Worked in the Sawtooth Range with my M.S. advisor, Dr. Rolland Reid all summer in 1961. Lovely description of a fascinating phenomena. Dr. Reid published with the Idaho Bureau of Mines and Geology a map and report based on that summer's backpacking work.
First time getting into a mountain range outside of the Appalachian, and my jaw dropped once I got to Goat Lake. Took a roadtrip with little knowledge of gems like this and I cannot say how much this video helped. Can’t wait to come back again. Thank you!
My first hike into the Sawtooths, over 50 years ago, was along this same trail from Iron Creek to Alpine lake. I was 16, newly arrived from California, and utterly unprepared for what lay ahead. Although the trail is quite steep in some places, the waterfall along the way, from the outlet of Alpine Lake, made the effort seem like a small price to pay for such a beautiful introduction to the Sawtooths. Hiking alone, I had no idea that Sawtooth lake was so close and did not continue past Alpine Lake... DOH! Many thanks for these videos, Shawn... they are fantastic!
I love your videos - great work!!! It really helps to build up an understanding of geological processes for these fantastic video overviews in the field :)
Hey thanks for your comments and for watching/subscribing. These are a fun way for me to geek out a bit with folks who enjoy. My wife is less attentive.
@@shawnwillsey Thank you for replying. I am a professional in the mining industry (not a geologist or miner) and you videos really help me in putting together the jigsaw puzzle that is geology and that really makes a difference for me.
Thank you for this. I’ve lived in Oregon my whole life and stayed in the Sawtooths for the first time last week. Your videos have helped me understand some of the stories of that place.
Really love the education and intelligence you contain. You really know what you’re talking about. It’s nice to see someone actually explain the geology and history, not many people do that anymore. I’m from Albion idaho, and I’d love to see you do more videos on it. Maybe lake Cleveland and the history of its volcanic activity, or even the old silver/gold/lead mines up Connor creek.
Thanks for your kind words and compliment. I do love sharing my knowledge of the Earth with folks. I do have several videos at City of Rocks, one near Lake Cleveland, one at the summit of Mt Harrison, and one on Oakley Stone that might be of interest to you.
Good feedback, thanks. I have some longer, presentation style ones planned so look for those soon. Let me know if there is a topic or theme you are interested in.
Really interesting especially the mixing of the two rock of different ages. Was there much commercial mineralization in the sawtooth or were the rocks for the most barren of large vines containing minerals. If so was this because you did not get much upwelling of hot, mineral laden water into the faults. Did any dehydration of the rocks occur?
As far as I know, not much valuable ore deposits due to one magma injecting into a granite (as shown here). Elsewhere in area, like the White Clouds or west toward Challis, magma and its fluids reacting with other sedimentary rocks produced base and precious metal deposits.
It must be a bit cool up there with all the snow around. About mid 40s? low 50s? I love learning about the type of rock we see and when and how it formed. I didnt know really what those mountains were in Monument Valley but learned those are lava tubes and all the rock around them has mostly been stripped away over time and only the ancient lava that came up out of the vents remain. unreal.
Fantastic! I think most people don’t realize how uncommon true granite is and that when uncertain of a rock’s origin, it’s best to say “a granite” or “granitic.” An intrusive igneous rock. But what about rhyolite? An extrusive igneous, made of the same minerals as granite, correct? Despite often vastly different outward appearances in rhyolite rocks, I never hear the phrase “a rhyolite” or “rhyolitic.” Any reason for this? Thanks, again.
Yes, igneous petrology is a messy, complicated world. It's often hard to identify mineral percentages in a sample in the field which defines rock types. I am probably too loose with the terms than most but feel it is Ok when communicating with the general public. "Granite" is something they are comfortable with but "quartz monzonite", not so much. You bring up a good point about the extrusive or volcanic rocks. No one says a "rhyolitic rock." Instead, what is often used is "silicic" or "felsic" to identify a volcanic rock that is rich in silica. I suppose it all boils down to the quirky vernacular of geology and science.
@@shawnwillsey We call those "words of art" in the legal field. A different nomenclature for every endeavor. I really liked the video and I miss hiking and sliding around on glaciated granites like I used to in the Desolation Wilderness Area above Lake Tahoe. Here, I can't slide! It's all limestone, mostly with a solution surface that is as rough as 80 grit sandpaper. Speaking of terms, if you ever get the chance, could you point out the difference, to you, between a vein, a seam, and just plain old cracks in a rock filled in by minerals. Thanks, no need to reply.
We have camped at Joshua tree NP many times and the rock has these light colored streaks in them I’ve always wondered what that is. Now I know…kinda. Thanks…
Light colored streaks in granite are typically dikes. Basically after magma has mostly cooled and formed rock, it fractures as it contracts, allowing residual (or future) magma to inject into the fracture and cool. The chemistry of the residual magma is usually poor in iron and magnesium, ingredients needed to make dark colored minerals. So the resulting dike is usually lighter in color than the rock itself.
