Locating a Miarolitic Cavity in Granite Boulders of Pikes Peak Batholith (Part 1)

This is the first of many upcoming field explorations into the geology and mineralogy of Pikes Peak Batholith in Pike National Forest, Colorado. You never know when you're about trip over a large smoky quartz crystal, only half-buried in the topsoil. For this reason, I like to record everything when I'm in new areas such as in this instance. My intention with "Part 1" of this series is to help other mineral enthusiasts learn what to look for while rockhounding or prospecting in wooded areas with granite boulder outcrops. Here, the focus is on miarolitic cavities (as opposed to pegmatites), which essentially means, "a heterogenous, mineral rich, crystal-lined bubble within a rock." Take note of what you witness and bring this awareness with you into the forest to increase your chances of discovering these abundant magical trinkets. This video is about the journey, and "Part 2" brings the focus to the destination. Stay tuned to see what wonderful things awoke only centimeters below that initial smoky quartz crystal. 🔮