Diamond Craters – Oregon’s Geologic Gem

After visiting Peter French’s Round Barn yesterday, we took the auto tour of Diamond Craters.
“There is no other place in North America like Diamond Craters.  That’s the opinion held by scores of scientists and educators who have visited and studied the area.  It has the best and most diverse basaltic volcanic features in the United States… Yet visitors with little or no geologic training will probably see nothing more than acres of sagebrush and a few lava flows and craters.”
Well, I’m one of those visitor’s with little or no geologic training,
and acres of sagebrush and a few lava flows and craters is what I saw.  :)  I read the guide at the appropriate stops, but I have to tell you that after a while, all that stuff about domes, ash flow tuff, pyroclastics, and magmas just began to flow like lava around in my mind.  It never did congeal.  :(
However, I did enjoy the scenery, and I noticed that the rain storms that came through on Wednesday and Thursday dumped quite a bit of snow on the Steens Mountains.  I was thinking of taking the rustic road up to the Steens tomorrow, but I’m going to think a little more about that.
The road back home did take us through about half of Malheur’s auto tour route, so you know I had to get a couple of bird pics.  :)   This great blue heron was very intensely looking for a bite to eat.  They are just like statues when they are hunting.
Rails are usually very secretive, but these young soras were out in the open.  There were actually four of them feeding in the same area.  Next year, they will have yellow beaks and a distinctive face pattern.  They are about the size of a quail.  (it’s hard to tell size in a close up picture)

Today was a day of rest and relaxation after heading to the farmer’s market in Burn.  I tried to attend the Harney County Fair, but I was there too early in the morning.  :(

Thanks for stopping by…. talk to you later,  Judy