. Annual report. 1st-12th, 1867-1878. Geology. GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY OF THE TERRITOEIES. 105 covered with the snow-AvMte silica, which in the beauty and complete- ness of the ornamentation surpasses the most intricate embroidery or frost-work. About a mile south of the East Fork, on the head of a little stream that flows into the Fire-Hole Eiver, is another of these beautiful prismatic springs, which we called the Eainbow Springs. A thin delicately ornamental rim of silica surrounds a basin 6 feet in diameter, filled to the margin with perfectly clear water, and as the morn- ing sunlight falls upo
. Annual report. 1st-12th, 1867-1878. Geology. GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY OF THE TERRITOEIES. 105 covered with the snow-AvMte silica, which in the beauty and complete- ness of the ornamentation surpasses the most intricate embroidery or frost-work. About a mile south of the East Fork, on the head of a little stream that flows into the Fire-Hole Eiver, is another of these beautiful prismatic springs, which we called the Eainbow Springs. A thin delicately ornamental rim of silica surrounds a basin 6 feet in diameter, filled to the margin with perfectly clear water, and as the morn- ing sunlight falls upon it, it reflects all the colors of the prism, 156o. Before leaving the group on the East Fork I will allude to a few more that present some peculiarities. One spring keeps up an irregular spout- ing. It commences quite strong and violent for about a minute, throw- ing the water up about two feet, then it recedes into its crater with a kind of cavernous gurgle, 193o. Another small geyser operates con- stantly with a kind of subdued gurgle, 178^. Another gives forth a sup- pressed, low, continuous gurgle, like that of a kettle of boiling mush, 193°. Not unfrequently there are three, and even five orifices in a single basin, totally unconnected with each other. Sometimes one of them will be perfectly quiescent while the others are in operation, and some- times all are going at the same time. Sometimes a dead or dying spring will be in close proximity to an active geyser, or a calm spriog, with a temperature of 180° or 185°. Those springs that have a temperature of 180° and upward, present the delicate bead or frost work of silica on the inner sides of the basin, but when it is dim inished to 150°, or below, a thick coating of iron is deposited. Many of the old springs have much the appearance of huge tan-vats. In some of the basins the leathery lining of the sides becomes torn into fragments, which wave to and fro at every movement of the waters. These leathery masses, which
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