Thursday, October 1, 2020

The Mysterious Quartz Boulders

I've hiked Twin Tanks in Joshua Tree National Park many times. Some of you might even recall some of these hikes. I've hiked it alone here and here and here. I've hiked it with my friend Pat Tillett here. I've hiked it with Cousin Scott, although I can't find the post, so it may have fallen through the cracks!

One of the really interesting things about this area are the large quartz rocks sitting on a hilltop, placed there as if by some mysterious force of nature or alien being. I have never visited the mysterious quartz rocks at sunset or after dark, and that had been bouncing around in my mind for a while as a potential future hike. Then I happened to be talking with my photographer friend Mitch M., who said he couldn't recall seeing the quartz rocks or even the two man-made water tanks, which give the area its name. That was the push I needed to schedule a hike out to Twin Tanks!

I planned a route that, in theory, would take Mitch and I a little north and west of the usual route. From there, I was hoping we could head west and south, and drop into a hidden pictograph site I was aware of. Finally, we could return using the usual route (a sandy wash) that would take us right by the quartz rocks. If my plan worked out, it should put us there just as the sun sets. I know what you're thinking... If my plan worked out, right? That's a big if!

Looks like the mysterious Joshua Tree stone mason has been hard at work again, building this wall.

Front view of "the wall"!

Impressive workmanship!

I took almost no photos on the first half of the hike, but as the sun dipped and the shadows got longer, things got more interesting.

Backlit Mojave Yucca


Mitch composing a shot of an interesting rock pedestal.

A closer look at the rock pedestal. I think we're close to the petroglyph site. Let's go see if we can find it!

So far, my hiking plan was working. We found ourselves right over the top of the secret petroglyph site. I had seen a pose similar to the one above on the Dzrt Grls site here, and wanted to see if I could get something similar. I asked Mitch to climb down below to take my photo. It was scarier than I anticipated, and as I waited for Mitch to capture the shot, I kept feeling like I was going to tumble forward. I was glad to get off the ledge! Oh, did you spot the petroglyphs?? If I ever pose in this spot again (unlikely), I'm going to stick my arms out so I look like the little anthropomorphic petroglyph pecked in the stone. 
 


Now all we had to do was head back down the wash, and (in theory) we would pass by the mysterious quartz rocks. We wanted to explore this area a little more, but we only had about 30 minutes or so until sunset, so we needed to hustle.

Ah, found them! Look closely and you can see Mitch (upper right) heading up the hill to the quartz boulders. He helps give scale to the size of the boulders. As you can see, they really stand out! Like they don't belong here. My theory is that with geologic time, as the hill eroded, pieces of quartz broke off from the original deposit and tumbled down the hill.

Pretty shot of Mitch up on the hill, capturing light on the quartz boulders just before sunset.
 
Here's what the quartz boulders look like when you are standing right next to them, on top of the hill. So bizarre. I can't imagine what kind of geological processes must have taken place to produce these. Smoky haze is visible in the background sky. This is the view to the east.

I was lucky to catch this shot just as the sun was setting on the horizon. This is the view on the opposite side of the quartz boulders, looking west.

Mojave Yucca

I used two LED lights on the quartz rocks for this shot. I like the way it really helps them to stand out. From this view, they remind me a little of headstones in some long forgotten desert cemetery!

Do you see it? I didn't even realize this was a full moon night, and almost as soon as the sun set, this beautiful moon started to rise on the eastern horizon.
 

Thanks for dropping by to check out the alien quartz rocks! As we put on our headlamps for the hike back to the car, we kept our eye out for aliens and UFO's. Lucky for us, no encounters on this particular evening!

Stay safe and stay healthy.
Linking with Skywatch Friday.



55 comments:

  1. The quartz boulders are amazing. I love how skillful you are photographing them with the led lights and then another shot to get the moon. Great work. And you found the petroglyphs. Another great post.

