The value and mystery of the "Stone River"

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

The planet is replete not only with picturesque landscapes, but also with unique natural phenomena that are immediately striking. One of these, of course, can be called the so-called "stone rivers" - huge mounds of rock, which in appearance really remind us all of the familiar water stream, except perhaps of a gray color.

The best examples can be found in the Russian open spaces. But the "stone river" is not only a non-trivial natural landscape, but also a storehouse of real treasures.

Such an unusual natural phenomenon as the "stone river", in its essence, is an accumulation of rock, elongated in length. There is also the concept of "kurum", which is also called a placer of boulders, which are often located on the slopes.

In fact, the latter term is a scientific name, and the phrase "stone river" is one of its synonyms, which is quite common in Russian scientific discourse. And some researchers do share these concepts, believing that they both denote similar, but still not identical, phenomena.

There are “Stone Rivers” in a number of corners of the planet, but the longest is located in the domestic open spaces. This is a kurum located on the territory of the Taganai National Park in the South Urals, in the vicinity of Zlatoust.

It "spread" between the mountain ranges of Bolshoy and Sredny Taganai. Its length is really impressive: the “channel” is six kilometers long, and on average reaches 100-200 meters in width, and its maximum width is 700 meters.

Taganay, like most "stone rivers", is a chaotic flow of boulders, the mass of individual boulders can reach up to ten tons.

At the same time, under all this heap of rock, at a depth of about 4-6 meters, there are hundreds of small streams. Therefore, tourists who decide to walk along the kurum often hear a distinct murmur of water.

Geologists do not know for certain the reasons why the "stone river" appeared at all. The most widespread version is considered to be the opinion that "Taganai" is what remains of a glacier that descended in antiquity or a giant landslide. But the information on the official website of the national park offers a different explanation.

So, it says that the reason for the formation of this pile of rock is a sharp cold snap, because of which large boulders cracked and eventually "slid" down.

Taganay is not the only “stone river” on the territory of Russia - another one, which, by the way, is the second longest, is located near the village of Otnurok in Bashkortostan.

However, it is the longest placer of stone that holds the real treasure. We are talking about the world's largest reserves of gemstone - a variety of quartzite called aventurine.

Its second name - taganaite - it received just at the place of the deposit. There is also a third, very poetic name - golden spark. This stone has a whole range of colors, which depends on the presence of various impurities in it.

So, for example, Taganai aventurines are often honey-yellow, golden brown with reddish tints, as well as pink, dark cherry or brown.

To date, the production of aventurine on an industrial scale in Taganai has been stopped, but this has not diminished the popularity of this stone.

It is in demand not only in jewelry craft, but also among local residents and all those who believe in the power of nature - so many believe that this type of quartzite has healing properties.