Montana Gold Claims

Do Earthquakes Create Gold Deposits?

Montana "rocks and rolls" frequently with small tremors displacing dust and tilting the hanging on the cabin wall. Today was no exception. I am a wondering if it does impact gold movement. This insightful article, previous published is worth another read. 

Earthquakes Create Gold Deposits

Earthquakes make gold veins in an instant Pressure changes cause precious metal to deposit each time the crust moves. 

Expand Veins of gold, such as this one trapped in quartz and granite, may deposit when the high-pressure water in which they were dissolved suddenly vaporises during an earthquake. Scientists have long known that veins of gold are formed by mineral deposition from hot fluids flowing through cracks deep in Earth’s crust. But a study published today in Nature Geoscience1 has found that the process can occur almost instantaneously — possibly within a few tenths of a second. The process takes place along 'fault jogs' — sideways zigzag cracks that connect the main fault lines in rock, says first author Dion Weatherley, a seismologist at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia.

When an earthquake hits, the sides of the main fault lines slip along the direction of the fault, rubbing against each other. But the fault jogs simply open up. Weatherley and his co-author, geochemist Richard Henley at the Australian National University in Canberra, wondered what happens to fluids circulating through these fault jogs at the time of the earthquake. What their calculations revealed was stunning: a rapid depressurization that sees the normal high-pressure conditions deep within Earth drop to pressures close to those we experience at the surface.

For example, a magnitude-4 earthquake at a depth of 11 kilometres would cause the pressure in a suddenly opening fault jog to drop from 290 megapascals (MPa) to 0.2 MPa. (By comparison, air pressure at sea level is 0.1 MPa.) “So you’re looking at a 1,000-fold reduction in pressure,” Weatherley says. Flash in the pan Related stories Gold-digging bacterium makes precious particles Subterranean worms from hell Fault maps could aid earthquake forecasts When mineral-laden water at around 390 °C is subjected to that kind of pressure drop, Weatherley says, the liquid rapidly vaporizes and the minerals in the now-supersaturated water crystallize almost instantly — a process that engineers call flash vaporization or flash deposition.

The effect, he says, “is sufficiently large that quartz and any of its associated minerals and metals will fall out of solution”. Eventually, more fluid percolates out of the surrounding rocks into the gap, restoring the initial pressure. But that doesn’t occur immediately, and so in the interim a single earthquake can produce an instant (albeit tiny) gold vein. Big earthquakes will produce bigger pressure drops, but for gold-vein formation, that seems to be overkill. More interesting, Weatherley and Henley found, is that even small earthquakes produce surprisingly big pressure drops along fault jogs. “We went all the way to magnitude –2,” Weatherley says — an earthquake so small, he adds, that it involves a slip of only about 130 micrometres along a mere 90 centimetres of the fault zone. “You still get a pressure drop of 50%,” he notes. That, Weatherley adds, might be one of the reasons that the rocks in gold-bearing quartz deposits are often marbled with a spider web of tiny gold veins. “You [can] have thousands to hundreds of thousands of small earthquakes per year in a single fault system,” he says. “Over the course of hundreds of thousands of years, you have the potential to precipitate very large quantities of gold.

Small bits add up.” Weatherley says that prospectors might be able to use remote sensing techniques to find new gold deposits in deeply buried rocks in which fault jogs are common. “Fault systems with lots of jogs can be places where gold can be distributed,” he explains. But Taka’aki Taira, a seismologist at the University of California, Berkeley, thinks that the finding might have even more scientific value. That’s because, in addition to showing how quartz deposits might form in fault jogs, the study reveals how fluid pressure in the jogs rebounds to its original level — something that could affect how much the ground moves after the initial earthquake. “As far as I know, we do not yet incorporate fluid-pressure variations into estimates of aftershock probabilities,” Taira says. “Integrating this could improve earthquake forecasting.”

Richard A. Lovett ~ 17 March 2013

Nature doi:10.1038/nature.2013.12615

Bear Spray vs. Bullets

What is your experience? Personally, I carry bear spray as I am not confident of my ability with a weapon. In over 25 years of working my claims, I have never had an encounter with a bear, although I have seen several around camp. I believe in being aware, making a lot of noise and keeping a clean camp.  

Bear Spray vs. Bullets 

Which offers better protection?

