Turquoise by moonrancher

Photography • Story/Sequential • posted on Oct 19, 2009

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Description

This is the same spot as yesterday's post, on a boulder above the water that runs into Twin Lakes east of Independence Pass. If you drop down on the other side, you can get to Aspen, Colorado on a famously narrow and steep road. I don't know why the water is so green. It was far below us, and there was no safe way to get a closer view. It reflected very brightly on the rock face on the right so that it glowed. Please don't read the rest of this if you hate reckoning and speculation. The color of the water seemed to come from minerals more than from algae. It seemed almost milky in some lighting, in fact. But still it could be an algae that lives in particularly icy waters. I read that white rock or coral sand makes water turquoise. There are "Chalk Cliffs" in these parts, and also not far from here, in a secret place just mentioned on a historic Turquoise Trail map as "Leadville" was one of the largest turquoise mines. I wondered if the mineral might be some form of copper, because this is also not far from Copper Mountain.

Comments (15)

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tstray1

5:56PM | Mon, 19 October 2009

Wish I was there. Beautiful location, great shots!

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clbsmiley

5:58PM | Mon, 19 October 2009

Wonderful!!! Beautiful speculation.

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bmac62

6:13PM | Mon, 19 October 2009

I like the speculation. I may have to plan a trip to some of the old mining towns and camps next spring or fall. I am beginning to think about a four wheel vehicle now. Lovely photos.

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jocko500

6:45PM | Mon, 19 October 2009

super wonderful stuff here

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tennesseecowgirl

6:46PM | Mon, 19 October 2009

beautiful!!

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Seaview123

7:05PM | Mon, 19 October 2009

Great looking place. Nice photo collage.

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durleybeachbum

4:53AM | Tue, 20 October 2009

Very beautiful, and equally, very interesting!

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Juliette.Gribnau

5:42AM | Tue, 20 October 2009

fantastic captures and presentation

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k8rhno

9:41PM | Tue, 20 October 2009

I love this shot great work my favorite parts are the blue bubbles coming from the falling water and the contrasting fall leaves that are turning in the foreground thanks for sharing DK.

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drace68

11:19PM | Tue, 20 October 2009

Copper could be a culprit. Turquoise is a copper alumina phosphate with hydroxyl and water molecules attached - had to look it up.

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AnnieD

5:16PM | Wed, 21 October 2009

OK..getting dizzy so I'm backing away from that fantastic view! :D Great shots..

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DennisReed

6:18PM | Wed, 21 October 2009

Beautiful captures DK!

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Richardphotos

9:54AM | Thu, 22 October 2009

you are fortunate to have so many picturesque places.excellent fotos

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0rest4wicked

7:35AM | Mon, 26 October 2009

Great photo! The speculation seems to be on the right track. Would lean towards fine particulate in the water as well. Be it from mine dumps or maybe the water source is glacier fed. Been under quarantine this last week. What happened to the gallery?

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