Friday, March 13, 2009

The Edge of the Idaho Batholith

A view across housing-land to the Boise Front. Just over those mountains is the edge of the Idaho Batholith. It's really a huge mass of granite and if I remember right, it's key to the state's nickname of "Gem State." That granite was on top of a moving mass of hot earth and there were cracks that allowed gases and liquids to run through the granite. Those became gold, silver, copper - and - jasper, jade, opals, tourmaline, zircon, and topaz. Those are some of Idaho's gems, and they're mainly found in the batholith - which stretches through most of the central part of the state.

6 comments:

  1. Very pretty sight. I had no idea about the Batholith...so thank you for those fascinating items of information. And if we get to Idaho sometime, we'll have some idea of what to look for!

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  2. I didn't know that! Wonderful photo.

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  3. Okay, that's cool. I had no idea that gemstones were so prolific in Idaho! Gemstones AND that view, lucky you!

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  4. Great information and wonderful shot!

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  5. An ideal place to rest. Vacation is a good idea to do this. Greetings.

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