 

At first glance, this question may seem like a no-brainer. After all, aren’t guns made to kill, while pepper spray (so-called “bear spray,” when it comes in big cans) does not? Unlike an attack by a human assailant, who may be able to use your own weapon against you, that safety/survival argument for using pepper spray doesn’t apply to a human-bear encounter... or does it? 

 

When it comes to self defense against grizzly bears, the answer is not as obvious as it may seem. In fact, experienced hunters are surprised to find that despite the use of firearms against a charging bear, they were attacked and badly hurt. Evidence of human-bear encounters even suggests that shooting a bear can escalate the seriousness of an attack, while encounters where firearms are not used are less likely to result in injury or death of the human or the bear. While firearms can kill a bear, can a bullet kill quickly enough -- and can the shooter be accurate enough -- to prevent a dangerous, even fatal, attack? 

 

The question is not one of marksmanship or clear thinking in the face of a growling bear, for even a skilled marksman with steady nerves may have a slim chance of deterring a bear attack with a gun. Law enforcement agents for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have experience that supports this reality -- based on their investigations of human-bear encounters since 1992, persons encountering grizzlies and defending themselves with firearms suffer injury about 50% of the time. During the same period, persons defending themselves with pepper spray escaped injury most of the time, and those that were injured experienced shorter duration attacks and less severe injuries. Canadian bear biologist Dr. Stephen Herrero reached similar conclusions based on his own research -- a person’s chance of incurring serious injury from a charging grizzly doubles when bullets are fired versus when bear spray is used. 

 

Awareness of bear behavior is the key to mitigating potential danger. Detecting signs of a bear and avoiding interaction, or understanding defensive bear behaviors, like bluff charges, are the best ways of escaping injury. The Service supports the pepper spray policy of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee, which states that bear spray is not a substitute for following proper bear avoidance safety techniques, and that bear spray should be used as a deterrent only in an aggressive or attacking confrontation with a bear.

 

Like seatbelts, bear spray saves lives. But just as seatbelts don’t make driving off a bridge safe, bear spray is not a shield against deliberately seeking out or attracting a grizzly bear. No deterrent is 100% effective, but compared to all others, including firearms, proper use of bear spray has proven to be the best method for fending off threatening and attacking bears, and for preventing injury to the person and animal involved. 

 

Because the grizzly bear is federally protected in the Lower 48 States as a threatened species, it is a violation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to shoot one, except in self defense and defense of others during an imminent attack. 

 

Penalties under the ESA include up to 6 months in prison and a $100,000 fine. Additional penalties may also apply to violations of state law. For more information about bear spray and its effectiveness, see: 

 

http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/wildlife/igbc

Courtesy: US Fish and Wildli

 

Bear pepper spray is no substitute for appropriate conduct in bear country. It should only be relied on as a last resort and if you are typical of the vast majority of outdoor enthusiasts, you will never need to rely on it to resolve a bear-human encounter.

Celebrating The Month Of The Mushroom

 By: Marlene Affeld

I love mushrooms. So do a lot of other folks. It is rather confusing; in the United States, September is National Mushroom Month, October 15th is National Mushroom Day and February 4th is National Stuffed Mushroom Day. What’s that all about?

 

Mushrooms abound almost everywhere. We see them popping up in our yards and gardens, in open meadows, on trees and in the dense forest floor. There are over 38,000 varieties of mushrooms worldwide, over 3,000 in North America alone. There are probably thousands yet to be discovered. Some mushrooms are a gastronomical delight, while others are pure poison.

 

 

Mushroom are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruity body of a fungus; Mycophagy, or the act of consuming mushrooms or edible fungi, dates back to prehistoric man. Many mushroom varieties are easily preserved by drying and have historically been used to provide nutrition during times of food sparsity.

 

The ancient Egyptians believed that mushrooms were the plant of immortality. The subtle and exotic flavors intrigued the pharaohs so much that mushrooms were decreed food fit only for royalty; commoners were not allowed to taste them. 

 

The ancient Greeks and Romans, especially those of the wealthier classes, consumed many mushrooms. Wisely, the Roman Caesars employed a special food taster to sample all mushrooms before they were served to the royal gormads. The Greeks called mushroom jelly Ambrosia and before battle consumed mushrooms for strength. Today, mushroom extracts are used in soirts drinks to help energize athletes and promote endurance. 

 

Chanterelles, Puff Balls, Shaggy Manes, Meadow Mushrooms and Morels are the most commonly found edible wild mushrooms in the United States. Mushroom have varying shapes, colors, textures and flavors. Some mushroom species are so very rare that they only appear for one week during the year. 