This is what Granite looks like after traveling a long distance, grinding the bedrock along the way, folding over and upending as it pushes into valleys, pressurizing and warming drainages, leaching the reactive consequences of a chaotic and random blend of Ice, Rock, Biology and friction, the rest as a consequence is phreatic volcanism, (Mt. St. Helens), frictional volcanism CRBs, and providing system energy remains you get a combination of the two like seen in Yellowstone. Long since burned off any oxide accumulations that would spur a melted volcanic event, leaving pressure from North>South trends as the main source of hydrothermal energy. OG (Original Granite) Grinds along and gets hot enough to congeal into a solid form, then you get the banding and age difference. Yellowstone becomes a risk as soon as it looses its water. But generally, it sees its
Very interesting! Great to see two types together like that. I was wondering, thought, since you said the younger Sawtooth granite was kind of pink, why you purposefully avoided the vividly pink rocks? Are they pink just on the surface? Are they not granite? Thanks! :)
What if our current system of dating rock formations is incorrect? If that were the case, would it not make sense that what you are showing here, is just an enormous version of the aggregate dispersion we see in granite. I mean when the dating is done, and there are 20+ different types of aggregate in granite, is each type of aggregate and the cement it's suspended in, independently dated and averaged, or is it just the cement material? I guess my point would be that each aggregate would be dated differently, therefore couldn't the different types of granite you're showing here also be huge pieces of different types of aggregate on a massive scale, which were glued together as it all formed at the same time? But simply dates differently due to chemical composition differences, and could be the cause for separation when in liquid form? Not sure if any of that makes any sense. You can give me an F for for asking pourly stated questions and using incorrect terms if you want.
Please keep posting. Really appreciate your hard work in provinding us with these educational geology vlogs. Thank you Shawn.
Worked in the Sawtooth Range with my M.S. advisor, Dr. Rolland Reid all summer in 1961. Lovely description of a fascinating phenomena. Dr. Reid published with the Idaho Bureau of Mines and Geology a map and report based on that summer's backpacking work.
First time getting into a mountain range outside of the Appalachian, and my jaw dropped once I got to Goat Lake. Took a roadtrip with little knowledge of gems like this and I cannot say how much this video helped. Can’t wait to come back again. Thank you!
Super interesting and instructional video Shawn. Love seeing the encounter of those two granite types. Amazing.
My first hike into the Sawtooths, over 50 years ago, was along this same trail from Iron Creek to Alpine lake. I was 16, newly arrived from California, and utterly unprepared for what lay ahead. Although the trail is quite steep in some places, the waterfall along the way, from the outlet of Alpine Lake, made the effort seem like a small price to pay for such a beautiful introduction to the Sawtooths. Hiking alone, I had no idea that Sawtooth lake was so close and did not continue past Alpine Lake... DOH!
Many thanks for these videos, Shawn... they are fantastic!
You sir, and your videos are just spot on in every way. Thank you for putting them up. Really enjoy watching.
You bet. Thanks for watching and supporting them.
I love your videos - great work!!! It really helps to build up an understanding of geological processes for these fantastic video overviews in the field :)
Hey thanks for your comments and for watching/subscribing. These are a fun way for me to geek out a bit with folks who enjoy. My wife is less attentive.
@@shawnwillsey Thank you for replying. I am a professional in the mining industry (not a geologist or miner) and you videos really help me in putting together the jigsaw puzzle that is geology and that really makes a difference for me.
Another educational video. Many Thanks .....................
Thank you for this. I’ve lived in Oregon my whole life and stayed in the Sawtooths for the first time last week. Your videos have helped me understand some of the stories of that place.
Awesome. Glad these are helpful and of value.
Really love the education and intelligence you contain. You really know what you’re talking about. It’s nice to see someone actually explain the geology and history, not many people do that anymore. I’m from Albion idaho, and I’d love to see you do more videos on it. Maybe lake Cleveland and the history of its volcanic activity, or even the old silver/gold/lead mines up Connor creek.
Thanks for your kind words and compliment. I do love sharing my knowledge of the Earth with folks. I do have several videos at City of Rocks, one near Lake Cleveland, one at the summit of Mt Harrison, and one on Oakley Stone that might be of interest to you.
Thanks again
I’ve hiked this trail. Amazing place!
So interesting. Incredible scenery. Thanks!
I’m impressed by your ability to find order in rocks that look chaotic to me.
USA is just so BIG! All that beautiful wilderness 😊
So Kool.Thank you sir.
Thank you...
I always need to remind myself that the mixing of the two plutons occurred under the surface and then was pushed up by plates moving underground.
I’ll probably never get the opportunity to see that spot in person so thank you. But if I do manage to get there I’ll now know what I’m looking at!
Really like your videos, I’d really enjoy longer form vids also, maybe 15-30mins on a subject like you did on the bonneville floods
Good feedback, thanks. I have some longer, presentation style ones planned so look for those soon. Let me know if there is a topic or theme you are interested in.
Really interesting 👍
I wish there was a pocket version of you that I could take with me whenever I head into the mountains!
I do get that a lot. You want me when you have a question but mostly I would probably be too annoying.
