Sherds and Shotgun Shells

Culture clash in the Picacho Mountains.

Arizona Alligator

Arizona Alligator Lizard (Elgaria kingi nobilis) in the foothills of the Galiuro Mountains.

Esoterizona Stones 26

Fluorescent Minerals

 This rock appears to be composed of three tungstate minerals: scheelite, powellite, and wolframite.  The scheelite fluoresces an electric blue ring around crystalline yellow powellite in the center, both in response to shortwave UV.  Photo overexposed so the camera could capture both colors. (Pinal County)

The black wolframite is non-fluorescing.  Unfortunately the mine dump looked like it had been graded by heavy machinery, and this 1"x1.5" piece was about the largest found.

Bright green fluorescent chalcedony (opal) - purchased in bulk from a rockshop going out of business.  Probably from AZ, CA or NM, but there's really no telling. Shortwave UV. 3"x2"x2"

Same under white light.

These next three photos are all the same rock, also part of the bulk purchase.  Although no provenance was given for this material either, it is one of a number of pieces that appear to be from the fluorescent localities Franklin and Sterling Hill mines in New Jersey.

Calcite (red), willemite (green), and hydrozincite (blue).

Calcite and willemite in a pattern characteristic of the area.

White light.  Rock still needs a washing.  3"x3"x2"

Bee Swarm

A swarm of Africanized bees (Apis mellifera spp.) taking a pit stop on the limb of large eucalyptus tree.  The swarm remained overnight and departed mid-morning, leaving behind a black, waxy stain on the branch.

Sacred Datura

Sacred datura (Datura wrightii) growing in a canyon in the Galiuro Mountains.  Its luxurious blossom and alluring aroma belie the fact that it contains some of the most powerful and least understood hallucinogenic plant alkaloids known to us.

Ilimaussaq Complex

These fluorescent rocks come from the Ilimaussaq Complex, Greenland, a remote and rugged area of mountains and fjords along the southern coast of the island.

Bright orange sodalite under longwave UV. 3"x3"x2"

The purple in the photo is reflection from the lamp.

This is orange sodalite, pink-red tugtapite, and a fluorescent green that could be natrolite or another uranium activated mineral.  Shortwave UV. 3"x2"x1"

Tugtapite turns from pink to bright orange under longwave UV.

White light.  The hints of purple are an example of tenebrescence, a phenomenon by which certain minerals show a change in color after exposure to UV light.

Specimens purchased from Polman Minerals.

Foreign Fluorescents

Recently acquired some new fluorescent specimens not native to Arizona.

This is calcite from the Little 38 Mine in Terlingua, TX.  First picture shows response to shortwave UV.  Second picture is white light.  Under longwave UV the calcite glows rosy pink (not pictured).  2.5"x2"x1"  The calcite also attractively phosphorescent:

This is fluorescent red halite:

Also know as salt; from the Salton Sea, CA.  SWUV.  3"x2"x1"

Specimens purchased from Polman Minerals.

Rockhounding

Desert Globemallow

Desert globemallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) blooming in a wash near Mammoth.

Dead Rattler

A western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox), lying dead along the side of a canyon road in the Black Hills, near the town of Mammoth.  Roughly 5 feet long.  Not sure how it died - the head looked crushed, and a large gash is visible along the middle of its back.  Desert decomposers were already hard at work - flies taking off and landing at regular intervals, and a steady highway of ants busily traversed the spine.

Catalina Clouds

Took a drive up Mount Lemmon-General Hitchcock highway just after a massive rainstorm moved through the area on Monday.  Seven Cataracts falls were flowing strong, and the cliffs above were cloaked with gray mist.

Once over the top and on Oracle Control Road, there were fluffy layers of clouds flowing through the canyons, and filling the San Pedro River valley.

Looking east across the San Pedro River valley from an elevation of roughly 6300'.
The distant Galiuro Mountains are visible in the photo along the horizon to the left.
The even more distant Pinaleno Mountains are also visible, just right of center.

