New from Newfoundland

I am very lucky to have friends that travel. My friend spent almost two weeks hiking and exploring Newfoundland. So thank you! For thinking of me.

Here are some wonderful geological descriptions of the areas The Tablelands are situated in Gros Morne National Park, a 1.2 billion year old ocean floor and UNESCO world heritage site. A region that looks more like Arizona than Newfoundland. A flat-topped mountain of scorched orange and red desert that is part of the Appalachians mountain range. Ancient peridotite rocks are found in the Tablelands. So rare they are usually only located deep in the earth’s mantle.

 Dover faultline
 

Truce Island (Sunnyside) was an historic meeting between English and Beothuk took place on or near the island in 1612. The Peace Garden was built to commemorate this occasion in 2012. The island was also used by French troops to hold English prisoners during the Winter War of 1696 - 1697.

History of Newfoundland and Labrador

Want more? Experience NL on Instagram

A fun travel story about being blown away by Newfoundland

Glacier National Park

Two samples from my best pal, Faith, who also travels extensively.

Grinnell Glacier, 6,650 ft Many Glaciers

 
Lake McDonald Shore, Apgar Village Lodge, Glacier National Park

Collecting my collection

I spent all day messing around with my sand blog. It all started yesterday when I listened to Dr. Gary Greenberg Ted Talk! Then one site led me to another and all of a sudden I had an urge to buy a microscope so I could photograph sand! I now have over a hundred samples crammed into this little cabinet. I want to display them side by side so I can see the color and texture difference in all the samples! 

It was all because of this photo of beautiful star sand found only on a couple of beaches in the Indo-Pacific waters. I get so depressed when I think of all the places, beaches with great sand that I have lived and visited! Why didn't I have this longing to start a sand collection back then? Oh, well. I gives me something to strive for.  I added some great links that I have stored in my email. And made a header for this poor, neglected blog of my collected sand.

I found this 5MP Video Microscope 200X Magnifier Camera for photographing sand or this one, Celestron 5 MP Handheld Digital Microscope Pro or this one AmScope M158C-E Compound Monocular Microscope. They are really not expensive, and I was so thrilled to find that out! David and I are all ready talking about taking a road trip to Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park and Dry Falls to collect some samples. It feels good to be excited about getting in the car and going some place.

Fabulous Florida

If not for my coworker and friend, Victoria, I would not have such nice sands. (She travels)

Sanibel Island, Florida. Sanibel beaches attract visitors from all around the world, partly because of the large quantities of seashells that frequently wash up there. Many sand dollars can be found as well.One of the reasons for these large accumulations of shells is the fact that Sanibel is a barrier island which is "part of a large plateau that extends out into the Gulf of Mexico for miles. It is this plateau that acts like a shelf for seashells to gather." Sanibel also has an "east-west orientation when most islands are north-south. Hence, the island is gifted with great sandy beaches and an abundance of shells.^"

Anclote Key is an island off the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida, located at 28°11'16"N, 82°50'44"W near Tarpon Springs. Its name originates from the Spanish term for "anchor."[1] The island is accessible only by boat and is split between Anclote Key Preserve State Park and Anclote National Wildlife Reserve. The island contains mangrove wetlands, coastal pine flatwoods, and beaches. A large number of shorebirds nest and breed on Anclote Key and the surrounding islands. Sand Key is located nearby. Most of the island is located within Pasco County, while its southernmost section is in Pinellas County. The island is home to the Anclote Keys Light.

The Amazing Life of Sand | Deep Look

Iceland

Apple Valley, California

From my blogger friend in Apple Valley, CA.

Bear Valley Road at Apple Valley Road

From her front yard in Apple Valley, CA

"Dead Man's Point", Hwy 18 at Bear Valley

Mojave River Bed at the "forks" (dry bed)

New York, Alaska, Aruba

From Jim Rienhardt, I met on Pinterest when he commented on my sand collection and I asked him if he collected and wanted to trade.

Magnetic sand - Vermont (exact site unknown)
Glacial flour - Fairbanks, Alaska
Beach sand - Druif Beach, Aruba
River sand - Lyons Falls, NY
Beach Sand - Moss Lake, Adirondack Mountains, NY
Glacial deposit sand - Village of Raquette Lake, Adirondack Mountains, NY