In a horrific event, that is likely one of the worst ways to die, Colin Scott had been visiting the Porkchop Geyser with his sister, Sable.
Ignoring warning signs, the pair wandered off the designated boardwalk to find a spot for an illegal swim.
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Colin Scott was looking for somewhere to go for a swim when he slipped and fell into a scorching hot spring (Colin Scott/Facebook)
She was still recording when Colin bent down by a hot spring to check the temperature but he slipped and fell in.
The boiling water of the spring reaches temperatures of 200 degrees fahrenheit under normal conditions.
Sable desperately tried to rescue Colin but with no phone signal and no way to retrieve him herself, she had no choice but to run to a nearby museum for help.
When she returned with park rangers, it was too late.
Parts of Colin’s head, torso and hands were floating in the hot spring as he’d been boiled alive.
Colin Scott’s body dissolved in the acidic waters of the hot spring (Nano Calvo/VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The police report from 2016 states: “Due to the report of the individual not previously visible, a lack of movement, suspected extreme temperatures, and indications of several thermal burns, the subject was determined to be deceased.”
Due to an incoming storm, and the temperature of the hot spring rising to 212 degrees fahrenheit, it was impossible for the park rangers to retrieve Colin’s body right away.
When they returned the following day, they arrived to find that his body had dissolved in the acidic waters overnight.
All that was left was his flip flops and his wallet.
The report continued: “The consensus among the rescue/recovery team … was that the extreme heat of the hot spring, coupled with its acidic nature, dissolved the remains.”
Colin and Sable ventured away from the safety of the boardwalk for an illegal swim (Nano Calvo/VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The video footage of the fatal incident recorded by Sable was never released to the public due to the disturbing nature and out of respect for the family, but it is kept on file by police.
Just weeks before his tragic death, Colin had graduated from Pacific University where he was described as “a top student, a wonderful person and a testament to all the values that Pacific University stands for”.
In a statement commemorating Colin, his family added that he was a “dedicated Christian, whose love for people stemmed from the love he felt from God”.
According to park officials, at least 22 people have lost their lives due to hot spring accidents at Yellowstone National Park since 1890.
New discoveries are made about the Earth every year, from terrifying tribal instruments to fascinating ‘Lost Cities’ deep down in the ocean.
Perhaps the most fascinating of the lot though are those that uncover more about the Earth’s beginnings, and these often come in the form of minerals, metals, and other rare scientific materials.
Researchers have now made quite a significant breakthrough though after discovering that the world’s largest iron ore deposits actually formed much later than previously thought.
Iron pieces located in both Western Australia and and southern Africa have been linked to the Archaean Eon, which is part of the Earth’s crust and is estimated to be between 2.5 and 3.8 billion years old.
It is understood that these iron deposits were formed around 1.1 to 1.4 billion years ago, but a new study has uncovered that the trigger for their formation is linked to the breakup of the supercontinent Columbia.
The break up of supercontinents caused metallic ore deposits to form (QAI Publishing/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The breakup, estimated to have occurred 1.5 to 2.5 billion years ago, released mineral-rich fluids that allowed for the formation of these iron-rich ore deposits.
With this discovery and it’s link to these large iron deposits, scientists can now have a greater understanding of the Earth’s history, which could provide a domino effect to many other discoveries in the surrounding areas too.
Postdoctoral associate at the University of Colorado Liam Courtney-Davis explained that “the energy from this epic geological activity likely triggered the production of billions of tons of iron-rich rock from across Pilbara.”
He went on to unveil that “the discovery of a link between these giant iron ore deposits and changes in supercontinent cycles enhance our understanding of ancient geological processes and improves our ability to predict where we should explore in the future.”
Naturally occurring deposits are vital to both industry and research (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
This is vital not only from a scientific perspective – as we’re able to learn more about Earth and its origins – but also from an industrial standpoint too, as mining operations will, in theory, be more sustainable and efficient.
Companies, armed with this information, will be able to greater predict where future metal deposits will be, which not only leads to stronger and more valuable yields but also hopefully less destructive and impactful practices too.
It remains yet to be seen how much this specific discovery will lead into further research, but with so much still to be uncovered about the history of our planet it’s hard to argue that its not a fantastic launching point.
