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Well, the big news here is that Magma's smoke stacks (reported to be 500 feet tall) that have graced the San Pedro Valley skyline for the last 50 years came tumbling down today.

I am clearly not an expert in this area, but judging from the sound I suspect it took a relatively small amount of explosive to actually do the job. If you look closely at the bottom of the rear stack, you will note there is a rather large hole through it. In fact this hole was there long before the blast, perhaps in preparation for the event.

There is no hole apparent in the front stack, but it is possible that it could be hidden by the lay of the ground.

The movement was slow to start with. In fact, for a second or two I wondered if the blast had been unsuccessful, particularly for the rear stack.

This was really a visual event, and words are somewhat superfluous. The dynamite did it's job on the support system, and gravity did the rest.

About half way to the ground, both stacks broke in half. I wondered if there was a second change detonated to produce that effect. I don't see any forces (other than air resistance) acting to cause the break, and there certainly have been some fierce wind in this valley during the 50 year life span of the stacks.

I was one of a dozen people who photographed the event from the roof of the clinic. The streets around there were packed with people and cars, but I think I may have had the best vantage point.

There was actually a new film crew down on the tailing ponds who also had a great view. Their video footage is viewable at www.azstarnet.com. They have changed the footage since it was first posted (turned it into a news report that is not as good as the original in my opinion) and probably will not have it available for more than a day or two. The 10 knot wind was blowing the wrong way, and the towering cloud of dust just missed the clinic, but drifted over the fast stop next door, as well as much of the town. Exciting, huh?

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