GeologyRocks

• Location: White Scar Caves, North Yorkshire.
• Date Taken (dd-mm-yy): 09/08/07

This, my final contribution from this set of photos, is my attempt at an "artsy" shot. Other than being in a cave it doesn't have much to do with geology, but I like it and thought I'd share it. And yes, if anybody asks... it was completely deliberate! *Removes tongue from cheek.*

• Location: White Scar Caves, North Yorkshire.
• Date Taken (dd-mm-yy): 09/08/07

This shot I took quickly on the way out. I happened to notice some depositional patterns in a shallow pool. The patterns (the light structures in the lower half of the picture), are calcium carbonate formations below the surface of the water. I think they are a product of the rippling of the water surface, and perhaps some small, for want of a better word "tidal" or "current" influences. Either way they roused my curiosity.

• Location: White Scar Caves, North Yorkshire.
• Date Taken (dd-mm-yy): 09/08/07

This rather dark photo shows another geologically interesting phenomenon. The thin pencil-like stalactites, termed straws, are actually hollow - with water dripping through them. One of these rather delicate structures (I hope it is obvious which), has become blocked and a "normal" stalactite has begun to form at its tip. It should be noted that although I use the phrase "One of..." above, that there are numerous occurrences of this phenomenon in the vicinity of the photographed example.

• Location: White Scar Caves, North Yorkshire.
• Date Taken (dd-mm-yy): 09/08/07

Close up of Polygonal Mud Cracks 1.

• Location: White Scar Caves, North Yorkshire.
• Date Taken (dd-mm-yy): 09/08/07

I apologise for the very fuzzy nature of this and the accompanying photo (damn autofocus). The only reason i have included them is because they are geologically interesting. There is evidence for there having been, at one time, a lake in Battlefield Cavern, which has now dried up (perhaps due to minor earth movements). The resultant polygonal cracks in the residual mud have begun to infill with pale coloured calcium carbonate. This is the only place in Europe where this phenomenon has been discovered. As a result the cracks have been designated a S.S.S.I.

• Location: White Scar Caves, North Yorkshire.
• Date Taken (dd-mm-yy): 09/08/07

A structure called "The Devil's Tongue", we were told that the artificial lighting accounted for any green algal growth. However, I'm uncertain as to the source of the blue/purple hue. Whether it occurs as a result of camera flash or a mineral other than calcium carbonate being deposited I don't know.

• Location: White Scar Caves, North Yorkshire.
• Date Taken (dd-mm-yy): 09/08/07

As in Flowstone Formation 1.

• Location: White Scar Caves, North Yorkshire.
• Date Taken (dd-mm-yy): 09/08/07

As in Flowstone Formation 1.

• Location: White Scar Caves, North Yorkshire.
• Date Taken (dd-mm-yy): 09/08/07

This is the first of a set of three related photos showing interesting flowstone (calcium carbonate - precipitated out of solution) deposits. I'm sorry for the lack of anything approaching a scale in these pics by the way, I'm too slow-witted...

• Location: White Scar Caves, North Yorkshire
• Date Taken (dd-mm-yy): 09/08/07

Having returned from this year's holiday I thought I'd share a few of my snaps. Unfortunately I don't know much about the geology of the area I visited (which fortunately didn't stop me from enjoying it!). However if anybody wishes to know a little more about the area, I found this: http://www.fortunecity.com/greenfield/ecolodge/25/unfolding.htm to be helpful. Not too in depth so feel free to search for more if interested...