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Jim Larkey | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Paint Mines, El Paso County, CO tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Paint Mines, El Paso County, CO

Paint Mines Interpretive Park is approximately 750 acres and is located in the northeast section of the County near Calhan. The mines have evidence of human life as far back as 9,000 years ago. The colorful clays were used by American Indians for making pottery and ceremonial paints. The park features fantastic geological formations including spires and hoodoos, that were formed through erosive action that created incised gullies and exposed layers of selenite clay and jasper.
...........Courtesy, El Paso County Parks
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Check out www.elpasoco.com/parks
Check out www.elpasoco.com/parks		 The open plains dominate the area and support a mix of native short-grass and mid-grass prairie communities
The open plains dominate the area and support a mix of native short-grass and mid-grass prairie communities		 Archaeological studies indicate that humans have inhabited the Paint Mines for nearly 9,000 years
Archaeological studies indicate that humans have inhabited the Paint Mines for nearly 9,000 years		 The earliest people were likely the descendents of the first Americans who migrated over the Bering Land Bridge
The earliest people were likely the descendents of the first Americans who migrated over the Bering Land Bridge
Throughout the history of the Paint Mines, people are known to have visited the area to gather the colorful clays
Throughout the history of the Paint Mines, people are known to have visited the area to gather the colorful clays		 Clays tinged with red, orange, yellow, purple, and gray hues, to produce ceramics
Clays tinged with red, orange, yellow, purple, and gray hues, to produce ceramics		 Kristin & Linda
Kristin & Linda		 g6/06/5106/3/71848954.eqhJRL21.jpg
Hoodoos...outcrops that erode, with a hard capstone that allows columns of clay to be preserved beneath them
Hoodoos...outcrops that erode, with a hard capstone that allows columns of clay to be preserved beneath them		 Selenite (gypsum) contributes to the color, and white quartzitic crystals dazzle the eye
Selenite (gypsum) contributes to the color, and white quartzitic crystals dazzle the eye		 g12/06/5106/3/71848957.T39zQgje.jpg Hoodoos
Hoodoos
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