After a few months of research and exchanging emails with University's Geology departments we have concluded that these vents emitting steam and small rocks are FUMAROLE vents. I know . The first thing you want to ask is "What is that"? Well I had no idea either. But this is what I was able to find out. A fumarole ( comes from a latin word meaning smoke) is an opening in the Earth's crust. This area is often near where there have been volcanic activity. If you have been visiting another EC not far from here you will find certain evidence that this is the case . These vents not only emit steam but can send out other gasses such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen chloride, and hydrogen sulfide.
A fumarole field is an area of thermal springs and gas vents where magma or hot igneous rocks release gases or interact with groundwater ( Glossary of Geology , Klause K. Neuendorf p.257) Here the steam forms when water is superheated and vaporizes as its pressure drops when it emerges from the ground.
These fields happen along tiny cracks or long fissures. they are typically in an area of thermal springs and gas vents. What is happening at GZ is that the hot spring is boiling off all its water before it reaches the surface.
These FUMAROLES have been known to last just days but can stay around for decades if located above a persistant heat source.
To receive credit for this EC please answer the following questions and email them to me.
1) How many of these vents did you find?
2) Did you smell anything unusual here?
3) How are FUMAROLES formed?
4) You will find certain types of rock formations here. What are their predominate colors?
5) Looking at GZ, do you see any pooling of the water vapor as it cools near the surface?
6) Is there any evidence of recent volcanic activity?
7)How do the FUMAROLES at GZ compare to the one picture on cache page?