Name: Clepsydra Geyser

 

County: Teton

 

Authority Name: 

 

GNIS Entry

 

Longitude:  1104838W

Latitude: 443315NN

 

Legal Description:

 

Elevation: 7254/2211

(ft/m)

 

Feature Type: Geyser

 

Origin of Name:

Geyser, Yellowstone National Park, Wyo., near Fountain Geyser, central area of Lower Geyser Basin. Named by T. B. Comstock, 1873, geologist with Captain Jones's party, because like the ancient water clock it marked the passage of time.

Source: Decisions, 1890-1932

 

The third member of the group is one of the most regular in the basin, and on this account the name Clepsydra is proposed for it. Like the ancient water-clock of that name, it marks the passage of time by the discharge of water. It would be unwise to number this among the constant geysers without knowing more concerning its movements than has yet been gathered, but it was in action during the whole of the two hours and a half that we were in its vicinity. A large mass of water is forced up in a rolling wave, ending in a vigorous but not greatly elevated spurt, at intervals of three minutes. The mechanical deposit surrounding this geyser is even more delicate than either of the forms above mentioned. It is of the coralline type and may be described in terms of coral-masses, so far as mere general resemblance is concerned, as a close aggregation of madreporic coralla, of small but varying sizes, arranged on a horizontal plane. This parallel can be carried no further, however, for the numerous corallets and the connecting coenenchyma, if we may use these terms, are of course solid, the process of growth being wholly similar to the formation of true stalagmites over the floors of caverns. A piece of wood taken from the bowl of the Clepsydra was coated with a layer of pure white semi-crystalline silica, resembling the icing used in confectionery.  

Source: Jones  

 

Other Names: 

 

Alternative Spellings:

 

History:

 

Stories:

 

Maps:

1:24000 Quadrangle: Lower Geyser Basin

 

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More Information: 

 

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