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Photographic gallery.  Thousands of particles under the microscope.

Pyrolized Calcium Oxalate Phytoliths

Pyrolized calcium oxalate phytoliths are a marker for forest fire smoke, or any industrial, commercial, or other activity that involves the burning of plant material containing a concentration of calcium oxalate phytoliths. They have been used to identify homes impacted by wildfires, businesses impacted by emissions of restaurants, towns impacted by slash burns, Teepee burners, hog-fuel boilers, etc. The predictable chemical changes that take place as a result of short exposure to high temperatures often result in a particle with characteristic optical properties and a shape reminiscent of the original phytolith.

Alder

Bark

Ashed Alder Bark Ashed Alder Bark Ashed Alder Bark Ashed Alder Bark Ashed Alder Bark Ashed Alder Bark Ashed Alder Bark Ashed Alder Bark Ashed Alder Bark Ashed Alder Bark Ashed Alder Bark

Leaves

Ashed Alder Leaves Ashed Alder Leaves Ashed Alder Leaves Ashed Alder Leaves

Arrowleaf Balsumroot

Leaves

Ashed Arrowleaf Balsumleaf Leaves Ashed Arrowleaf Balsumleaf Leaves Ashed Arrowleaf Balsumleaf Leaves

Cedar

Ashed Cedar Bark Ashed Cedar Bark Ashed Cedar Bark Ashed Cedar Bark

Cottonwood

Ashed Cottonwood Leaf

Douglas Fir

Bark

Ashed Douglas Fir Bark Ashed Douglas Fir Bark Ashed Douglas Fir Bark Ashed Douglas Fir Bark Ashed Douglas Fir Bark

Needles

Ashed Douglas Fir Needles Ashed Douglas Fir Needles Ashed Douglas Fir Needles Ashed Douglas Fir Needles Ashed Douglas Fir Needles

Ashed Maple

Ashed Maple Leaves Ashed Maple Leaves

Mesquet

Ashed Mesquet Bark

Ocean Spray

Twigs

Ocean Spray Twig Ash Ocean Spray Twig Ash Ocean Spray Twig Ash

Ponderosa Pine

Bark

Ashed Ponderosa Pine Bark Ashed Ponderosa Pine Bark Ashed Ponderosa Pine Bark Ashed Ponderosa Pine Bark

Needles

Ashed Ponderosa Pine Needles Ashed Ponderosa Pine Needles Ashed Ponderosa Pine Needles Ashed Ponderosa Pine Needles Ashed Ponderosa Pine Needles Ashed Ponderosa Pine Needles Ashed Ponderosa Pine Needles

Russian Thistle

Russian Thistle Ash Russian Thistle Ash Russian Thistle Ash Russian Thistle Ash Russian Thistle Ash

Sagebrush

Bark

Sagebrush Bark Ash Sagebrush Bark Ash

Service Berry

Bark

Service Berry Bark Ash Service Berry Bark Ash Service Berry Bark Ash Service Berry Bark Ash

Leaves

Service Berry Leaf Ash Service Berry Leaf Ash Service Berry Leaf Ash Service Berry Leaf Ash Service Berry Leaf Ash

Spruce

Bark

Spruce Bark Ash Spruce Bark Ash Spruce Bark Ash Spruce Bark Ash

Needles

Spruce Needle Ash Spruce Needle Ash Spruce Needle Ash Spruce Needle Ash

Wildfire

Pyrolized Phytoliths Pyrolized Phytoliths Pyrolized Phytoliths Pyrolized Phytoliths Pyrolized Phytoliths Pyrolyzed Calcium Oxalate Phytoliths Pyrolyzed Calcium Oxalate Phytoliths Pyrolyzed Calcium Oxalate Phytoliths Pyrolyzed Calcium Oxalate Phytoliths Pyrolyzed Calcium Oxalate Phytoliths Pyrolyzed Calcium Oxalate Phytoliths Pyrolyzed Calcium Oxalate Phytoliths Pyrolyzed Calcium Oxalate Phytoliths Pyrolyzed Calcium Oxalate Phytoliths Pyrolyzed Calcium Oxalate Phytoliths Pyrolyzed Calcium Oxalate Phytoliths