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Weird Geology
The remnants of a 2 - billion - year - sometime nuclear reactor and a cave of theater - sized watch glass might seem too strange to be natural , but the world is manifestly full of such flaky raw phenomenon . Here are 10 of the weirdest geological structures on the planet .
Cave of the Crystals, Mexico
The otherworldly crystals inthe Cave of the Crystalsin Mexico can reach size large than home , by far the largest such lechatelierite known on the planet . They on the face of it turn at implausibly dull rates , gypsum geological formation that take as long as a million long time to reach more than two story grandiloquent . Researchers speculate that microscopic pockets of liquid state within these giant quartz might hold germ .
Eye of the Sahara, Mauritania
TheEye of the Saharain Mauritania , also known as the Richat Structure , resemble a bull’s - centre 30 miles ( 50 kilometers ) astray . The mysterious formation is big enough for other space missions to have used it as a landmark . Scientists intend it is the answer of uplifted earth worn down over time by wind and water , with different charge per unit of wearing on the varying rock candy types spring concentric rooftree .
Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
The Giant ’s Causeway in Northern Ireland consists of more than 40,000 interlace volcanic rock ‘n’ roll pillars , most of which are hexagonal , although some have few or more side . Legend has it that the titan Finn McCool fashion the Giant ’s Causeway to take the air across the ocean to Scotland and confront his great rival Benandonner . Researchers say it was created by lava traveling out of cracks in the earth 60 million years ago , which cool over time into a honeycomb pattern , with some pillars resist as tall as 36 invertebrate foot ( 12 metre ) .
Sailing Stones of the Racetrack Playa in Death Valley, Calif.
Thesailing stones of the Racetrack Playa in Death Valleyseem to strangely move on their own , leaving retentive trail behind them in the cracked clay . NASAresearch suggest that during the winter month , ice forms around the rocks , perhaps allowing them to luxate across the flash-frozen surface of the playa .
Ice Towers of Mount Erebus, Antarctica
Antarctica’sMount Erebus , an active volcano that rises 12,448 infantry ( 3,794 meters ) above the Earth ’s surface , is home to gargantuan , hollow pillar of ice . These form when fumaroles cracks in the Earth ’s crust that vent live gas spew steam into the open air , which is so cold-blooded in the Antarctic that it freeze out the steam in place , make chimneys up to 30 feet ( 10 megabyte ) tall .
The remnants of the Oklo natural nuclear reactor, Gabon
Not all atomic reactors on Earth are manmade some lift of course . TheOklo mine in the West African nation of Gabonwas once home to a natural nuclear reactor that obviously spontaneously turned on 2 billion years ago , running on uranium fuel . It seems to have endure about 150,000 age with an average power output of 100 kilowatts , radiating the energy equivalent of 100 megaton bombs over its lifetime .
The Eisriesenwelt ice cave, Austria
The Eisriesenwelt German for " public of the ice rink giants " is the largest known frappe cave in the world . The limestone cavern stay stale enough year - rhythm to freeze any water supply in spite of appearance . This conduct to mammoth ice shaping develop within .
The Tessellated Pavement of Eaglehawk Neck, Tasmania
One might easy wonder if the unusual grid of the Tessellated Pavement of Eaglehawk Neck , Tasmania , is completely abnormal . Apparently , this rare geologic feature formed when the underlying siltstone crack in cylinder block resembling tiles , possibly between 60 million and 160 million age ago . When seawater report the platform , grit and wave action at law erodes the careen . The airfoil of the stone can erode quicker between the brim of the tile than on the rims themselves .
Pamukkale, Turkey
Pamukkale , which means " cotton plant castle " in Turkish , is find in the mountains of Turkey . It may resemble a glacier , but the site is in reality bathed in hot piss . The mineral - robust waters of the area ’s hot springiness have over time take form dazzling whitened limestone bench .
Fingal’s Cave, Scotland
Fingal ’s Cave is a cathedral - like sea cave that stretches about 250 feet ( 75 time ) into the rock on the island of Staffa off the west coast of Scotland , with a roof about 70 feet ( 20 m ) above the sea . It form within lava flows that chill to form hexagonal columns . The cavern inspired Mendelssohn ’s Hebrides overture and attracted famous person holidaymaker of the Victorian epoch such as Jules Verne , William Wordsworth , Alfred Lord Tennyson and Queen Victoria herself .
The Cave of the Crystals in Naica, Mexico.
The Cave of the Crystals in Naica, Mexico.
Dutch astronaut Andre Kuipers snapped this photo of a lava crater in Mauritania from the International Space Station.
Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland.
A roaming rock at Racetrack Playa. Scientists have ruled out animals, gravity, and earthquakes as possible culprits for the stones' strange movements.
Phil Kyle standing in front of an ice tower called ‘Harry’s Dream.'
The natural nuclear reactor in the Oklo mine of Gabon burned uranium two billion years ago. Uranium oxide remains are visible as the yellowish rock.
A person stands next to one of the ice formations in Eisriesenwelt.
The natural phenomenon of tessellated pavement in Tasmania, caused by erosion of tectonic cracks in the rock.
Pamukkale, limestone terraces that have formed over time in Turkey.
Fingal’s Cave, Staffa Island, off Isle of Mull, Scotland.
