A black mafic fan is a type of sedimentary rock structure found commonly in volcanic areas. It is characterized by its dark color and fine-grained texture. Mafic refers to the composition of the rock, which is rich in magnesium and iron-rich minerals. The term "fan" is used to describe the shape of the rock structure, which typically resembles a fan or a cone. Black mafic fans are formed through the process of volcanic eruption and subsequent deposition of volcanic materials. When a volcano erupts, it releases hot lava, ash, and other volcanic debris.
As friends they see each other occasionally at Bay Area puzzle events and otherwise. They worked separately, though, through many different versions, to implement this crossword's ambitious theme.
This puzzle couldn t have happened without Rafa s coding; his stack at 45- and 46-Down and signature colloquial fill at 109-Across are just the cherries on top. It s difficult to hold my short attention span these days, so if I don t cruise through a grid in 15 minutes or so, I get bored and do something else.
When a volcano erupts, it releases hot lava, ash, and other volcanic debris. These materials are then transported by volcanic processes, such as pyroclastic flows and lahars, and deposited in a fan-shaped pattern. The dark color of black mafic fans is a result of the high content of dark minerals, such as pyroxene and amphibole, which are found in mafic rocks.
About Two Feet
Rows: 21, Columns: 21 Words: 140 , Blocks: 78 Missing:
Rebecca Goldstein, of Albany, Calif., is a research scientist at Merck, developing immunotherapies for cancer. Rafael Musa, of San Francisco, is a software engineer at Airbnb. Each has . read more
Rebecca Goldstein, of Albany, Calif., is a research scientist at Merck, developing immunotherapies for cancer. Rafael Musa, of San Francisco, is a software engineer at Airbnb. Each has been published individually in The Times, but this is their first collaboration.
As friends they see each other occasionally at Bay Area puzzle events and otherwise. They worked separately, though, through many different versions, to implement this crossword's ambitious theme.
Constructor notes:REBECCA: What a thrill to see this puzzle in print! The revealer and concept came to me relatively easily, but after a few hours of trying to fill around the double letters by hand, I was . read more
REBECCA: What a thrill to see this puzzle in print! The revealer and concept came to me relatively easily, but after a few hours of trying to fill around the double letters by hand, I was completely stuck. Rafa's coding skills to the rescue! Once we had a promising layout, Rafa ran some code to generate a wordlist with all the possible entries that could work around the double letters. We filled the grid, and ended up deciding that the theme entries could be sparklier, so we started all over. Getting everything to work — after a few more layouts, coded wordlists, and rounds of fill — felt like a miracle. This puzzle couldn't have happened without Rafa's coding; his stack at 45- and 46-Down and signature colloquial fill at 109-Across are just the cherries on top.
RAFA: Beyond excited to be back so soon for another Sunday! I'm always in awe of Rebecca's theme brain, and I was immediately in love with this revealer when she approached me with this theme idea. It was cool to use the knowledge from my software day job to write code to make it easier to fill this grid. Stacked themers are no joke to fill around, so I'm particularly proud of the fun bonus fill we were able to squeeze into this grid, as well as the nods to our Bay Area home at 54-Across and 45-Down.
Jeff Chen notes:I haven't been this delighted by a revealer in quite a while. I was underwhelmed as I solved, given that this "stretched letters" theme type has been done and done and done again, but BIG . read more
I haven't been this delighted by a revealer in quite a while. I was underwhelmed as I solved, given that this "stretched letters" theme type has been done and done and done again, but BIG SHOES TO FILL was such a perfect revealer. HEEL, BOOT, CLOG, FLAT are all literally big shoes — and the solver is filling them in!
Such a smooth solve, too. It's difficult to hold my short attention span these days, so if I don't cruise through a grid in 15 minutes or so, I get bored and do something else. Ooh, something shiny! Hey, it's a squirrel!
Stupid social media and YouTube.
Each pair of themers was solid, and the fill around them was buttery. There was even some spice with PROP BETS, RED DWARF, and the awesome sign-off toward the end: IT'S BEEN REAL. Not once through my solve was I tempted to look at my phone and see what else there was to do.
I did wonder, was having singular shoe and shoe and shoe and shoe weird? Yes. Were four types of singular shoe enough to make it feel thematically dense enough? No. However, as with almost all Sunday 21x21 140-word grids, there will be trade-offs. I bet Rebecca and Rafael could have packed in pairs of singular shoes or added another one or even two types of shoe — check out Jeremy's grid, for example — but that might have sacrificed solving flow. I'd much rather accept lesser density for overall quality.
Well-established theme categories are tough to excel in, but this revealer and the silky execution helped LIFT this one.
These minerals give the rock its characteristic black or dark gray color. The fine-grained texture of black mafic fans is a result of the rapid cooling of volcanic materials during deposition. Black mafic fans are often found in volcanic regions where volcanic activity has been active in the past. They can form large deposits and cover extensive areas, indicating the magnitude of volcanic eruptions in the area. These rock formations are of great interest to geologists as they provide valuable information about the history of volcanic activity and the processes that occur during volcanic eruptions. In addition to their scientific significance, black mafic fans are also used in various practical applications. They are commonly used as building materials, as they are durable and can withstand high temperatures. They are also used in the production of cement, as they provide important ingredients for this material. In conclusion, black mafic fans are sedimentary rock structures found in volcanic regions. They are characterized by their dark color and fine-grained texture. These rock formations are formed through volcanic eruption and subsequent deposition of volcanic materials. Black mafic fans are geologically significant and have practical applications in construction and cement production..
Reviews for "Black Mafic Fan Formation: From Magma to Rock"
1. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to read "Black Magic Fan" based on all the hype, but I found it to be incredibly disappointing. The plot was convoluted and hard to follow, with too many unnecessary twists and turns. The characters lacked depth and I didn't feel a connection to any of them. Overall, the story just didn't flow well and it felt like a chore to keep reading. I definitely wouldn't recommend this book to others.
2. John - 1/5 stars - "Black Magic Fan" is one of the worst books I have ever read. The writing was terribly done, with frequent grammatical errors and awkward phrasing. The dialogue was cringeworthy and often unrealistic. The pacing was all over the place, with slow and boring sections followed by rushed and confusing moments. The author tried to incorporate too many elements into the story, resulting in a messy and incoherent narrative. I regret wasting my time on this book.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - As a fan of fantasy novels, I was really looking forward to "Black Magic Fan", but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The world-building was weak and underdeveloped, leaving me with a lack of understanding and immersion. The magic system felt inconsistent and poorly explained. Additionally, the main character was unlikable and difficult to root for, which made it hard for me to invest in the story. Overall, it had potential but failed to deliver a compelling and well-executed fantasy read.