A wonderful summer 2015 was just around the corner ...
As soon as the snow conditions allowed it, of course we went to the Grisons Cavradi Gorge
After we were able to find individual rock crystals and broken hematite tablets below a grassy rocky rib, we were able to open a first, small and completely clay-filled cleft after 4 days of intensive work
only one, but beautiful "group of swimmers"
After another week of work, we were able to expand our First cleft into a real cleft system
A good 10 cm long, typically slender rock crystal on matrix
The fissures did not contain many crystals, but when something came out, the quality was really very nice
Rather a rarity in the Cavradi Gorge: Small but fine faden quartz
View inside the cleft
The faden quartz shown above during the salvage
Rock crystal on a typically strongly distorted Cavradi matrix
One of the most beautiful Cavradi cluster this year
The dark crystal surfaces in the cleft are clearly visible
Beautiful cabinet size specimen from a narrow cleft
Some thick-walled, but mostly loose, hematite crystals were found at the deepest point of the cleft
Beautiful crystal group that was still in the ground right at the beginning
Rarity: thick-walled hematite crystals on quartz
Clear tip in the clay. Such crystals are carefully removed from the clay (with wooden sticks)
A nice start to the season in Cavradi is coming to an end ... the high mountains are calling!
In the immediate vicinity of the Oberalppas, we were drawn to a lonely rocky ridge
Due to the loose blocks and the very confusing terrain, I set up several abseiling points
Promising quartz band
Just below the quartz band, a fissure system pulled through a 150m long coloir that we wanted to explore. Unfortunately, a very fast thunderstorm moved from behind the ridge, which forced us to retreat very quickly. Heavy rain in this gutter would have been a very, very delicate situation ...
My backside was damaged a bit anyway ;-)
Midsummer on the Furka
Due to the very warm temperatures in connection with the glacier shrinkage, large crevices appeared almost everywhere
A last photo just before another thunderstorm drove us away
Don't stumble ;-)
Sometimes it takes a bit of patience to cross such a crevice zone. Hardly do you think you are through, there is a column somewhere that blocks your way
Such warm evenings with perfect weather are rare in a strahlers life ... plus grilled sausages and a cold beer!
Tries but unsuccessfully: Despite the best weather, all open fissures remained almost empty - but throwing stones is also fun
Evening atmosphere. Midsummer is coming to an end soon
An interesting quartz band runs through the steeply plates
Prospecting at heights of over 3500m is something very special
A cavity opens in a thick quartz band
But in mid-September the days are short and as soon as the sun disappears on the horizon everything freezes at this altitude in minutes
Freshly recovered gwindel cluster
Unfortunately only half a Gwindel, but better then nothing!
A still unknown, needle-like mineral on quartz
A promising place for 2016!
Small "candy"
The next year will definitely have some surprises in store for us! We can be excited ... I hope for a short winter ;-)
And finally, probably the most beautiful find ever and the reason why not so much has happened on my homepage this year ;-) I hope you will forgive me!
