The last six weeks I have been entirely focused on the New Mexico geologic map. It is a challenging new project that has taken me to the land of cross-sections with itty bitty pieces, turquoise powder coating, copper surrounds and more skeletons to add to my closet. It is not the first time I have had skeletons. I have saved them for years, but now they are piling up…
A skeleton is a slice of stone from which so many pieces have been cut that only the bones are left. They are a testament to the strength of the rock and a bit mesmerizing to look at.
Skeletons from my closet are piling up!
When we receive them back from the waterjet, the skeletons are usually intact with the pieces in place to be broken out like a punch-out stone puzzle. Other times though, the skeletons are disembodied and we have to conduct an archaeological investigation to determine which pieces are where. It totally depends on the stone.
Disembodied skeletons
A soft friable marble could come apart on tiny fractures or “rotten” areas. We always look at the back of the pieces before using them, and if any weaknesses are seen, we epoxy the hell out of them before sending them to be cut. Some stones have predictable weaknesses and so we avoid problem areas. A perfect skeleton from fine grained granite, for example, is extraordinarily competent and would not break for love nor money. Those types of stone are a pleasure to work with.But what to do with these skeletons in my closet? I have saved them for years and now it is time to move them from the bone yard to the graveyard. Unless there are any takers…
New Mexico Geologic Map in Stone (in process) – 35” x 44.25” x 2”, 2024Slabs: Limestone, marble, jasper, granite, dumortierite quartzite, sodalite syenite, slate, gabbroSpecimens: Green spessartine garnet with zoisite, Harding Mine, Picurris district, Taos Cnty; Fluorite, Galena King Mine, Tiejeras Canyon mining district, Bernalillo Cnty; Chabazite, Dry Leggett Canyon, Gila Wilderness, Catron Cnty; Smithsonite, Kelly Mine, Magdalena mining district, Socorro Cnty; Smokey quartz, Capitan mining district, Lincoln Cnty: Nickelskutterudite, Alhambra Mine, Black Hawk mining district, Grant Cnty; Turquoise, Tyrone Mine, Burro Mountains mining district, Grant Cnty; Hematite, Cookes Peak mining district, Luna Cnty; Wulfenite, Stevenson-Bennett Mine, Organ mining district, Dona Ana Cnty; Pecos “diamond,” Riverside, Pecos river area, Eddy Cnty; Arrowhead, Blackwater Draw National Histoaric Site near Clovis; Curry Cnty; Oil shale, Eddy Cnty; Coal, Colfax Cnty
Name That Polygon
Every time I create a geologic map I get obsessed with the shapes of the polygons. I look out the window at the melting snow and see shapes of – what else? – polygons! Polygons of snow, polygons of (now) melting snow and polygons of green grass. Perceiving images in random stimuli is called pareidolia and I have it in spades. Of the 655 polygons in the New Mexico Stone Geologic Map I found a few favorites, so it is again time to play, “Name that Polygon.” Reply and let me know what names immediately come to mind when you look at the following six polygons! The polygon with the most votes gets a prize 😉 See what I saw below.
Polygon 1 Polygon 2
Polygon 3 Polygon 4
Polygon 5 Polygon 6
What I saw in these polygons:
Polygon 1 – Corkscrew; Polygon 2 – Seahorse; Polygon 3 – Fox
Polygon 4 – Warthog; Polygon 5 – Hatchet; Polygon 6 – Hunchback
In The Exhibit Hall
Next month we will be in Spokane at the Geological Society of America Joint Cordilleran –Rocky Mountain Sections meeting. If you are in Spokane please join us!
Geological Society of America
Joint Cordilleran and Rocky Mountain Sections Meeting Davenport Grand Hotel
333 W Spokane Falls Blvd
Spokane, WA 99201
BOOTH in Ballroom A
Hours:Tuesday Math 14th 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Wednesday May 15th 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday May 16th 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday May 17th 8:00 am – 2:00 am
Pocket XIII: Star Cluster – 10.75”x 11”x .75”, 2019, $800
Liesegang banded (Kanab) sandstone; azurite and malachite concretion; azurite nodules
Earth Sampler Series XXX: Oolids on Fire – 13”x 13”, 2023, $650
Limestone; ammonite and septarian nodule; Spheres of: jasper and agate, rhyolite, serpentine with pyrite, coral, ferruginous silicified shale (printstone), banded jasper