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  2. Going on this hike today and seeing the photographs felt like I was reading a magazine with professional photography. Quite amazing

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  3. Dearest SP&P,
    Wow, that was such a rewarding hike up to capture the quartz rocks!
    You both must have felt oh so proud and lucky, also with the moon coming up.
    Spectacular photos, so there is NO need for ever going back.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  4. Another grand adventure! Thanks so much for taking us along to your magical places.

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  5. I love all the photos, especially the last seven.

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  6. Wow, they do look like they don't belong. I bet a geologist could explain it, but your theory sounds totally plausible.

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  7. Wow, the quartz with the moon in the background is unforgettable. Hope you won't do that pose again between two ledges, putting yourself in danger:( The Yaccas here are beautiful! Have a great (safe) weekend, Jesh

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  8. What a strange collection of rocks. Almost enough to make one believe in aliens. I did see some discussion of geology on the NPS Joshua Tree site but too late at night for me to concentrate on that - still, I'd like to know! Your pictures, as always, were awesome, each and every one.

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  9. That´s so alien landscape to me. Pics could be taken in Mars for all I know. I love those secret petroglyphs. Fantastic hike and superb photography.

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  10. What wonderful nature photos!
    Your contribution is impressive, great shots of flora and fauna.
    That would also be a great contribution to my call Der-Natur-Thursday
    I would be very happy.
    best regards

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  11. Awesome and interesting captures. It never ceases to amaze me what your eyes and your lenses find out there in the desert. Stay safe.

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  12. Seriously good pictures of this amazing landscape--- At some level I expect Chuck Jones or Tex Avery to jump out and say "That's all folks!" The rock formations, the crystal boulders--- and then THE MOON! Beautiful.

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  13. Awesome pictures, I love the wall someone has built, well made one at that. Brilliant photos of the quartz, makes the place look so alien like the yucca whicd could be a triffid

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  14. Interesting. Quartz usually forms in granites and those strangely eroded rocks look like some kind of granite to me. Quartz occurs throughout granite as one of its constituents, but also can appear in a much purer form. This occurs when the rocks become heated at great depth and then penetrate up through vertical cracks in the overlying rocks where they solidify as quartz veins. The quartz is harder and more resistant to erosion so my guess is that the quartz on the hilltop is just the top of a vein of quartz extending down into the hill, whereas the odd rocks lower down have tumbled there at a later date. Whether I'm right or not, your photos capture the area beautifully.

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  15. Splendid shots of this fascinating area !

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  16. Hello,

    These are beautiful landscapes images. the rocks formations are wonderful. I love the yucca, sky and the last moon shots. Just beautiful! Take care, enjoy your day! Have a happy weekend!

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  17. That was a hike with a great ending, those rock formations are wonderful. Very interesting to see those alien quartz rocks. The last shot with the full moon is my favourite.

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  18. How absolutely gorgeous! You make your blog so interesting because you are often out in the desert searching for something that's interesting. So we follow you on your quest and are so happy when your search is a success. I love the full moon rising -- a great end to a wonderful day.

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  19. ...thanks for brightening my day, it's raining here, something that we need.

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  20. This hike deliver as always beautiful results. Keep well.

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  21. Wow! What a adventure for you both ~ glad you have a healthy body ~ Gorgeous photos ~ amazing quartz rocks and the moon photos ~ ^_^

    Live with love each moment,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  22. Wonderful scenes of this magical place! Glad you didn't have an attack of vertigo! Your timing was great so as to catch the last light.

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  23. Weeee, what a trip! Thank you for the journey!

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  24. wonderful rocks with amazing shapes ! love the photos of these gorgeous landscapes

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  25. I always love your photos! Rock formations are fascinating, and I love sunsets and desert plants etc.

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  26. Glad that you and Mitch didn't encounter any aliens, Rick. yes, I did see the petroglyphs but would also have felt a bit nervous posing on that ledge! The backlit yucca and the sun and moon setting between the alien boulders were my favorites this post.