 

Fascinating fungi grows wild in many parts of the world, but most edible mushrooms on the market now, with the exception of truffles, are commercially-grown on mushroom farms.

 

Warning! Danger! Many mushrooms are poisonous.

 

Many parts of the world are famous for their prized wild mushrooms, however it is imperative that you really research your target thoroughly if you plan to hunt your own wild mushrooms. 

 

 

Many poisonous mushrooms look nearly identical to safe ones and may be a poisonous “twin”. Many mushrooms may be highly toxic and life-threatening; do not rely upon casual advice to determine toxicity of wild mushrooms. Many types of mushrooms are a food source to sustain wildlife but are toxic to humans. The danger inherent in many poisonous species of mushrooms cannot be over-stressed or under-rated; a simple identification error can lead to death. 

 

 

History records mushroom consumption to have often had less than benign reactions. Pope Clement VII and well as Claudius the II were poisoned by the deadly mushroom 

Amanitas. According to legend, Buddha died after eating a mushroom that grew underground. He was delivered his death by a mushroom given to him by a peasant who believed it to be a delicacy.

 

Unless you are highly educated in all types of mushrooms, especially in the identification of the poisonous ones, it is prudent to obtain your mushrooms from a reputable grower or green grocer rather than harvesting them yourself. 

 

Edible Mushrooms

 

I am going to take advantage of the Mushroom celebrations and marketing “hoopla” and shop for some of the scrumptious new varieties to enter the commercial market. I will sample and enjoy all the mushrooms available at our local farmers market. 

 

Look for firm specimens with no slime, soft spots, or obvious bruising or dark discoloration. Store these treasures of nature in a paper bag in the refridgerator for up to a week before using. You can also purchase a variety of dried mushrooms which can be rehydrated for cooking.

 

The varieties are numerous, the supply plentiful and prices are the lowest this time of the year; I will make my family’s old favorite, Portabella mushrooms stuffed with crabmeat. I relish homemade creme of mushroom soup and cannot resist mushroom burgers or grilled mushrooms on a sizzling steak. Did I mention, I love mushrooms?

 

Throughout history and around the world, edible mushrooms have been used extensively in cooking.  Many cultures, most notably European, Japanese and Chinese have been consuming mushrooms for centuries. The French were the first to commercially grow mushrooms. Historical records indicate that Louis XIV was the first mushroom grower. The mushrooms were grown in caves near Paris set aside for just that purpose. Edible mushroom cultivation reached the United States in the late 1800s with imported spores from Old Mexico and later from Europe and England.

 

Types Of Edible Mushrooms

 

White mushrooms or table mushrooms (Agaricus bisporusare) are just about everyone’s favorite. This popular mushroom represents about ninety percent of all mushrooms consumed in the United States. Rather neutral, the white mushroom has a very mild taste that will blend well with almost anything. The flavor intensifies when cooked and these tasty morsels are often used in pizza, pasta and salads.

 

My personal favorite is the Crimini or Baby Portabella. They are similar in appearance to the white mushrooms but have a light to rich brown top and a firmer texture. 

Crimini mushrooms have a deep, earthy flavor and their hardy, full-bodied taste is an excellent accompaniment to beef, vegetable or wild game dishes. One of my cherished culinary experiences is of Crimini Mushrooms and floured back-strap slices of elk, pan fried in bacon grease in a cast iron skillet over a blazing campfire. 

 

Portabella, the larger relative of the Crimini Mushroom has brown caps that can measure up to six inches in diameter. Firm and chewy with a deep, meat like texture, they are delicious grilled, broiled or roasted. Many of my vegetarian friends use this mushroom as a flavorful vegetarian alternative to meat in panini sandwiches, burgers or 

casseroles. 

 

Porcini Mushrooms, (Boletus edulis), also known as the King Bolete, Steinpilz or Cep Mushrooms are renowned for their intense nutty flavor. Porcini’s are sought after worldwide and can be found in a variety of cultural culinary dishes.

 

The tiny button shaped caps and crunchy thin stems of the Enoki or winter mushroom (Flammulina velutipesare) a wonderful addition to salads and sandwiches. The popular  Straw or Paddy Mushroom (Volvariela volvacea) is similar to the Enoki, tasty and delicious; a staple of Chinese cruisine. Volvariella mushrooms account for about 20% of total production of cultivated mushrooms in the world.

