Geology Page

New dinosaur found in Portugal, largest terrestrial predator from Europe

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mQfB4_1DmXA/UxkJU7_WrAI/AAAAAAAAGIo/axlF8g7tQpU/s1600/140305191427-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mQfB4_1DmXA/UxkJU7_WrAI/AAAAAAAAGIo/axlF8g7tQpU/s1600/140305191427-large.jpg" height="292" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The new dinosaur species is estimated up to 10 meters long and 4-5 tons.<br>Credit: Christophe Hendrickx; CC-BY</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A new dinosaur species found in Portugal may be the largest land predator discovered in Europe, as well as one of the largest carnivorous dinosaurs from the Jurassic, according to a paper published in PLOS ONE on March 5, 2014 by co-authors Christophe Hendrickx and Octavio Mateus from Universidade Nova de Lisboa and Museu da Lourinhã.<br>
<br>
</div>

New dinosaur found in Portugal, largest terrestrial predator from Europe

The new dinosaur species is estimated up to 10 meters long and 4-5 tons. Credit: Christophe Hendr...

Earth's mantle plasticity explained

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hvsr0ZEFrPU/UxkIi6cUzGI/AAAAAAAAGIg/bh9G5UvY1K8/s1600/140306112228-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hvsr0ZEFrPU/UxkIi6cUzGI/AAAAAAAAGIg/bh9G5UvY1K8/s1600/140306112228-large.jpg" height="240" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Optical microscopy image in cross polarized light <br>of a natural olivine polycrystal (Oman mylonite).<br>Credit: S. Demouchy, Montpellier</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Earth's mantle is a solid layer that undergoes slow, continuous convective motion. But how do these rocks deform, thus making such motion possible, given that minerals such as olivine (the main constituent of the upper mantle) do not exhibit enough defects in their crystal lattice to explain the deformations observed in nature? A team led by the Unité Matériaux et Transformations (CNRS/Université Lille 1/Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Lille) has provided an unexpected answer to this question.<br>
</div>

Earth's mantle plasticity explained

Optical microscopy image in cross polarized light of a natural olivine polycrystal (Oman mylonite...

Plasma plumes help shield Earth from damaging solar storms

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7-20-7VDCJc/UxkHmXHxW4I/AAAAAAAAGIY/DA47pPaTx7o/s1600/140306142757-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7-20-7VDCJc/UxkHmXHxW4I/AAAAAAAAGIY/DA47pPaTx7o/s1600/140306142757-large.jpg" height="227" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>NASA images used in a photo composite.<br>Credit: Christine Daniloff/MIT</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Earth's magnetic field, or magnetosphere, stretches from the planet's core out into space, where it meets the solar wind, a stream of charged particles emitted by the sun. For the most part, the magnetosphere acts as a shield to protect Earth from this high-energy solar activity.<br>
<br>
</div>

Plasma plumes help shield Earth from damaging solar storms

NASA images used in a photo composite. Credit: Christine Daniloff/MIT Earth's magnetic fiel...

Euclase

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sj4NnVlVHdI/UxkCnVnDQmI/AAAAAAAAGHw/doTP4tBKbSA/s1600/0390632001155601077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sj4NnVlVHdI/UxkCnVnDQmI/AAAAAAAAGHw/doTP4tBKbSA/s1600/0390632001155601077.jpg" height="320" width="311"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Equador, Borborema mineral province, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil<br>© Joseph A. Freilich</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u><b>Formula: </b></u>BeAl(SiO<sub>4</sub>)(OH)<br>
<u><b>System:</b></u>    Monoclinic    <br>
<u><b>Colour: </b></u>   Colorless, white, pale ...<br>
<u><b>Hardness:</b></u> 7½<br>
<u><b>Name: </b></u>From the greek for easy and fracture, due to good cleavage<br>
</div>

Euclase

Equador, Borborema mineral province, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil © Joseph A. Freilich Formula: ...