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  27. Another wonderful journey. Love the photos as always!
    Keep safe and have a great week.

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  28. IF---a mighty big word but only two letters.
    How crazy to find these quartz rocks just littered around and that stone wall---amazing. Love to see the sun go down as the Moon comes up. excellent shots. Thanks for the travelogue.
    MB

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  29. And not a bug in site, although I can distinctly recall my days in Texas lifting up rocks and discovering all kinds of slithering and stinging creatures. :-)

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  30. Ah yes, looks like a pegmatite dike. Sometimes they contain fascinating minerals. Pegmatites are formed from the very last molten (liquid) portions of an igneous mass as it cools. The wall was an amazingly pieced together! Was it natural or man made. Looks natural to me.

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    1. Yes, definitely natural. I was joking about the stonemason. Thanks for the info on the pegmatite. I'll have to google that and read more!

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  31. Fascinating photos. I love the way you captured the quartz rocks.

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  32. Oh wow! Amazing earth and its geological antecedents are fascinating. You have captured it so beautifully.

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  33. Another amazing journey. Those quartz boulders are something special (I liked the sunset photos the best).

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  34. I can always count on your post for something unexpected. Quartz! And those aren't just small pieces - great idea to include a person in the shot for scale. And as others have said, the sunset shots with the quartz are ethereal!

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  35. Another series of beautiful rock formations. Looks like an alien world. Happy weekend.

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  36. You had a very interesting day with various amazing views. My favourite location and shots are the ones with the full moon.
    Have a nice and safe weekend!

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  37. Wow some really lovely photos in this post! For some reason, the first thing I was reminded of by the boulders was Jabba the Hut from Star Wars. I love the silhouette shots and the setting sun one. Have a great week!

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  38. I've never been out west, though I've always thought that someday... What a striking landscape!

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  39. Brother Man, I Am So Ashamed With Myself - I Felt Like I Spent A Lot Of Time In That Beautiful Desert Area But I Clearly Never Even Scratched The Surface Of Such A Magical Place - And If I Hiked With You, You Would End Up Leaving Me There - Outstanding Photos - Very Creative - Thanx So Much For Adventuring On

    Cheers

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  40. Well how curious kid is that! Love your determination to find these fascinating sites SPP, and also love that we get to see them, superb images as always.
    Btw yes, they are officially known as a crackle of cockatoos ☺️

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  41. Wow! That was truly a beautiful journey in every way. Loved all the photos. How wonderful to see that full moon rise there.

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  42. Que lugar tan bonito y esos petroglifos son impresionantes

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  43. Wow! Such an awesome place. And oh... be careful!

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  44. Always always magical to my senses, your posts my friend! And that wall is just really impressive! The way it was built with edges matching the others around it, Wow!

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  45. That was a hike full of interesting things. I always love seeing the petroglyphs you find and trying to make out the meaning and of course, a good mystery like the quartzite rocks is fun. But what a finale! the moon cleverly rising between the rocks, and bright orange on top of that! Well done.

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  46. No encounters is good, but not surprising...I’m sure our planet is off limits to all others right now )). Please do not strike that pose up there ever again. Please. My heart is still pounding. Now with all the above out of the way , I am so glad your plans worked out and that you got the added gift of the full moon. Beautiful pictures, distant and up close. Thank you for all. Was this recently or before the fires? Are there still smoky skies?

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    1. Thanks, Sallie. This was recent... during the fires, but at a time when the smoky haze was starting to clear. Thanks for your concern, and I have no plans of striking that pose again!

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  47. Fabulous photos as usual. Whoever made the wall has made the pieces fit like a jigsaw puzzle.

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  48. Fabulous photos! Those quartz rocks almost look like a giant threw them down that gully, as if they were massive dice. Very unusual. I sometimes find pieces of white quartz among the other rocks along the Colorado foothills, but nothing large. The stone wall was amazing and I also like seeing petroglyphs and always wish I could understand the story they tell.

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