Norris Porcelain Basin - Features west of the boardwalk to Pinwheel Geyser
The central area of Porcelain Basin is traversed by a boardwalk, leading in a northward direction. Until 2015 it gave access to an observation platform near Pinwheel Geyser, which has been removed because the responsible authorities lost hope in a reviviscence of the geyser. West of the boardwalk there are several unnamed small springs on the flat, circled by the loop trail. They all show distinctive brown precipitates from iron minerals around their vents. Acitivity consists mainly of a weak and constant emission of hot water.
Following the loop trail to the northwesternmost corner, you come across a paired feature, consisting of the dry Yellow Crown Crater and the inconspicuous spring NPBNN021 next to it. Beyond these features approximately 100 yards behind the trees in northwestern direction Bear Den Geyser and Ebony Geyser are located, but since both are dormant or extinct you will not even spot a steam column.
Subsequent features to the south are spring NPBNN013 and Whale's Mouth.
Crackling Lake is the most eye-catching feature in the western section of Porcelain Basin.
On its far side the weak spouting activity of Crackling Spring can be observed, extending its sinter terrace from year to year. In August 2017 the northern pool was spouting while the pools in the south showed only some overflow.
South of Crackling Lake the boardwalk traverses a section with several smaller features in close vicinity. Cats Eye Spring, a small geyser, lives up to its name but is often overlooked by visitors.
Next to Cats Eye Spring, Glacial Melt Geyser once was filled with opalescent blue water. Currently it looks like an ordinary small puddle and is rarely active.
Across the boardwalk Milky Complex is just a collection of small, pastel-colored vents with no spouting activity. Its rare, scaled sinter structure resembles very much Fagrihver hot spring in Hveravellir, Iceland.
Upslope of Milky Complex you find Teal Blue Bubbler, once an irregular geyser. It is dormant for many years now.