 

Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus) have a very delicate flavor and velvety texture. Oyster mushrooms are some of the most colorful, ranging from pale yellow to grayish blue. 

 

Maitake Mushrooms, also called the “Hen of the Woods” are delightful and delicious. They are rippling and fan-shaped without caps. Maitake mushrooms have a pungent “earthy” aroma and a rich woodsy flavor. If you want a stronger mushroom flavor in any dish, just add a few maitakes.

 

The elegant Shiitake or oak mushroom (Lentinus edodes) is mainly produced in South Korea, China and Japan. This delectable mushroom is also known as the Fragrant mushroom, Black mushroom or Black Forest mushroom. It’s delicate, earthy flavor adds a subtle enhancement to fish and fowl.

 

Medicinal Mushrooms

 

Scientific research now indicates these friendly, oh so edible fungi are not only good, but so very good for us. Mushrooms have important disease-fighting potential and are loaded with essential nutrients. Portobellos have more potassium than a banana and all mushrooms are excellent sources of selenium, copper and B-complex vitiams. Mushrooms are the only fruit or vegetable that has naturally occurring vitamin D. Mushrooms, especially Portabellas and Chimi varieties, are a great source of ergothioneine; a naturally occurring antioxidant that may help protect the body’s cells. 

 

Many species of mushrooms, which have been widely used in Asian folk medicine for thousands of years, are currently under intense scritiny by medical researchers and ethnobotanists. Reishi, the most well known “medical mushroom” as well as Maitake, Shiitake, Blazei, Turkey Tail and Chaga mushrooms are being studied for potential anti-viral, anti-cancer and immune system enhancing properties. Mushrooms or fungi have provided the world with many important life saving drugs such as the statin lovastatin and the anti-biotic penicillin; who knows what life enhancing discoveries are on the horizon.

 

Psychedelic Mushrooms

 

Many prehistoric and several modern cultures around the world have used psychedelic mushrooms for ritualistic purposes including religious communion, divination, and healing.  Hallucinogenic, “magic” or “divine” mushrooms have a history that dates back over a million years ago; originating in East Africa. Early humans gathered Psilocybum mushrooms off the African grasslands and regularly consumed them as part of their diet. 

 

The oldest representations of the use of hallucinogen mushrooms were found in the Sahara Desert. Prehistoric rock art, over 7000-9000 years old, is believed to have been inspired by the ingestion of psychedelic mushrooms. 

 

Believed to bring spontaneous enlightenment for those who ingested them, psychedelic mushrooms contain psilocin and psilocybin. Extremely dangerous, these compounds can cause effects similar to a "bad trip" on LSD; loss of reality may be experienced and severe anxiety and paranoia often occurs. 

 

 

Other Uses For Fungi and Mushrooms

 

Historically mushrooms have be used for dying natural fibers such as wool. The chromophores or pigment of many mushrooms produce strong and vivid colors. Beautiful and bold, all colors of the spectrum can be achieved with mushroom dyes. Before the invention of synthetic textile dyes, mushrooms were the primary source of many textile dyes. 

 

In the United States, Native Americans have long used mushroom dyes to create vibrant, colorful patterns in baskets, ceremonial dress and daily clothing, and to color ceremonial body decorations or “warpaint”. Various Indian Tribes also had several interesting religious or spirtual uses for mushrooms. Northwest tribes burned Puffball Mushrooms as incense to scare away unfriendly spirits. They also dried Puffballs, which when emptied of spores, were filled with small pebbles to make spiritualistic rattles used in religious ceremonies by the tribe’s medicine men.

 

Normally found growing on tree trunks across North America, some backet fungi, types of polypores commonlly called mushrooms, are used as a fire starters.  Also know as tinder fungus or horse hoof fungus, this non-edible mushroom is useful in lighting fires as the tissue can smolder for several hours. This characteristic allowed nomadic tribes to transport fire. 

 

Tinder or horse hoof fungus was considered sacred to the indigenous tribes of the Pacific Northwest who called it the “Bread of Ghosts”. The shamans of the tribe carved this fungus or “conk” to intensify it supernatural power. Faces or bodies were carved with the mouth or other orifices opened, which gave the mushroom spirit-catching abilities. These carving were used to mark the grave of medicine men, and gave clear warning to all that the land was sacred and not to be disturbed.

