Jared Birt Photography

This is called diatomaceous earth. The Fall River area in Northern California is rich with this "rock"; a large majority of the local economy is built around mining for it. It consists mainly of fossilized plants and feels just like a white chalk. It crumbles in your hand gets all over your clothes. We camped out near here at the Pit-River Campgrounds. It is located where the Fall River and Pit River meet in California.