Images Dated 19th August 2003

Rhyolitic geode

Rhyolitic geode. Chalcedony (red) inside rhyolite rock (green). The chalcedony is an amorphous form of silica (silicon dioxide). It is coloured red by small amounts of haematite, an iron oxide. The geode has been cut open and polished to reveal its internal structure and to improve its appearance. A geode forms when layers of the mineral silica precipitate from liquid onto the inside of hollows in volcanic rocks such as rhyolite. This sample comes from the Esterel region of France

© DIRK WIERSMA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

LIGHTNING STORM OVER LAS VEGAS

Bolts of lightning strike east of hotels and casinos on the Las Vegas Strip
in Las Vegas, Nevada, late August 19, 2003. A powerful thunderstorm dumped
three inches of rain in about 90 minutes in the northwest section of the
city causing major flooding and stranding many motorists. NO RIGHTS CLEARANCES OR PERMISSIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS IMAGE
REUTERS/Ethan Miller/Las Vegas Sun
EM/JDP - RP4DRHYTDZAB

JML05415

African lion (Panthera leo) lion with tiny head of prey (Thomsona??s gazelle?) protruding from jaws as head is turned back, East Africa

© Jean-Michel Labat/AUSCAPE All rights reserved

African Lion Panthera Leo Lion With Tiny Head Of Prey Thomson