PEALE.l UPPEE GEYSER BASIN OLD FAITHFUL. 221 



geyser cones that are seen near Old Faithful, which rendered a new out- 

 let necessary. The continuation of the fissure may be traced, although 

 it is almost entirely closed. The north end of the crater has large glob- 

 ular masses of beaded, pearlj' deposit. The throat of the geyser and 

 the edges of the basins also are beaded. Lieutenant Doane thus de- 

 scribes the deposits around Old Faithful : 



Close around the opening are bnilt uj) walls, 8 feet in height, of spherical nodules 

 from 6 inches to 3 feet in diameter. These, in turn, are covered on the surface with 

 minute globules of calcareous [siliceous] stalagmite (?), incrusted with a thiu glazing 

 of silica. The rock at a distance appears the color of ashes of roses, but near at hand 

 shows a metallic gray, with pink and yellow margins of the utmost delicacy. Being 

 constantly wet, the colors are brilliant beyond description. Sloping gently from this 

 rim of the crater, in every direction, the rocks are full of cavities, in successive ter- 

 races, formijig little pools, with margins of silica the color of silver, the cavities being 

 of irregular shape, constantly full of hot water, and precipitating delicate coral-like 

 beads of a blight saffron. These cavities are also fringed with rock around the edges, 

 in meshes as delicate as the tinest lace. Diminutive yellow columns rise from tbeir 

 depths, capped with small tablets of rock and resembling flowers growing in the 

 water. Some of them are tilled with oval pebbles of a brilliant white color, and others 

 with a yellowish frost work which builds up gradually in solid stalagmites (?). Re- 

 ceding still farther from the crater, the cavities become gradually larger and the 

 water cooler, causing changes in the brilliant colorings, and also in the formations of 

 the deposits. * * "* The deposits are apparently as delicate as the down on t lie 

 butterfly's wing, both in texture and coloring, yet are firm and solid beneath the 

 tread. * * * One instinctively touches the hot ledges with his hands, and sounds 

 with a stick the depths of the cavities in the slope, in utter doubt in the evidence in 

 Ms own eyes.* 



The eruption of Old Faithful begins with some preliminary splashes or 

 spurts, from three to a dozen or more, which appear like abortive at- 

 tempts at eruption. These continue for about 4 minutes, becoming 

 more and more powerful, when they are followed b.v a rapid succession 

 of jets, which escape with a roar and soon attain the maximum height. 

 Clouds of steam accompany the water and reach a much greater height. 

 In a few seconds after the maximum is attained the column dies down, 

 with occasional vigorous spurts. The water eruption is followed by 

 steam, which soon comes out very gently, and finally dies away, leaving 

 the crater empty. The water eruption lasts from 4 to 5 minutes, and 

 the steam period is indefinite. The wind causes a great variation in the 

 ap})earance of the column, but the accompanying plate (Plate XXII) 

 shows perhaps the most frequent form. This year I noticed that before 

 the eruption, although the basin was empty, spurts were thrown from 

 below into the basin, but did not go above the top. These obsers^ations 

 will be detailed with the account of the temperature. I will present my 

 observations under the head of 1878, after first giving the observations 

 of preceding years in regular order, beginning with 1870. 



1870. — From the descriptifins given by Mr. Laugforl. in Scribner's 

 Monthly, Vol. II, and Lieutenant Doane, it is evident that the character 

 of the eruptions in 1870 were the same as noticed in subsequent years. 

 Lieutenant Doane says : 



The period of this geyser is 50 minutea.t First an increased rush of steam comes 

 forth, followed instantly by a rising jet of water, which attains by increased impul- 

 sions to the height of 125 feet, escaping with a wild, hissing sound, while great vol- 

 umes of steam rise up to an altitude of .^)00 feet from the crater. Raiid)ows play 

 around the tremendous fountain ; the waters, which fall about the basin iu showers of 

 brilliants, then rush steaming down the slopes to the river. Alter a continuous action 

 for a space of 5 minutes, the jet lowers convulsively by degrees, the waters finally 

 disappear, and only a current of steam pours forth from the crater.t 



* Yellowstone Expedition, &c., ])p. 28, 29. 



tin Washburn's account (Raymond's Mining Statistics, 1870, j). 216,) the time is 

 given as every hour and the height 75 feet, 

 t Yellowstone Exj)edition, p. 29. 



