I believe I've been told that at least some of the weathering of Union's cones was of the kind caused by a pickax. Ditto the damage to Atomizer's back cone. I think I've also been told that the damage to Union was done before its current dormancy began, and that some water and steam would come out of the gouge during eruptions, but I couldn't swear to it. David Schwarz <div class="gmail_quote">On Sat, Sep 26, 2009 at 7:09 PM, Mario Durrant <<a href="mailto:yellowstone17@bridgernet.com">yellowstone17@bridgernet.com</a>> wrote: <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> Sorry to bring back an old topic, but I wonder how much "weathering" vs. vandalism is likely responsible for some recent comments on this listserv regarding the current state of Union geyser's cone. I personally have only been to Shoshone a handful of times since 2003, and never saw the cone prior to that year. The attached picture shows how the cone has always looked to me, from my first trip in August 2003. Does the primary deterioration consist of the "missing" section on the visible (south) side of the main cone? The recent discussion on the changes in Giant's cone over the years prompted the question. Mario Durrant ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Keller" <<a href="mailto:KSCOPE_YNP@peoplepc.com" target="_blank">KSCOPE_YNP@peoplepc.com</a>><div class="im"> To: "'Geyser Observation Reports'" <<a href="mailto:geysers@lists.wallawalla.edu" target="_blank">geysers@lists.wallawalla.edu</a>> </div> Sent: Sunday, September 13, 2009 8:35 PM Subject: RE: [Geysers] Forward From Janet Chapple<div><div></div><div class="h5"> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> All, The old photo's angle is a bit deceptive as it gives the appearance that the cone is 1/2 full in the front, but the angle it is taken from is actually showing the bottom of the bite "meshing" with the wall on the Catfish side. If this was taken in the front the large opening we see today would be visible. Yes-there has been a lot of deterioration of the cone in the past 120 years-some no doubt by vandals, but the majority by eruptions. The activity that formed the cone long ago is not the same as the activity that is breaking the cone down. I have heard a lot of speculation as to what kind of activity formed the cone and I personally lean towards it forming while the platform was under a glacier some years ago, but that is my personal belief. I don't have the data from the late 1880's in front of me, but I can tell you that in 1988 the highest point of the cone was 9' 10", today it is 9' 6", and that there has been considerable erosion taking place behind the cone and between Giant and Turtle. In 1988, there was a solid sinter peninsula leading to Turtle, and the area between Giant and Turtle was maybe 4 feet across. Today the only solid sinter between Giant and Turtle are the respective cones of each, and the area between Giant and Turtle is easily 20 feet across. These periods of dormancy followed by periods of eruptive activity are eroding the sinter formation much like Fan and Mortar has done to itself in the past 30 years. It wouldn't surprise me one day if another large chunk of the cone came off in an eruption like the "missing tooth" in the upper right part of the cone we now have. MK -----Original Message----- From: <a href="mailto:geysers-bounces@lists.wallawalla.edu" target="_blank">geysers-bounces@lists.wallawalla.edu</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:geysers-bounces@lists.wallawalla.edu" target="_blank">geysers-bounces@lists.wallawalla.edu</a>] On Behalf Of David Monteith Sent: Sunday, September 13, 2009 7:27 PM To: Geyser Reports Subject: [Geysers] Forward From Janet Chapple From: Janet Chapple <<a href="mailto:jochapple@earthlink.net" target="_blank">jochapple@earthlink.net</a>> To: Geyser Observation Reports <<a href="mailto:geysers@lists.wallawalla.edu" target="_blank">geysers@lists.wallawalla.edu</a>> Subject: Fwd: Giant's Cone pictures Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 09:37:00 -0700 Hello gazers, I have often wondered about the evolution of the shape of Giant's cone, and recently I've found two old photos to compare. The older one is from Sheridan, Lt. Col. M. V., "Journey through the YNP and Northwestern WY," 1883, and the other is a Haynes photo from Clyde Max Bauer's 1937 book, "The Story of Yellowstone Geysers." What I'd like to know from gazers is whether someone could share with us a recent photo of the cone to compare with these, and if anyone knows whether the obvious changes have been made by the force of Giant's eruptions or by vandals or perhaps by both. I apologize for the poor quality of the copy I made of the Bauer photo. Janet Chapple No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - <a href="http://www.avg.com" target="_blank">www.avg.com</a> Version: 8.5.408 / Virus Database: 270.13.92/2364 - Release Date: 09/11/09 17:51:00 _______________________________________________ Geysers mailing list <a href="mailto:Geysers@lists.wallawalla.edu" target="_blank">Geysers@lists.wallawalla.edu</a> <a href="https://lists.wallawalla.edu/mailman/listinfo/geysers" target="_blank">https://lists.wallawalla.edu/mailman/listinfo/geysers</a> </blockquote> </div></div> _______________________________________________ Geysers mailing list <a href="mailto:Geysers@lists.wallawalla.edu">Geysers@lists.wallawalla.edu</a> <a href="https://lists.wallawalla.edu/mailman/listinfo/geysers" target="_blank">https://lists.wallawalla.edu/mailman/listinfo/geysers</a> </blockquote></div>