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Sun setting behind a gnarly old tree on the cliffline at Blue Mounds State Park in Luverne, Minnesota.
In the Amblève nature reserve (Belgium) lies an almost magical place, the “Fonds de Quarreux”. During a walk along the river you can discover these mysterious rounded boulders. Legend has it that these quartzite stones are the remains of a mill that the devil is said to have built for a miller who sold his soul to him. But the miller’s wife prevented the mill from working. Thereupon the devil burst into rage, destroyed the mill and killed the woman.
Small waterfall at Pipestone National Monument in Pipestone, Minnesota.
These rocks are about 1.6 billion years old. Several layers of Sioux quartzite, which is harder than ordinary steel, overlay the soft, red pipestone (aka catlinite) layer. This catlinite isn't found anywhere else in the world.
Native American tribes from near and far have been coming to quarry this pipestone for thousands of years. The site is very sacred to them.
The Saar Loop near Mettlach is a breakthrough valley of the Saar through the Taunus quartzite and is one of the most famous sights of the Saarland. The most popular view is offered by the Cloef vantage point 180 m above the river in the Mettlach district of Orscholz. The shore is formed by rock faces, screes and small gorges.
On the wooded mountain ridge within the Saar loop are the former monastery church of St. Gangolf with parts of the former monastery complex and the castle ruins of Montclair. The only place directly on the Saar loop is the village of Dreisbach, which can be reached by ferry.
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Die Saarschleife bei Mettlach ist ein Durchbruchstal der Saar durch den Taunusquarzit und gehört zu den bekanntesten Sehenswürdigkeiten des Saarlandes. Die populärste Ansicht bietet der 180 m hoch über dem Fluss gelegene Aussichtspunkt Cloef im Mettlacher Ortsteil Orscholz. Das Ufer wird von Felswänden, Schutthalden und kleinen Schluchten gebildet.
Auf dem bewaldeten Bergrücken innerhalb der Saarschleife befinden sich die ehemalige Klosterkirche St. Gangolf mit Teilen der ehemaligen Klosteranlage und die Burgruine Montclair. Der einzige unmittelbar an der Saarschleife gelegene Ort ist das Dorf Dreisbach, zu dem man mit einer Fähre übersetzen kann.
Made of a mix of quartzite and granite, this unique natural obelisk stands alone out in the desert southwest.
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I'm off to Scotland tomorrow for a week, so to sign off here's one from last year. This is the very fine Foinaven as seen across the quartzite boulder-field of the neighbouring Cranstackie. These are some of the most northerly mountains in Scotland, right up in the north west of Sutherland and within sight of Cape Wrath.
We shall see what this year brings....
This photo captures a high-angle perspective from the distinctive pink quartzite cliffs of Palisades State Park (South Dakota), looking down into the peaceful creek. Below, the calm waters of Split Rock Creek wind through a rocky bed bordered by dense, vibrant green foliage and trees.
Photographed with an iPhone 17 Pro, edited with Darktable 4.8.0.
PA's Mother is pictured before Squaw Mountain in Rock Canyon. It was just before sunset.
Nikon D7500
Of the many times we have visited Michigan's upper peninsula, we had never visited the area of this falls near the city of L'Anse until October 2020. The falls is somewhat difficult to find but well worth the effort even though there is no good vantage point. My wife almost fell into the Slate River here while tiptoeing along the ledge of a rock wall. A wonderful falls to add to your list.
Suggestion: The angle I have taken in this shot is not acceptable. If you plan on visiting this falls, a pair of high rubber boots might be good equipment to bring in your car. This is a short hike once you have located the proper area to park. Wearing boots, the photographer can wade into this shallow river and zoom in from a better angle. You may even decide to wade in barefoot . . .
A loaded Herzog ballast train heads down the Wisconsin & Southern line north of Madison. The train of famed "Pink Lady" ballast was loaded at the pit at Rock Springs - a long time provider of the pink quartzite rock to the Chicago & Northwestern Ry. Trios of UP SD40-2s were the norm on these ballast trains that loaded on the WSOR.
