Colorado Science: Researchers discover secret to Castle Rock's longevity

Рет қаралды 102,462

Күн бұрын

Denver Museum of Nature and Science researchers found that Castle Rock’s durability is due to microscopic amounts of the colorful gemstone opal.
Read more: www.rmpbs.org/blogs/rocky-mou...
Subscribe to our KZfaq channel: bit.ly/3zeF6Ch
------------------------------------------------------
Follow Rocky Mountain PBS on our other platforms, too.
• Newsletter: www.rmpbs.org/newsletter/
• Facebook: / rmpbs
• Instagram: / rmpbs
• LinkedIn: / rocky-mountain-pbs

Пікірлер: 206

@ericcomp7032 2 ай бұрын

Seeing a dude licking rocks at 7am is really going to brighten my whole day

@codename495 2 ай бұрын

That’s the most Colorado statement I’ve ever heard.

@user-mp9rd4hg8b Ай бұрын

When the water faucet or water fountain on the other side of the room just won't do.

@rockymtnpbs Ай бұрын

Glad we could help

@user-nd7fp6un5t Ай бұрын

A small spray bottle of water means I am not a Geologist

@kerricorser4562 Ай бұрын

I liked it

@user-mp9rd4hg8b Ай бұрын

2:15 in honor of the (probably dozens) of geologists and geology students who have licked that rock before you. Salute!

@CricketsBay Ай бұрын

If 1 of them had Hep B, they all have it now.

@efdangotu Ай бұрын

Yeah whatever. Pass the bowl, chump.

@justjane2070 Ай бұрын

Could carry a damp cloth !?

@BrokenBarBox 24 күн бұрын

@@justjane2070 let’s be honest here, seeing him rub it with a damp cloth wouldn’t be nearly as fun

@XSemperIdem5 Ай бұрын

So the kids constantly being told not to lick rocks were just geologists in the making? Seriously though, geology is fascinating. I chose to take it as one of my science courses in undergrad and the lab was so fun. For our exams we were given samples and had to identify the minerals by conducting certain tests.

@BrokenCurtain Ай бұрын

Sees rock, calls it tiramisu, licks it. "Mmh, tastes like arsenic."

@josephmedina6403 10 күн бұрын

Spinel is main source of mercury!

@GrandmaTurtle 2 ай бұрын

I like how you called the uplifted layers, "tiramisu"

@will-o-the-wisp-witch 22 күн бұрын

I would have went with "lasagna"

@eonarose 22 күн бұрын

Then went and licked it.

@mellowyellowmom7631 21 күн бұрын

The opal in the rock was beautiful! I’m happy to learn things like this

@edwardhanson3664 2 ай бұрын

This is the clearest explanation of this I have seen. Now it makes sense. I've read a handful of news articles that were poorly written and really didn't know what they were talking about..

@rockymtnpbs Ай бұрын

thanks!

@Stromboli15 Ай бұрын

Never before has soil stratification sounded so delicious!! 😘🤌😋

@frattman 2 ай бұрын

I love this guy! Genuinely excited by studying geology and communicating it to others and it's contagious. I forgot where I first heard geologists lick their minerals but now I can say that's confirmed. I suppose you can tell something from the flavor as well. Anyway, rock on man and please make more videos!

@Raii_Chu 28 күн бұрын

It’s 3am, I need to sleep. (watches video of a man licking a rock)

@WWZenaDo Ай бұрын

If anyone's interested in an opal site open to the public, there's the Royal Peacock Opal Mine in Nevada, where for a fee you can dig your own opal.

@kasondaleigh 24 күн бұрын

Thanks! That was my thought!

@peteradams7629 Ай бұрын

Notice that the opal chunk he waves around IS NOT FROM COLORADO. It is from Australia. The Colorado opal is common opal, and has no flash of color. The Colorado opal is basically a whitish color. Common opal is found all over the world.

@josephmedina6403 10 күн бұрын

That was a 500+ carat specimen easily.

@Mikee512 2 күн бұрын

> Spends 3 minutes hyping CO geology > Very first sample shown is Australian > 🤪

@curtisdaniel9294 2 ай бұрын

I learned this phrase from a Professor in Geology at CC: Me: hey prof, what's this rock? Prof: it's a leaverite, leaver her right where you found it! ❤

@GarC170 Ай бұрын

Idk if I ever saw Randy Marsh lick a rock. South Park needs to remedy this.

