caldera tuff : june ‘21
The yellow ochre for this month’s Ground Bright pigment is composed of Goethite and Jarosite, which erode down as a sediment from the mountain peaks and ridges of exposed geological formations in the Sangre De Christo Mountains of Northern New Mexico known as hydrothermal alteration scars. These scars exist within the steep terrain of a southern facing slope of a 25 million year old volcanic caldera that is over 8 miles in diameter formed by the collapse of a growing batholith. The sediments erode from these scars and settle in the valley bottom next to the river where they are naturally deposited as levigated pigments during summer monsoon rains or spring snow melt. The geological environment from which the sediment forms is a combination of volcanic formations that existed pre and post caldera formation on top of much older basement rock that is 2500 million years old!
contributor : scott sutton
Scott Sutton writes, “My passion for colorful pigments first began while studying for a Bachelor of Fine Art at Oregon State University in 1994 where I learned the art of making paints. The first time pigment hunting opened my eyes to the colors of the Earth was in 2001 when I was living in Taos. It was during this time that I explored the land and collected some beautiful colored clays that I brought home to make into paints. In 2004, I began working with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde for 5 years teaching pigment hunting, paint making, and painting to tribal members as part of the Cultural Lifeways program. In 2009, I returned to New Mexico to study for a Master of Landscape Architecture at UNM. This experience influenced my life by allowing me to better understand the dynamics of geology, topography, hydrology, and ecology that makes each place unique!”
See more of Scott’s work at www.pigmenthunter.com and www.scottsuttonart.com.
Photo courtesy of Scott Sutton.
Photo courtesy of Adobe in Action website www.adobeinaction.org
22% donation recipient : Adobe in Action
Adobe in Action is a New Mexico-based non-profit organization which supports owner-builders with the planning and construction of their adobe homes. They promote economic independence through affordable adobe home construction, build networks through “barn raising” activities which directly benefit owner builders and their local communities, and provide online & field classes as well as a biennial earth building conference.