A photo of a portion of the Shoto-Teien Japanese Gardens at Terrace Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This serene oasis on the banks of Covell Lake blends traditional eastern aesthetics with regional Midwestern elements like Sioux quartzite stone steps, pagodas, and lanterns. It’s a great place to take a stroll along the lake and enjoy the calming and peaceful atmosphere.
IPhone 17 Pro photo, edited with Darktable 4.8.0.
Scenic framing of the Colossi of Memnon with the Theban mountain visible in the background.
These colossal statues depict Pharaoh Amenhotep III seated on a throne and facing eastwards towards the Nile.
Each about 18 meters (60 feet) high and weighs approximately 720 tons. They were originally around 21 meters with the crown and carved from a single block of quartzite sandstone, quarried at el-Gabal el-Ahmar near modern-day Cairo and transported over 600 miles to the ancient site of Thebes at the entrance of his mortuary temple in Luxor. This journey was a significant feat of ancient engineering.
They originally served as guardians to the entrance of Amenhotep III's vast mortuary temple, although very little of the temple remains today being largely destroyed by an ancient earthquake.
The Colossi of Memnon have remarkably endured for millennia. One of the statues was famously known as the "Vocal Memnon" in antiquity due to a phenomenon where it was said to "sing" at sunrise, a sound attributed to the effects of temperature changes on the damaged stone.
The Colossi are a prominent historical landmark and a significant archaeological site on the west bank of Luxor, offering a glimpse into the grandeur of ancient Egyptian architecture and beliefs.
...in the enormous spaces of Assynt. Suilven, Cul Mor, Cul Beag and the river Kirkaig.......The oldest rock formation, Lewisian Gneiss, creates a landscape of low hills and scattered lochans. Rising from this gneiss landscape are huge ‘islands’ of Torridonian sandstone (occasionally capped by quartzite) that resisted the erosive powers of the last Ice Age. These stubborn survivors form the iconic mountains that make the landscape here so distinctive.
Bow Fiddle Rock is a natural sea arch near Portknockie on the north-eastern coast of Scotland. It is so called because it resembles the tip of a fiddle bow. It is composed of Quartzite, a metamorphic rock which was originally quartz sandstone.
This rock is part of the Cullen Quartzite formation which is seen along the coast between Buckie and Cullen. The formation is some 2,400m thick and dates from the Neoproterozoic Era, 1,000 to 541 million years ago.
My favorite hiking partner is my son, who has a lot of patience and never leaves me behind.
This was taken near the top of the Whistlers in Jasper National Park. The large quartzite boulders are erratics that were dropped off here by a glacier 11,000 years ago.
This scenic photograph captures Winnewissa Falls cascading over a sheer rock ledge at Pipestone National Monument in Minnesota. Framed by rugged quartzite rock formations and lush green trees, the rushing water spills into a serene pool below. The early morning light beautifully highlights the textures of the stone, creating a peaceful yet powerful depiction of the natural landscape in this secluded spot.
This was a nice side-trip from our stay in Sioux Falls in early June. There is a ¾ mile paved trail behind the Visitor Center and the falls are about halfway along that loop path that leads to the falls. We went in the morning to beat the heat and we were the only people at the falls. Nice.
Photographed with an iPhone 17 Pro, edited with Darktable 4.8.0.
Colossal quartzite statue of Amenhotep III at his Mortuary Temple at the Theban Necropolis near Luxor
This is the old road to the trailhead parking area for Black Slate Falls and Quartzite Falls near L'Anse, Michigan. Both waterfalls are short hikes, one upstream and one downstream. Today, just to the right of the frame, a bridge has replaced driving through the Slate River.
Clouds hang against the strata exposed on the cliffs above the Going-To-The-Sun Highway in Glacier National Park, Montana. Theses sedimentary rocks were deposited in a shallow sea during the Proterozoic Eon between 1.6 to 1.8 billion years ago. The youngest of these rocks are the limestones and dolomites of the Shepard Formation which make up the massive beds at the top of the cliff. The next set of strata are partially hidden by the clouds and vegetation. If you look close at the right side, in the middle of the photo, you can make out the reddish to buff argillites (slightly metamorphosed shale), siltites (slightly metamorphosed siltstones) and quartzites (slightly metamorphosed sandstones) of the Snowslip Formation. These sediments were deposited on land in streams and mudflats adjacent to the ancient sea. The cliffs at the bottom of the photo are composed of thinly bedded limestones and dolomites with minor beds of argillite that composed the Helena or Siyeh Formation. These beds formed on the floor of the shallow sea. Some of the limestone beds are composed of beds formed of calcium carbonate precipitated by beds of cyanobacteria. The fossil cyanobacteria (called stromatolites) can be seen in the limestone. Glacier National Park has fascinating geology.