@Beardqt 27 күн бұрын

I'm just passing through and don't have much to do with Colorado but this was still very informative and funny, the geology there is amazing.

@patmayer7222 Ай бұрын

Spent three years hiking all over Central rockies,,co.....North of pikes peak,,,,,..........just unbelievable area,diverse as ever,...❤1980-83.....,,,,

@MrDuffy81 Ай бұрын

Castlewood Canyon State Park is covered in the layer of opal that is white that you find covering many square feet of the rock in exposed portions.

@MossyMozart Ай бұрын

I spent childhood in Manitou Springs, Colorado. And that means the Garden of the Gods! That's as far as my geology knowledge went at the time. I have seen Castle Rock, too. I love the Rockies. (That polished conglomerate face is beautiful.)

@toxic.forest 2 күн бұрын

I love Castle Rock! Its beautiful in the fall

@David-lo1fo 15 күн бұрын

My grandmother lived in Conifer, Co. In the summer i would visit her for a week or two and hike all Over the mountain she built her house on. Across the dirt road from her driveway was rock formations that had very distinct Footprints of dinosaurs!

@alenahawke475 Ай бұрын

Im glad I'm not the only one who licks rocks! 😊❤

@stinkymccheese8010 19 күн бұрын

It’s important because understanding it can lead to new building materials.

@HyrimBot 2 ай бұрын

did you wash that slab before or after you licked it? that's why we carry spray bottles or sponges when we set up at rock swaps. i'm a big fan of the Crestone conglomerate.

@ohsweetmystery Ай бұрын

Disgusting, really, why put human bacteria all over it when plain water would have done the same.

@ThingEngineer 23 күн бұрын

Teacher, "Don't like the radioactive ones." Student, "How do we tell." Teacher, "I'll tell you tomorrow..."

@ericsarnoski6278 2 ай бұрын

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop .

@timothywarner5560 Ай бұрын

748. I've done it.

@WhuDhat Ай бұрын

tootsie rock*

@garyhenderson7334 Ай бұрын

Way fewer than to get to the opal in a conglomerate rock.

@terin1862 Ай бұрын

@3172bees 13 күн бұрын

Great video!

@jimmymarsh44 Ай бұрын

Other scientists joke about tasting or playing with the materials they're studying while geologists, in all seriousness, are just like "... Have you licked it yet?" Dorky kids playing with rocks becoming badass adults playing with rocks :) Love it.

@tommycollier9172 Ай бұрын

Dude you left a rock Kudos to you

@tommycollier9172 Ай бұрын

Very interesting thanks for sharing

@pamkriner5945 2 ай бұрын

Would love to see an image of the matrix under a microscope.

@curiosity19 Ай бұрын

Isn't it shown at 3:41?

@MossyMozart Ай бұрын

@@curiosity19 - YES!

@fischkopf Ай бұрын

The haircut gives rock-licking rights.

@toughenupfluffy7294 2 ай бұрын

Technically, opal is a mineraloid, not a mineral, because it doesn't have a characteristic crystal lattice, but is instead amorphous.

@ethimself5064 2 ай бұрын

Technically the Rocky Mountains or not actually Rock, I would presume

@pupfish_ Ай бұрын

Can you explain why he called opal chalcedony? I can’t find anything saying they are the same or similar in anyway. Is it opal or chalcedony?

@bryanjensen300 Ай бұрын

@@pupfish_ He is confused or something. Opal is softer. I am guessing he means Jasper or seam agate.

@Sflhunter 6 күн бұрын

You could just use water on a towel lol

@jonathanpeterson1984 27 күн бұрын

His hair looks like he rode a really fast roller coaster to work

@icarusbinns3156 24 күн бұрын

That’s called Colfax Avenue

@eewilson9835 Ай бұрын

Hello geologist, I want to send you a rad and real friendship bracelet, from the rocky erratics of north idaho! Keep stackin' dem bracelets, thanks for the conglomerate of information, adios.

@BlueWaves975 Ай бұрын

Very cool!!