 

Today, scientist worldwide continue to explore the investigate the mysterious mushroom. Exciting research is being conducted on mushroom based bio-pesticides. Several new earth friendly pesticides are currently under review with the help of USDA's Agricultural Research Service. 

 

Vital to a balanced eco-system, forest fungi and mushrooms, through the use of cellulose-degrading enzymes, prevent the forest from becoming strangled and chocked by fallen branches, leaves and dead trees. The action of the mushroom mycelium causes the decay of organic material, converting dead timber, leaves and hubris into rich, available food for new and continued growth. Without mushrooms, the world’s forests would suffocate and die. 

 

When we consider the vast amount of forested land in the world, it is evident that mushrooms are integral to the environmental health of the planet.  

 

Learn more about these friendly fungi, taste a few new varities and celebrate the month of the mushroom. 

 

Montana Bears Prepare For A Long Winter Sleep

 

There is fresh snow on the high mountain ridges, a bone chilling wind from the west rattles the tamarack, scattering golden needles across the forest floor. Tendrils of silver fog accent the hush that lies over the valley floor; winter is fast approaching and all of nature prepares.

 

Much of the wildlife that inhabits these north woods is getting ready for hibernation. Many mammals have the ability to sleep through the cold, gray days ahead. Chipmunks, skunks, and squirrels as well as raccoons, rodents and bats simply bed down and hardly stir until they arise again in the spring. As true hibernators, their body temperatures drop to near ambient and heart rates slow dramatically as they experience a deep comatose sleep state of torpidity. However, these animals will periodically rouse themselves from their deep slumber to eat stored food, quench their thirst and to urinate or defecate. Rodents sleep very deeply while others slumber more lightly.

 

Bears are a bit different....... Continue Reading Montana Bears Prepare For A Long Winter Sleep

The American White Pelicans of Montana

 

By: Marlene Affeld

Spring is in the air and the migratory birds are returning. I especially love Montana this time of the year. 

Montana is the summer home of thousands of fat, funny waterbirds - The American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhyn-chos).

I have always associated pelicans with the ocean and never considered them an inland bird. I was amazed to discover that thousands of pelicans spend their breeding season in Montana. American White Pelicans in Montana are long-distance migratory birds that spend the winter in warmer weather, traveling as far south as Central America and faithfully returning to their natal habitat every spring.

White Pelicans sport an enormous bill with a flapping (disensible gular) pouch; they waddle on broad (totipalmate) webbed feet, yet fly with grace and precision. In flight, the pelicans fly, rather comically, with their heads withdrawn. White Pelicans are a social bird that normally travel in a flock and freely shares its feeding ground with cormorants and seagulls.

Continue Reading The American White Pelicans of Montana

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Incredible Future

Wishing you color in your pan and a life in the wilderness, away from the whirlwind of technology. There is peace in solitude.

I am an optimist by nature and I think, if even half of what you read below is true, the world will be in good shape for a long time to come. This is well worth reading, especially if you have kids.

An interesting talk by the Head of Daimler Benz -- a bit mind blowing
to say the least! He predicted an interesting concept of what could
lay ahead.

In a recent interview, the Head of Daimler Benz (Mercedes Benz) said
their competitors are no longer other car companies, but Tesla
(obviously), and now, Google, Apple, Amazon 'et al' are……

Software will disrupt most traditional industries in the next 5-10 years.

Uber is just a software tool, they don't own any cars, and are now the
biggest taxi company in the world.

Airbnb is now the biggest hotel company in the world, although they
don't own any properties.

Artificial Intelligence: Computers become exponentially better in
understanding the world. This year, a computer beat the best Go
player in the world, 10 years earlier than expected.

In the U.S., young lawyers already can't get jobs. Because of IBM
Watson, you can get legal advice (so far for more or less basic stuff)
within seconds, with 90% accuracy compared with 70% accuracy when done
by humans.

So, if you study law, stop immediately. There will be 90% less
lawyers in the future, only specialists will remain.

Watson already helps nurses diagnosing cancer, 4 times more accurate
than human nurses. Facebook now has a pattern recognition software
that can recognize faces better than humans. In 2030, computers will
become more intelligent than humans.

Autonomous cars: In 2018 the first self-driving cars will appear for
the public. Around 2020, the complete industry will start to be
disrupted. You don't want to own a car anymore. You will call a car
with your phone, it will show up at your location and drive you to
your destination. You will not need to park it, you only pay for the
driven distance and you can be productive while driving. Our kids
will never get a driver's license and will never own a car.

