 550 is ranked as one of the
    most dangerous highways in the world. It is indeed treacherous, but
   the scenery is spectacular!

   About midway between Silverton and Ouray, strangely tinted
   reddish-orange rocks are visible in  Red Mountain Creek, a tributary
   of the  Uncompahgre River. Some of this ochre tint is caused by the
   natural  iron pyrite runoff from the  Red Mountains, which
   accounts for the  ferricrete encasing the stream-lined rocks. But
   the brownish water also consists of  acid mine drainage (toxic
   sulfuric acid), runoff from  tailing piles and heavy metal overload
   from the now-abandoned mines. Photos taken on October 12, 2019.

   Via the  Superfund the  EPA authorized the  Idarado Mining
   Company, on the west side of the Red Mountains near Telluride, to clean
   up and revegetate its defunct mining district. Their plan, implemented
   in 1992, also included the more challenging cleanup of the Red Mountain
   Mining District on the east side of the Red Mountain Creek. The
    Idarado cleanup plan became a model environmental remediation
   project, and Idarado is continuing to employ innovative methods to
   reduce pollutants in the Red Mountain Creek to a sustainable level.

   Photo Details: Apple iPhone 11 Pro: 4.25 mm; f/1.8; 1/527 sec.; ISO 32;
   second photo the same, except 6mm; f/2; 1/122 sec.; ISO 50.
     * Red Mountain Creek, Colorado Coordinates:  37.93799, -107.67446

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Geology Links

     *  Earthquakes
     *  Geologic Time
     *  Geomagnetism
     *  General Dictionary of Geology
     *  Mineral and Locality Database
     *  Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness
     *  This Dynamic Earth
     *  USGS
     *  USGS Ask a Geologist
     *  USGS/NPS Geologic Glossary
     *  USGS Volcano Hazards Program

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   Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the  Universities
   Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu
 