@sharkysharkerson 25 күн бұрын

Let me lick this sample to better understand the distribution of various lead and arsenic deposits this specific formation is famous for.

@elinope4745 Ай бұрын

Ends up this kid was actually just studying the windows, and I didn't even know...

@gualula8641 Ай бұрын

😍😋 I LOVE 🪨 ROCKS and I’m always keeping an eye on them. Excellent video 👍🏽

@jamiegallier2106 2 ай бұрын

Very cool

@SensiProductionzBlindDogVideos Ай бұрын

Maybe that’s how ancients made mega structures? Mud and opal dust! 🙃

@monicareid8858 28 күн бұрын

Chalcedony is Opal matrix?! I had no idea! Cool!

@kasondaleigh 24 күн бұрын

Cool!

@heidilady 2 ай бұрын

My man! Get a sponge!

@jamesmcdermott5048 12 күн бұрын

Geologist's lick their rocks? So does my dog and my girlfriend...

@asanablue Ай бұрын

Colorado. Have not been there. Sounds great. Only past few years gotten into geology.

@icarusbinns3156 24 күн бұрын

You can visit. But please don’t stay. There’s too many people now I was born here

@justinfantastic4882 4 күн бұрын

opal and chalcedony are same thing ?? I thought common opal was a silicate and chal was a form of quartz??

@barnbuild27 2 ай бұрын

Where was the volcano that the volcanic event originated from?

@ogadlogadl490 Ай бұрын

Excellent question!

@j.w.r3730 Ай бұрын

Probably the supervolcano vent that blew its lid over 6 times as it migrated north to presently in the Yosemite area of Wyoming. Where it is now,and it's still moving,Yosemite Lake in the last decade has moved over 1000 feet for example. The last eruption was 550,000 years ago. Hope that is the last one.

@BlackandWhitecustoms 18 күн бұрын

First thing geologist do when they find something millions of years old, and buried in dirt, is to lick it 😂

@kathb1683 Ай бұрын

Love to hear how similar they may be to the East!

@y2kmadd 28 күн бұрын

Seems like those scientists need water.

@AtlasJotun 17 сағат бұрын

If you're on the fence about getting a membership to the Nature & Science Museum (old name was better), just remember that at least once a year they'll let you go and poke around through the vaults, photographing or sketching stuff pretty much at your leisure. Unfortunately even members don't get to lick the rocks, despite how delectable some specimens appear :.(

@hokudadog7637 27 күн бұрын

Engaging and awesome! True geologist - lick the rocks!

@claudegervais7103 Ай бұрын

Spray water from bottle :P

@ProducerBrandon 19 күн бұрын

Randy Marsh!

@BaroqueBlues 2 ай бұрын

2:03 Don't tell people to lick rocks, some are poisonous.

@edwardhanson3664 2 ай бұрын

Sheesh, just pour water on it.

@intricatic 3 күн бұрын

"We lick rocks." ~Geologists

@will-o-the-wisp-witch 22 күн бұрын

So who washes or sanitizes the licked rocks? I hope nobody is out there licking malachite or selenite. 😅

@pupfish_ Ай бұрын

I can’t find anything saying that Opal is Chalcedony? Can someone explain plz

@michaelrudolph9696 11 күн бұрын

This was strange

@dskinner6263 26 күн бұрын

Who is the speaker?

@randolphfriend8260 Ай бұрын

💙

@Maurice-Navel Ай бұрын

Yum!

@scotts595 Ай бұрын

My kid is a Geologist 👍

@jooleejoolz 26 күн бұрын

So, I guess the saying *isn't* "Go kick rocks!" if you're a geologist....

@mountainmanxyz 24 күн бұрын

Or, hear me out, you could spray it with a water bottle! 😂

@Novastar.SaberCombat 2 ай бұрын

I only baaarrrely touch on "crystal-infused" stonework in my series of books, but it's definitely inferred for not-so-obvious yet still very logical reasons. 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨

@longsleevethong1457 9 күн бұрын

That dude has a weird search history. Bet

@Renard380 Ай бұрын

I have a passionate hatred for people who lick things that others will have to touch later. I mean it's 2024, we know the importance of hygiene and water is easily available everywhere.