This photo shows Split Rock Creek at Palisades State Park in South Dakota on a warm, cloudy June morning. The park is centered on this creek which has carved deep gorges through 1.2 billion-year-old pink Sioux quartzite rock formations. In the distance, you can see some of the vertical cliffs and spires that rise up approximately 50 feet above the water. I’ll show you a closer view of those cliffs another day.
Editing notes: I captured this photo with an iPhone 17 Pro’s main camera in RAW mode. While editing with Darktable, I used parametric masks to take the neon hue out of the foliage (making it more olive color) and darker. I then added some local contrast & saturation to the rocks to make them pop against the darker green foliage. Like a natural vignette, this helps draw your eye to the center of the photo. To finish, I blurred the distant rock cliffs a bit and masked the reflections in the water so that I could add a liberal touch of HDR effect to make the reflections in the water stand out more. I though about replacing the bland, overcast mid-morning sky and removing the picnic tables, but I left it alone. Authentic.
Bow Fiddle Rock is a natural sea arch near Portknockie on the north-eastern coast of Scotland. It is so called because it resembles the tip of a fiddle bow. It is composed of Quartzite, a metamorphic rock which was originally quartz sandstone.
This rock is part of the Cullen Quartzite formation which is seen along the coast between Buckie and Cullen. The formation is some 2,400m thick and dates from the Neoproterozoic Era, 1,000 to 541 million years ago.
available in my web-store:
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While water rushes over the quartzite along the Big Sioux River, a southbound D&I rock train from Dell Rapids passes overhead led by DAIR 3028 and 3024. A pair of geeps comprised the rest of the consist.
Sometimes I toil for a shot, but this time things just came together here, and all I had to do was adjust camera settings. Within a couple minutes of visiting the Sioux Falls, I heard a rumble of approaching traffic on the D&I setting up for the marquee moments of railroad scenes in South Dakota. Shooting something on the D&I was a priority, and the previous day was a roster photo in Hawarden, Iowa. Little did I know this scene would come perfectly together making for great happiness. I do like when geology and railroading come together.
The namesake of Sioux Falls, SD is located in Falls Park along the Big Sioux River (Dakotans are pretty creative with their names:). The river drops about 50ish feet over the course of several hundred yards with a largest drop of about 25 feet (the drop in the background here).
I think my favorite aspect of 'The Falls' is the pink/red Sioux Quartzite, an extremely hard stone, that the water tumbles over. Since the falls aren't really that big, the pink rock quickly draws your attention as you scramble over the outcroppings.
-> Quartzite was quarried in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s into building stone and cobblestone. With the ability to transport stone out by train, quarrying became one of region’s largest industries. Almost every local community had structures made of quartzite. (See Here for examples of the beautiful buildings.) Because of the stones hardness and durability , these building are still standing today as historic schools, courthouses, churches, fire stations and hotels – many have been converted to museums.
Because of its durability and availability, it has been used in the process of 'chip-sealing' roads all around the area. While growing up in Southeast SD, I thought pink roads were the norm. Guess not. Now I miss them. And that concludes today's ramble.
Well, I hope you like it.
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🇫🇷 Situé dans le désert du Kalahari, Tsodilo est composé d’énormes formations rocheuses de quartzite. On dit que chacune de ses roches est la représentation d’une famille. La plus élevée d’entre elles est le Mont Mâle. Avec ses 410 m de hauteur, il surplombe majestueusement la région. Vient ensuite le Mont Femelle avec 300 m de haut et un nombre important de peintures. Le troisième, le Mont Enfant s’élève quant à lui à 40 mètres.
