232 EEPOET UNITED STATES • GEOLOGICAL StJEVEY. 



Talle of Giantess Gi'oup — Continued. 



Name and mun- 

 ber. 



Size and depth. 



Surface and other 

 temperatures. 



tt-c.S 



F 





Eemarks. 



36 



8 by 14 feet 



I'. 

 159 







Irregular white 

 holes. 



37 











38 



Basin 1 foot by 18 in- 

 ches, orifice 3 in- 

 ches diameter. 



2 feet diameter 



6 feet diameter 



3 by 3 J feet 









water. 

 Small geyser, water 

 out of sight. 



"WTiite hole. 



39 



149 







40 



177 







Bulger. 



41 



177 







This is a very pecu- 

 liar spring. Large 

 bubbles escape 

 from orifice at bot- 

 tom of spring, but 

 do not appear to 

 reach the surface. 



Double basin with 



42 





(Il73 







43 



Triangnlar with 

 sides 3 feet. 



163 







three orifices ; a is 

 quiet, b and c are 

 bulgers and spout 

 constantly, seem- 

 ing to be independ- 

 ent of a. 

 Small pool. 













ilfOTE. — Where temperatures are not marked either surface or deep, they are surface temperatures. 



DESCEIPTION. 



Giantess Geyser. — This geyser, named in 1870 by the Washbnm party, 

 althongh comparatively insignificant as regards its crater, is one of the 

 most magnificent in action, as described by those who have seen it in 

 full activity. The eruptions that have been witnessed are four in num- 

 ber, and it is probable that the periods of quiescence are long in their 

 duration. The crater or basin (Fig. 1, Plate XXIII) is irregular in shape, 

 measuring 34 feet in its greatest length and 24 feet in its widest portion, 

 and is on the summit of the mound or terrace. It has a broad, gently 

 sloping mound of deposit about 200 yards in diameter at the base. There 

 is no elevated rim, but the upper layer of the surrounding laminated 

 geyserite projects over the basin, which has a depth of 63 feet. It is 

 remarkable for the absence of the handsome ornamentation that is usu- 

 ally seen about the geysers. There is little either in its structure or 

 surroundings to indicate its power. The water in the geyser has a deep, 

 clear, bluish-green tint. The description of the eruption will be obtained 

 best from those who have witnessed them under favorable circumstances. 



1870. — The Washburn party were fortunate enough to see the Giant- 

 ess in action, and the following description is by Mr. K. P. Langford: 



No water conld be discovered, but we could distinctly bear it gurgling and boiling 

 at a great distance below. Suddenly it began to rise, boiling and spluttering, and 

 sending out buge masses of steam, causing a general stampede of our company, driv- 

 ing us some distance from our point of observation. Wben within about 40 feet of 

 tbe surface it became stationary, and we returned to look down upon it. It was foam- 

 ing and surging at a terrible rate, occasioually emitting small jets of hot water nearly 

 to the mouth of the orifice. All at once it seemed seized with a fearful spasm, and 

 rose with incredible rapidity, hardly affording us time to flee to a safe distance, when 

 it hurst from the orifice with terrific momentum, rising in a column the full size of 

 this immense aperture to the height of 60 feet ; and through and out of the apex of 

 this vast aqueous mass five or six lesser jets or round columns of water, varying in 

 size from 6 to 15 inches in. diameter, were jirojected to the marvelous height of 250 