@@shawnwillsey Lol! I doubt that. Surely do appreciate your videos, anyway!
Fabulous
Really interesting especially the mixing of the two rock of different ages. Was there much commercial mineralization in the sawtooth or were the rocks for the most barren of large vines containing minerals. If so was this because you did not get much upwelling of hot, mineral laden water into the faults. Did any dehydration of the rocks occur?
As far as I know, not much valuable ore deposits due to one magma injecting into a granite (as shown here). Elsewhere in area, like the White Clouds or west toward Challis, magma and its fluids reacting with other sedimentary rocks produced base and precious metal deposits.
It must be a bit cool up there with all the snow around. About mid 40s? low 50s? I love learning about the type of rock we see and when and how it formed. I didnt know really what those mountains were in Monument Valley but learned those are lava tubes and all the rock around them has mostly been stripped away over time and only the ancient lava that came up out of the vents remain. unreal.
On this day (July 4), it was probably in the 50s to low 60s F on most of the hike.
Fantastic! I think most people don’t realize how uncommon true granite is and that when uncertain of a rock’s origin, it’s best to say “a granite” or “granitic.” An intrusive igneous rock. But what about rhyolite? An extrusive igneous, made of the same minerals as granite, correct? Despite often vastly different outward appearances in rhyolite rocks, I never hear the phrase “a rhyolite” or “rhyolitic.” Any reason for this? Thanks, again.
Yes, igneous petrology is a messy, complicated world. It's often hard to identify mineral percentages in a sample in the field which defines rock types. I am probably too loose with the terms than most but feel it is Ok when communicating with the general public. "Granite" is something they are comfortable with but "quartz monzonite", not so much. You bring up a good point about the extrusive or volcanic rocks. No one says a "rhyolitic rock." Instead, what is often used is "silicic" or "felsic" to identify a volcanic rock that is rich in silica. I suppose it all boils down to the quirky vernacular of geology and science.
@@shawnwillsey We call those "words of art" in the legal field. A different nomenclature for every endeavor. I really liked the video and I miss hiking and sliding around on glaciated granites like I used to in the Desolation Wilderness Area above Lake Tahoe. Here, I can't slide! It's all limestone, mostly with a solution surface that is as rough as 80 grit sandpaper. Speaking of terms, if you ever get the chance, could you point out the difference, to you, between a vein, a seam, and just plain old cracks in a rock filled in by minerals. Thanks, no need to reply.
We have camped at Joshua tree NP many times and the rock has these light colored streaks in them I’ve always wondered what that is. Now I know…kinda. Thanks…
Light colored streaks in granite are typically dikes. Basically after magma has mostly cooled and formed rock, it fractures as it contracts, allowing residual (or future) magma to inject into the fracture and cool. The chemistry of the residual magma is usually poor in iron and magnesium, ingredients needed to make dark colored minerals. So the resulting dike is usually lighter in color than the rock itself.
The streaks often look like quartz. Thanks for the explainer.
@@TheKrisg50 They contain quartz but also some other minerals.
Would love to go for a hike with you. Can you come to Canada 😆?
This is what Granite looks like after traveling a long distance, grinding the bedrock along the way, folding over and upending as it pushes into valleys, pressurizing and warming drainages, leaching the reactive consequences of a chaotic and random blend of Ice, Rock, Biology and friction, the rest as a consequence is phreatic volcanism, (Mt. St. Helens), frictional volcanism CRBs, and providing system energy remains you get a combination of the two like seen in Yellowstone. Long since burned off any oxide accumulations that would spur a melted volcanic event, leaving pressure from North>South trends as the main source of hydrothermal energy. OG (Original Granite) Grinds along and gets hot enough to congeal into a solid form, then you get the banding and age difference. Yellowstone becomes a risk as soon as it looses its water. But generally, it sees its
Very interesting! Great to see two types together like that. I was wondering, thought, since you said the younger Sawtooth granite was kind of pink, why you purposefully avoided the vividly pink rocks? Are they pink just on the surface? Are they not granite? Thanks! :)
Not sure what pink rocks I avoided. The Sawtooth granite is pinkish due to higher amounts of potassium feldspar (a pink mineral).
Do you think the contact zones of these two granites would be a good place to look for minerals (larger crystal quartz etc)?
❤
right at 3:50 there is a vein and im curious
What if our current system of dating rock formations is incorrect?
If that were the case, would it not make sense that what you are showing here, is just an enormous version of the aggregate dispersion we see in granite.
I mean when the dating is done, and there are 20+ different types of aggregate in granite, is each type of aggregate and the cement it's suspended in, independently dated and averaged, or is it just the cement material?
I guess my point would be that each aggregate would be dated differently, therefore couldn't the different types of granite you're showing here also be huge pieces of different types of aggregate on a massive scale, which were glued together as it all formed at the same time? But simply dates differently due to chemical composition differences, and could be the cause for separation when in liquid form?
Not sure if any of that makes any sense.
You can give me an F for for asking pourly stated questions and using incorrect terms if you want.
Fascinating!
It always feels like you're about to fall to your death