1 second	2 second	3 second	4 second

5 second	6 second	7 second	8 second

Moments after the shot, each hole bubbles as the escaping gases migrate upward through the brine and the mud layers. The smell of high explosives is everywhere. And the SVMC technician uses a tape measure to determine how much loose material lies at the bottom of the hole.

Over the next two days, the SVMC crew is back to "blow" the holes.  Compressed air is blown through a hose to the bottom of the hole.  On leaving the hose the air enters a large (8 inch dia.), "L" shaped pipe just above the lower end of the pipe.  As the air rises rapidly inside the pipe, it forces brine to rise with it, also at a very high speed.  And the force of the rising brine carries the crystals loosened by the blast up and out onto the surface.  Turning the pipe spreads the crystals in a circle around the hole. As a bonus SVMC technicians will actually blow a hole for several minutes during the show.  Afterward, visitors are free to collect from the newly deposited crystals.

Crystals seem to be EVERYWHERE. Here is a cluster of borax crystals laying amongst millions of pyramidal hanksite crystals. The dark grey material is mud, which also contains crystals. The borax cluster shown here is approximately eight inches in length.

Here you can see more hanksite and mud. The liquid in the upper-left-hand corner is brine which has not yet had time to seep back into the Lake.

When collectors arrive at the site of the "Blow Holes", they waste no time in starting to collect, either picking up the perfect hanksite or borax crystals or searching for the elusive sulfohalite double pyramids.	Young people of all ages have a good time collecting crystals at the blow holes.  Everyone will be able to find nice specimens.

Collecting on this trip is relatively simple.  Except after the blowing of the demonstration hole, the collecting is on a dry salt surface with only occasional clods of mud.  For digging most people use simple garden tools - a hand trowel or a hand 3-tined fork.  You will also want to have a plastic bucket to hold your minerals and something to kneel on.  All of these items are for sale in the SLG&MS General Store in the east wing of  the show building.

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