It will change the cities, because we will need 90-95% less cars for
that. We can transform former parking spaces into parks.

1.2 million people die each year in car accidents worldwide. We now
have one accident every 60,000 miles (100,000 km), with autonomous
driving that will drop to one accident in 6 million miles (10 million
km). That will save a million lives each year.

Most car companies will probably go bankrupt. Traditional car
companies will try the traditional approach and try to build a better
car, while tech companies (Tesla, Apple, Google) will take the
revolutionary approach and build a computer on wheels.

Many engineers from Volkswagen and Audi are completely terrified of Tesla..

Auto Insurance companies will have massive trouble because without
accidents, car insurance will become much cheaper. Their car
insurance business model will slowly disappear.

Real estate will change. Because if you can work while you commute,
people will move further away to live in a more beautiful
neighborhood.

Electric cars will become mainstream about 2020. Cities will be less
noisy because all new cars will run on electricity. Electricity will
become incredibly cheap and clean: Solar production has been on an
exponential curve for 30 years, and now you can now see the burgeoning
impact.

Last year, more solar energy was installed worldwide than fossil.
Energy companies are desperately trying to limit access to the grid to
prevent competition from home solar installations, but that can't
last. Technology will take care of that strategy.

With cheap electricity comes cheap and abundant water. Desalination
of salt water now only needs 2kwh per cubic meter (@ 0.25 cents). We
don't have scarce water in most places, we only have scarce drinking
water. Imagine what will be possible if anyone can have as much clean
water as he wants, for nearly no cost.

Health innovations: The Tricorder X price will be announced this
year. There are companies who will build a medical device (called the
"Tricorder" from Star Trek) that works with your phone, which takes
your retina scan, your blood sample, and you can breathe into it.

It then analyses 54 biomarkers that will identify nearly any disease.
It will be cheap, so in a few years everyone on this planet will have
access to world class medical analysis, nearly for free. Goodbye,
medical establishment.

3D printing: The price of the cheapest 3D printer came down from
$18,000 to $400 within 10 years. In the same time, it became 100
times faster. All major shoe companies have already started 3D
printing shoes..

Some common spare airplane parts are already 3D printed in remote
airports. The space station now has a printer that eliminates the
need for the large amount of spare parts they used to keep in the
past.

At the end of this year, new smart phones will have 3D scanning
possibilities. You can then 3D scan your feet and print your perfect
shoes at home.

In China, they already 3D printed and built a complete 6-storey office
building. By 2027, 10% of everything that's being produced will be 3D
printed.

Business opportunities: If you think of a niche you want to go in,
ask yourself: "In the future, do you think we will have that?", and
if the answer is yes, how can you make that happen sooner?

If it doesn't work with your phone, forget the idea. And any idea
designed for success in the 20th century is doomed to failure in the
21st century.

Work: 70-80% of jobs will disappear in the next 20 years. There will
be a lot of new jobs, but it is not clear if there will be enough new
jobs in such a small time.

Agriculture: There will be a $100 agricultural robot in the future.
Farmers in 3rd world countries can then become managers of their field
instead of working all day on their fields.

Aeroponics will need much less water. The first Petri dish that
produced veal is now available and will be cheaper than cow produced
veal in 2018. Right now, 30% of all agricultural surfaces is used for
cows. Imagine if we don't need that space anymore.

There are several startups who will bring insect protein to the market
shortly. It contains more protein than meat. It will be labeled as
"alternative protein source" (because most people still reject the
idea of eating insects).

There is an app called "moodies" which can already tell in which mood
you're in. By 2020 there will be apps that can tell by your facial
expressions, if you are lying. Imagine a political debate where it's
being displayed when they're telling the truth and when they're not.

Bitcoin may even become the default reserve currency ... Of the world!

Longevity: Right now, the average life span increases by 3 months per
year. Four years ago, the life span used to be 79 years, now it's 80
years. The increase itself is increasing and by 2036, there will be
more than one year increase per year. So, we all might live for a
long time, probably way more than 100.

Education: The cheapest smart phones are already at $10 in Africa and
Asia. By 2020, 70% of all humans will own a smart phone. That means,
everyone has the same access to world class education.

