Geyserite El Tatio Atacama Chile - XRF Included

Geyserite is a grayish or white opaline siliceous deposit formed around natural hot springs and geysers.

The El Tatio geyser field is located just a few miles from the border of Chile's neighboring country, Boliva. It is a surrealistic high-altitude environment, surrounded by stratovolcanoes that form from an impressive geothermal system. El Tatio is an ideal location to investigate unique microbial diversity and metabolisms associated with the arsenic loving bacterial biodiversities that are found within biofilms and microbial mats. The previously known "Tree of Life" has been expanded into another paradigm of weirdness with this metabolic "arsenic corner."

Arsenic concentrations at the El Tatio Geyser Field are an order of magnitude greater than at any other natural geothermal sites in the world. This makes El Tatio an ideal location to investigate unique microbial diversity and metabolisms.

The name "El Tatio" means either "oven" or "grandfather." It is the third-largest geyser field in the world and the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. El Tatio lies at the western foot of a series of stratovolcanoes, which run along the border between Chile and Bolivia. This series of volcanoes is part of the Central Volcanic Zone, one of several volcanic belts in the Andes.

Specimen size: 58mm H x 31mm W x 28mm D, Superb specimen from this locality. XRF included!

Ships with tag, display case, Certificate of Authenticity. Legally obtained in a scientific trade with a scientific institution.

Great addition to a geological collection that also includes extremophile and rare geological location specimens.