The colors are the effect of a thin film of oxidized iron on the steel. Thin films of this sort exhibit the same interference colors present in “my” Leptothrix discophora films. Here’s this from Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thin-film_interference): “Tempering colors are produced when steel is heated and a thin film of iron oxide forms on the surface. The color indicates the temperature the steel reached, which made this one of the earliest practical uses of thin-film interference.”
Well, the colors don’t interfere with me….seriously, it’s amazing the way you find this phenomenon is such disparate places. Here’s to wandering! And seeing!
My first acquaintance with interference colors was in high school; it’s what I did my physics project on. Sadly, my physics teacher died before I could tell him how it has stuck with me.
Romancing Reality 
Terrific!
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May 6, 2018 at 1:04 PM
Thanks, Alan. Another view tomorrow, and a speculation.
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May 6, 2018 at 1:45 PM
I’m with Alan.
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May 6, 2018 at 1:09 PM
Thanks, Ken. Iridescence is what compelled me to make a photo out of this, though the shapes may be interesting enough to warrant one.
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May 6, 2018 at 1:47 PM
As in, what is it? I’d tell you, but that would be too, too easy. 😉
Crazy colors, great find! 🙂 Seriously, I have no idea what it is.
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May 6, 2018 at 1:32 PM
The colors are the effect of a thin film of oxidized iron on the steel. Thin films of this sort exhibit the same interference colors present in “my” Leptothrix discophora films. Here’s this from Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thin-film_interference): “Tempering colors are produced when steel is heated and a thin film of iron oxide forms on the surface. The color indicates the temperature the steel reached, which made this one of the earliest practical uses of thin-film interference.”
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May 6, 2018 at 1:54 PM
Well, the colors don’t interfere with me….seriously, it’s amazing the way you find this phenomenon is such disparate places. Here’s to wandering! And seeing!
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May 8, 2018 at 5:57 PM
My first acquaintance with interference colors was in high school; it’s what I did my physics project on. Sadly, my physics teacher died before I could tell him how it has stuck with me.
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May 8, 2018 at 6:52 PM
Love this, Linda, love the colours very much, love the chaos! Adrian 🙂
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May 7, 2018 at 6:15 AM
Thank you, Adrian. It is messy, isn’t it. Sometimes chaos can be photogenic.
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May 7, 2018 at 1:29 PM