Every child can use Khan academy for everything a child needs to
learn at school in First World countries. There have already been
releases of software in Indonesia and soon there will be releases in
Arabic, Swahili, and Chinese this summer. I can see enormous potential
if we give the English app for free, so that children in Africa and
everywhere else can become fluent in English. And that could happen
within half a year.

Are you ready for all this?

 

 

Gold Panning On Ward Creek

Memories - Gray Lady Down  - 2009

 

Wildflowers are abundant this season, delight splashes of color across the hillside and creek banks. 

 

 

Nature paints with a diverse palette.

 

 

Elderberry flowers blooms grace the ravines. Each year I enjoy canning elderberry jelly and syrup - looks like we will have a bountiful harvest this fall. 

 

 

Saw lots of deer, bear sign and this track of what looks like a young cougar.

 

 

Are you looking for a great gold claim? The Gray Lady Down Placer Claim is for sale.

The Bear Grass is in full and fragrant bloom - the bees and bears love it!

 

 

How Are Fossils Formed?

 

 

For fossil formation to take place a series of fortunate events must occur. If any part of the series is missing, we will never see the fossil! In fact, fossilization is a rare occurrence. Nature tends toward recycling. That includes just about everything from plants and animals to rocks and minerals. Let’s narrow it down to just animals for a minute. Animals, dead or alive, are food for other animals. From insects to dinosaurs, an animal could be someone’s lunch! Any part of the animal’s body that isn’t consumed is usually scattered about; leftovers! Just like those leftovers in your fridge, these leftovers make great food for bacteria. In addition, these leftovers are exposed to the elements: sun, rain, and even the soil itself all help to breakdown and decompose the sturdiest of bones, shells and wood. So, if we are ever going to see a fossil, some very specialized events must intervene to ward off the natural process of decomposition. The following is the most common scenario for fossil formation:

How Are Fossils Formed? 

Death Is The First Step
To start with, an animal or plant must die in water or near enough to fall in shortly after death. The water insulates the remains from many of the elements that contribute to decomposition. An example may be helpful. Let’s say that a trilobite has died of old age on the bottom of the sea. Bacteria consume the soft body parts but leave the hard exoskeleton intact.

How are fossils formed? 

Step two is Sedimentation
As time passes, sediments bury the exoskeleton. The faster this happens the more likely fossilization will occur. Land and mudslides definitely help. River deltas are also good for quick accumulation of sediments. This further insulates our trilobite from decomposition.

The sediments themselves have a huge influence on how well our trilobite fossil turns out. Very fine-grained particles, like clays, allow more detail in the future fossil. Course sediments, like sand, allow less detail to show. The chemical make up of the sediments also contributes to the future fossil. If iron is present, it may give the rock a reddish color. Phosphates may darken the rock to gray or black. The possibilities are truly endless.

Permineralization
As the sediments continue to pile on, the lower layers become compacted by the weight of the layers on top. Over time, this pressure turns the sediments into rock. If mineral-rich water percolates down through the sediments, the fossilization process has an even better chance of preserving our ancient animal. Some of the minerals stick to the particles of sediment, effectively gluing them together into a solid mass. These minerals make an impact on our original trilobite as well. Over the course of millions of years, they dissolve away the outer shell, sometimes replacing the molecules of exoskeleton with molecules of calcite or other minerals. In time, the entire shell is replaced leaving rock in the exact shape of the trilobite.

Uplift
As the continental plates move around the earth, crashing into each other, mountains are formed. Former sea floors are lifted up and become dry land. This is exactly what has happened to our trilobite. Now a fully formed fossil, our trilobite is buried under hundreds or even thousands of feet of rock! Thanks to the movement of the plates, our trilobite will come closer to the surface and nearer to discovery by some fortunate fossil hunter. Luckily, nothing stays the same.

Erosion at work
Rain, wind, earthquakes, freeze and thaw all work toward erosion. The mountains that were built up are worn away over time. Our fossil trilobite once again sees the light of day! With a little wisdom about where to look and some luck, you may be the first one to find him!

This is the fossilization process known as Permineralization. It is not the only answer to the question: "How Are Fossils Formed?" There are many other ways that fossils can be formed. You can read about them using the links below.

About the author - Claudia Mann is a teacher, and a contributor to fossils-facts-and-finds.com where you can find more answers to the question.

Courtesy: FossilHQ

Oregon Gulch Inferno - Memories Of 1910

As wildfire ravages Mineral County, prayers for the safety of the men and women on the fire line are sent heavenward. A Stage 3 Evacuation has been ordered for residents of homes in the fires pathway along Quartz Creek. 

