A juniper in Lost Horse Valley
Juniper thrives in areas above 4,500 feet. The peak in the distance is near the Lost Horse Mine. The dark cap consists of a blocky slope of weathered schist and gneiss. Exposure to solar radiation and weathering over a long period of time gives the rock a thin, dark patina of iron and manganese oxides, and insoluble clay minerals called desert varnish (Trent, 1997).
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Last modified: 12/20/2010