Story: Geothermal energy

Champagne Pool at Waiotapu lies over an explosion vent and contains upwelling geothermal water with traces of gold, silver, mercury, arsenic and antimony. The bubbles are carbon dioxide. The distinctive orange colour around the edge is caused by the minerals orpiment and realgar, both sulfides of arsenic.

The water discharged from Champagne Pool flows across a sinter-encrusted flat, with a range of colours caused by mineral precipitation and micro-organisms.