🇬🇧 Located in the Kalahari Desert, Tsodilo is made up of huge quartzite rock formations. Each of its rocks is said to represent a family. The highest of these is Mont Mâle. At 410 m high, it towers majestically over the region. Next comes Mont Femelle, 300 m high and featuring a large number of paintings. The third, Mont Enfant, rises to a height of 40 metres. .
🇩🇪 Tsodilo liegt in der Kalahari-Wüste und besteht aus riesigen Felsformationen aus Quarzit. Man sagt, dass jeder seiner Felsen eine Familie repräsentiert. Der höchste von ihnen ist der Mount Mâle. Mit einer Höhe von 410 m überragt er majestätisch die Region. Danach folgt der Mont Femelle mit einer Höhe von 300 m und einer großen Anzahl von Gemälden. Der dritte Berg, der Mont Enfant, ist 40 m hoch.
🇪🇸 Situado en el desierto del Kalahari, Tsodilo está formado por enormes formaciones rocosas de cuarcita. Se dice que cada una de sus rocas representa a una familia. La más alta es el Monte Mâle. Con 410 m de altura, domina majestuosamente la región. Le sigue el monte Femelle, de 300 m de altura y con numerosas pinturas. El tercero, el Monte Enfant, alcanza los 40 metros.
🇮🇹 .Situato nel deserto del Kalahari, Tsodilo è costituito da enormi formazioni rocciose di quarzite. Si dice che ogni roccia rappresenti una famiglia. La più alta di queste è il Mont Mâle. Con i suoi 410 m di altezza, domina maestosamente la regione. Segue il Mont Femelle, alto 300 m e caratterizzato da un gran numero di dipinti. Il terzo, il Mont Enfant, raggiunge i 40 metri di altezza.
In 1853, Jane a smith Russell had this church built in memory of her husband James Russell, landlord of the Dunlewey Estate. The church in Poisoned Glen was built from marble and blue quartzite. As the estate declined, the church fell into disrepair and the roof was removed in 1955 for safety.
The Falls: Epic Nature in the City Center.
Sioux Falls is home to "The Falls" of the Big Sioux River, a waterway system that has been flowing in its present course for thousands of years. The falls have been a focus of life in the region throughout history, from prehistoric people who inhabited the area before 500 B.C. to the Lakota and Dakota tribes in the 18th century to modern day. Surrounding the falls is beautiful Falls Park, a 50-hectare green space in the heart of the city. The pink quartzite rock, or Sioux Quartzite, seen at Falls Park is native to the area and was used to construct roads and many of Sioux Falls’ first buildings. Its rustic, rosy hue is easily recognizable when viewing the city’s skyline.
Many thanks for your time, visit and comments - always highly appreciated!
This wide angle photo shows the "old mill" on the far side of Falls Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, also known as the Queen Bee Mill. Built between 1879 and 1881 and was primarily constructed from locally quarried pink Sioux Quartzite. The mill stood seven stories high with a footprint of 80 x 100 feet (24 × 30 m).
When it opened on October 25, 1881, the mill could process 1,200 barrels of grain per day and had railroad connections to all five of the city's railways. However, the mill struggled to turn a profit due to an insufficient local wheat supply and closed just a couple of years after opening. After sitting dormant and serving various alternate purposes (including a hydroelectric plant and warehouse), a devastating fire largely destroyed the mill in 1956 and only the foundations remain today.
What you see on the far riverbank is the old turbine house, a wooden structure on top of a stone foundation. A long horizontal shaft ran out the back to the large mill complex (now fenced off in ruins behind it). The shaft was connected to heavy gears inside the mill and drove a vertical shaft that reached to the 7th floor. A multitude of belts were attached to that vertical shaft on each floor to run the mill equipment. (Amazing, that must have been a design nightmare).
Editing note: There were about 12 people in the original photo and they were removed.
IPhone 17 Pro photo, edited with Darktable 4.8.0. and Photoshop.
Steptoe Butte is a quartzite island jutting out of the silty loess of the Palouse hills in Whitman County, Washington, in the northwest United States. The 3,612-foot butte is preserved as Steptoe Butte State Park, a publicly owned 150-acre recreation area located 12 miles north of Colfax. It is an interesting drive to the top. A long spiral drive. Fascinating views, but hard to capture on photos.