Esoterizona Stones 25

Fluorescent Minerals

This rock has 3 layers of fluorescent material.  Fluorescent blue mats of calcite crystals and a coating of orange caliche are laid over a matrix that fluoresces a dull magenta - could be weak calcite or possibly smithsonite.  SW & LW UV.  4"x3"x2" (Pima County)

The next four photos show two different expressions of the fluorescent mineral powellite.  The first is brightly luminescent, pale yellow-colored clusters - response is to SWUV only.  The second has a more evenly distributed, dusted appearance.

4"x3"x2" (Pima County)

4"x5"x2" (Pima County)

Western Spotted Orb Weaver

A female western spotted orb weaver spider (Neoscona oaxacensis) in a canyon near Tucson.  It is taking shelter under a branch at the edge of its circular web after being startled by our passage. They are venomous, but not considered poisonous to humans.

Pichacho Rockshelters

One of many prehistoric rockshelters in the Picacho Mountains.

Some are small; others like this one are surprisingly spacious.

They let in light, and moving air, while providing relief from the sun.

Big Paw

Big paw print in wet sand, in a remote, deep-walled canyon north of Tucson. Based on the size, shape, and lack of claw marks I am pretty certain it was made by a mountain lion. Last rain was four days before sighting, so it is definitely no older than that.  Because the imprint hasn't collected any water seepage or other debris, and still has clean outlines, I would also guess it is fresh. Fresh as in made that day, by a lion slowly making its way upcanyon ahead of us, away from our unmistakable human clatter. 

Black Witch Moth

Black Witch Moth (Ascalapha odorata), aka "mariposa de la muerte," enjoying the cool, shady walls and wet sand of a watery canyon outside of Tucson. This is a female, as indicated by the white stripe along her wings, which are easily five inches across.

Pretty Bird

Petie, is that you? Nope - looks like a female MacGillivray's Warbler (Oporornis tolmiei).

Surf's Up

Dung Beetles

A pair of dung beetles taking care of business. These are Canthon indigaceous, characterized by their iridescent green carapace and lack of a horn. The dung is cow.

Esoterizona Stones 24

Fluorescent Minerals

 A striking multi-color specimen with red calcite, green agate/opal, pink smithsonite, and blue that is likely another variety of calcite. 5"x4"x3" (Pima County)

This piece shows substantial blue calcite streaked with yellow-orange caliche deposits. Glimmers of green agate and red calcite are also visible. 5"x3"x2" (Pima County)

Sierrita Gas Pipeline Project

Here are two photos of the Sierrita Gas Pipeline Project currently under construction. First saw pipes laid out along AZ 86 while driving west towards Three Points, then they made a turn south along AZ 286. Photos were taken at the intersection of a dirt ranch road with the pipeline corridor east of AZ 286. These guys banged a road through the desert that 18-wheelers can navigate, headed all the way for Mexico. No small feat, considering the ruggedness of the terrain. This pipeline is projected to transport 200 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. See below for links to more detail.

Looking north.

Looking south.

Official Kinder Morgan Energy Partners page about the project:
http://www.kindermorgan.com/business/gas_pipelines/projects/sasabelateral/

Article from the Arizona Daily Independent:
http://www.arizonadailyindependent.com/2014/04/19/sierrita-pipeline-project-just-the-basics/

And lastly, for those masochistic weirdos who want the legalese, here is a link to a .pdf of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's permit issuance:
http://www.ferc.gov/CalendarFiles/20140606174500-CP13-73-000.pdf

Esoterizona Stones 23

Fluorescent Minerals

Two sides of the same rock under SWUV - orange caliche and red calcite, along with green and two unidentified shades of blue. The green is likely opal.

Second view again under white light. 5"x3"x1.5" (Pima County)

A red and blue piece - the red is calcite, and the crystalline blue may be calcite as well. Or hydrozincite. Or fluorite. Color is not always a reliable diagnostic indicator in the fluorescent world. 3"x3"x2" (Pima County)

Two-toned piece with one face of orange caliche and another of red calcite with substantial crystalline blue, as well as a few pink streaks. 6"x7"x3" (Pima County)