13th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
The Third Element

A circle of 2 m diameter was "engraved" in Sylvinite ore by continuous heading machine. The ornament appeared due to tectonic movement at the moment of rock formation. Until the end of XIX century no one knew that potash produced of Sylvinite may save people of crop failure and famine as a fertilizer.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 11.2013
Date Uploaded: 11.2015
Photo Location: Russia
Camera: NIKON D3X
Copyright: © Viktor Lyagushkin