Metallic Area on the Side of Archuletta Mesa, Colorado

Metallic Area on the Side of Archuletta Mesa, Colorado

My first thought, was open ore deposit, since their are a lot

silver mines in that area. Or perhaps Data Imagery Error, but on Bing Maps this same metallic area is there too.

Metallic Area on the Side of Archuletta Mes....kmz (835 B)

Bing Maps

Shadow differences in Bing and GE views tells me they didn't buy the same set of imagery. The texture of the rectangular area looks artificial as does the shape. Otherwise I have nothing to add.
Looking at your Bing image capture again, I see a different perspective than I thought I saw earlier. I'm looking straight down on the trees and what I perceived as a slope now looks level. So now the area in question seems to be a small pond or wetland. It may be frozen as well.


 

I saw water right off. Even clouds reflected.
It's funny how our perception of things can be tilted off a bit.
For instance, craters can look like bumps and vice versa.
Especially when we can spin the compass in circles while browsing countryside,
and not even be aware what angle we're viewing.
That's where the "R" key can re-establish flatness and top north.
Cheers! And keep digging things up!!