|
Cascade Canyon is a small side canyon of San Antonio Canyon. The red
outcrop at the top of the hill is a ruby corundum bearing rock.
Eroding fragments fall down a steep ravine accessible by crossing the creek.
From Mt. Baldy Road, this small access road takes us down to the
canyon floor.
The trailless wash is easily navigated by geology students even
though melting snows keep the water flowing.
Once across the creek, the rubble pile we're looking for is just ahead.
A couple of students look for rubies at the foot of the slope.
Almost all the rocks in this pile have little bits of corundum in them.
So here are the ruby corundum crystals!
Under ultraviolet light, the crystals fluoresce quite brilliantly. |