The woods are tinder day. When prospecting or recreating, please be especially careful. No campfires, no smoking outside an enclosed vehicle, no fireworks, no use of a chainsaw or other mechanized equipment that can throw a spark. Conditions today mimic those that fueled the 1910 Fire. 

Daily Idaho Press August 25, 1910

LOSES BIG STRING OF PACK HORSES
         _________________

MISSOULA, Aug. 25, -- Two charred bodies lying on the summit of Cedar gulch give the best indication of the ferocity of the flames that are devastating the country in the famous old placer district. The cessation of the wind has given a breathing spell and it is thought that it can be saved if the wind should come up again.

The Amador mine is located at the head of Cedar gulch which has its ending two miles east of Iron Mountain. Although the flames have made this erstwhile mining camp a smouldering heap of ashes, still no lives have been lost there. The Kansas City Commercial company's dredge, located farther north in the gulch has not fared so well. A reliable report was received at Iron Mountain yesterday to the effect that four men had been smothered to death at that place. Just how they met their untimely death could not be ascertained yesterday.

In Oregon Gulch.

These horrors, however, can not compare with the terrors to be found in Oregon gulch which leads into the St. Joe country and has its mouth in Cedar gulch. Two charred bodies on the summit give shadowy comprehension of the rapacity of the flames. Clayton McBride, an employee of the Big Flat Mining company, which is located in Oregon gulch, made his way into Iron Mountain and reports that one man was smothered there and that he had very grave fear for the safety of others. The Big Flat Mining company's buildings are wiped out and the country is a mass of flames.

Rangers Missing.

It is highly probable that Joe Sadler and Charley Buckhouse have met a tragic fate in the roaring furnace in what was formerly Oregon gulch. These two men arrived at the summit with a pack train of 30 horses. At this point they met McBride, who had made his way from the Big Flat Mining company's property. He pleaded with them in an endeavor to dissuade them from an attempt at passage, but they replied that two men and a woman had gone into the Clearwater country the day before and that they must be rescued.

Baxter is thought to be the name of the people who went into the Clearwater where they have a claim on Sherlock creek. That their pack train is doomed is certain, but there may be a slight chance that the men saved their lives through Sadler's intimate knowledge of the forests and their ways. Joe Sadler is considered to be the best guide in the Ovando country and will be able to get out if it is any way possible. Charley Buckhouse resides south of Missoula at the Buckhouse bridge. When these two left McBride, they said that they would try to reach Olson's or Utz's camp.

Joe Gareau and William LaCombe escaped from death by a small margin and arrived in Iron Mountain yesterday with four horses remaining of a total of 50 which they were packing into the Clearwater.

The people living up Cedar gulch were awakened Sunday night, first by the electric speeders which the Amador and Kansas City companies used as an avenue for escape and then by the men, who were fleeing on foot from the pursuit of the flames. The women have all been removed. Much property had been cached in tunnels and root cellars.

Wise Words - Geronimo

Goyathlay-(one who yawns) Chiricahua Apache Chief (1829-1909)

Quotes from Geronimo:

"I was warmed by the sun, rocked by the winds and sheltered by the trees as other Indian babes. I can go everywhere with a good feeling."

"The soldiers never explained to the government when an Indian was wronged, but reported the misdeeds of the Indians. We took an oath not to do any wrong to each other or to scheme against each other.

I cannot think that we are useless or God would not have created us. There is one God looking down on us all. We are all the children of one God. The sun, the darkness, the winds are all listening to what we have to say."

"When a child my mother taught me the legends of our people; taught me of the sun and sky, the moon and stars, the clouds and storms. She also taught me to kneel and pray to Usen for strength, health, wisdom and protection. We never prayed against any person, but if we had aught against any individual we ourselves too vengeance. We were taught that Usen does not care for the petty quarrels of men."

"We had no churches, no religious organisations, no sabbath day, no holidays, and yet we worshiped. Sometimes the whole tribe would assemble and sing and pray; sometimes a smaller number, perhaps only two or three. The songs had a few words, but were not formal. The singer would occasionally put in such words as he wished instead of the usual tone sound." "Sometimes we prayed in silence, sometimes each prayed aloud; sometimes an aged person prayed for all of us. At other times one would rise and speak to us of our duties to each other and to Usen.

Our services were short."