@bobkoroua 10 күн бұрын

So you are not allowed to puck up a rock and take it home ?

@Leon_George 29 күн бұрын

I need permission to pick up rocks??

@frankleepower2333 Ай бұрын

Just make sure you don't lick cinnabar. 🤣😱

@eckosters 2 ай бұрын

Geologist here. I’m curious what the reactions of the general public will be (I’m the first one to react apparently), because I believe this is a confusing story. To begin with: Conglomerate isn’t defined. To go from not explaining what it is to thin sections and opal cement is 3 giant jumps into an unknown abyss. And yes, I’ve been to CO more than once but sadly not (yet) to your museum

@bartolomeothesatyr 2 ай бұрын

I am perhaps an unrepresentatively scientifically literate sample of the audience, but this being a production of a PBS station, perhaps not. I learned what conglomerate is in elementary school, so I had no problem following what he was explaining. In fact, I found it refreshing that the video doesn't assume total ignorance on the part of the audience.

@pupfish_ Ай бұрын

Can you explain why he said opal is chalcedony? I have never heard that before and can’t find anything saying they are the same mineral?

@eckosters Ай бұрын

It’s the same

@pupfish_ Ай бұрын

@@eckosters how?

@bartolomeothesatyr Ай бұрын

@@pupfish_ Opal and chalcedony are both amorphous (non-crystalline) forms of silica (silicon dioxide), the same mineral that makes up quartz crystal, and they are both deposition products of silica-rich water underground. The only real difference between them is the size and structure of the deposition products, which in opal specifically consist of nanoparticles that are of a size near the wavelengths of visible light, such that the particles form a sort of diffraction grating that reflects and absorbs visible light with opal's characteristic "flashes" of color.

@mikemccright7418 24 күн бұрын

Why are you using a sample from Australia? Use your actual rock with an opal matrix

@Truth8Hurts 21 күн бұрын

I had to stop the video and go the the comments when he started licking rocks.

@lordnikonoriginal Ай бұрын

And what do WE call it when we cut a small bit off to view what may be hidden inside? We call them "windows". Therefore, we are windowlickers. I'm a proud, practicing windowlicker. 😁🤙🏻

@swagwolfgang 22 күн бұрын

You could of just used a sponge bro

@WhuDhat Ай бұрын

dude really licked that rock lol

@yolandae.5764 26 күн бұрын

Consider washing rocks

@mileygray7794 4 күн бұрын

the land belongs to the people the people can take Frome the land that witch they please

@StephenSternGoth Ай бұрын

What does the job entail

@mmccubbis3662 23 күн бұрын

After that licking the rock, I couldn’t hear anything else. Sorry, just use a damp cloth or something.

@roys8870 Ай бұрын

Interesting! A thousand meters underneath it might be hidden a large mineral deposit, most likely gold and copper.

@raysupllc 23 күн бұрын

Great, now people are going to chip away at Castle Rock because of your video

@gerald1833 23 күн бұрын

Tiramisu? 🤔

@thesjkexperience 12 күн бұрын

Woohoo, I guessed correctly 🤗

@armageddonready4071 2 ай бұрын

I have been digging in my property for a few years now. It’s clear that Colorado was once impacted by a serious amount of FAST moving water.

@tehallanaz 24 күн бұрын

You could have used like water …

@devinsthesis 5 күн бұрын

This dude has definitely done more then just lick those rocks.

@CatsCatsCats-qs6cx 21 күн бұрын

Chemists don't need to lick stuff to figure out what it is.

@NotMolly-jf2rh Ай бұрын

So now a bunch of dorks are gonna break the place down anyway.

@TRyan3 6 күн бұрын

As an exploration geologist in the area I must correct James on one major mistake. Most public land does NOT require ANY PERMISSION to collect. CO state land is open if not signed, just check MLRS for sections with claims on any federal land and ask BLM if unsure. Don't lick rocks, some are poisonous so spit and smear instead!

@user-ie1tz5rm8x 2 ай бұрын

A billion years...billion. One . Got anything old ? Ish ?.... ... ... Don't lick the rocks , spray bottle , sponge ,.. or. Spit on it whipe it with your finger , dry finger on the next dudes backpack...and wash your hands before sandwhitch time