Mineral targeting made easy with database

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BQiojE5eCD8/Uxe3AZgB5vI/AAAAAAAAGHg/fy1wupnmKy8/s1600/mineraltarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BQiojE5eCD8/Uxe3AZgB5vI/AAAAAAAAGHg/fy1wupnmKy8/s1600/mineraltarge.jpg" height="231" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The magnetite database can help exploration geologists<br>distinguish between barren and mineralised areas of land.<br>Credit: David Clarke</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Finding ways to target mineral deposits in remote and deeply covered areas, such as in WA's often thick regolith cover, has been a major motivating factor in collaborative research between Australian and US scientists.<br>
<br>
</div>

Mineral targeting made easy with database

The magnetite database can help exploration geologists distinguish between barren and mineralised...

First-ever 3D image created of the structure beneath Sierra Negra volcano

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dedPvV7406Y/Uxe2BWkNk4I/AAAAAAAAGHU/VdVqpqfkfHc/s1600/1-firstever3di.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dedPvV7406Y/Uxe2BWkNk4I/AAAAAAAAGHU/VdVqpqfkfHc/s1600/1-firstever3di.jpg" height="258" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This illustration shows the plumbing system beneath <br>the Sierra Negra volcano.<br> Credit: Cynthia Ebinger, University of Rochester
        </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Galápagos Islands are home to some of the most active volcanoes in the world, with more than 50 eruptions in the last 200 years. Yet until recently, scientists knew far more about the history of finches, tortoises, and iguanas than of the volcanoes on which these unusual fauna had evolved.<br>
<br>
</div>

First-ever 3D image created of the structure beneath Sierra Negra volcano

This illustration shows the plumbing system beneath the Sierra Negra volcano. Credit: Cynthia Eb...

Pigment or bacteria? Researchers re-examine the idea of 'color' in fossil feathers

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tdIA10Q4p3U/Uxe1XfE7KrI/AAAAAAAAGHM/yyES3N17X74/s1600/4332233532_4a01db6961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tdIA10Q4p3U/Uxe1XfE7KrI/AAAAAAAAGHM/yyES3N17X74/s1600/4332233532_4a01db6961.jpg" height="220" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Anchiornis huxleyi<br>Image: Michael DiGiorgio, Yale University</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Paleontologists studying fossilized feathers have proposed that the shapes of certain microscopic structures inside the feathers can tell us the color of ancient birds. But new research from North Carolina State University demonstrates that it is not yet possible to tell if these structures -- thought to be melanosomes -- are what they seem, or if they are merely the remnants of ancient bacteria.<br>
<br>
</div>

Pigment or bacteria? Researchers re-examine the idea of 'color' in fossil feathers

Anchiornis huxleyi Image: Michael DiGiorgio, Yale University Paleontologists studying fossilize...

Erythrite

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4idLXvNaIVA/UxexV5lOE5I/AAAAAAAAGGk/INOjB1i5Xus/s1600/0247363001134904540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4idLXvNaIVA/UxexV5lOE5I/AAAAAAAAGGk/INOjB1i5Xus/s1600/0247363001134904540.jpg" height="240" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bou Azer District (Bou Azzer District), Tazenakht, <br>Ouarzazate Province, Souss-Massa-Draâ Region, Morocco<br>© Stephan Wolfsried</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u><b>Formula: </b></u>Co<sub>3</sub>(AsO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>·8H<sub>2</sub>O<br>
<u><b>System: </b></u>   Monoclinic    <br>
<u><b>Colour: </b></u>   Crimson to peach red, ...<br>
<u><b>Hardness: </b></u>1½ - 2½<br>
<u><b>Member of:</b></u> Vivianite Group<br>
<u><b>Name:</b></u> Named in 1832 by Francois Sulpice Beaudant From the Greek έρυθρος for red.<br>
</div>

Erythrite

Bou Azer District (Bou Azzer District), Tazenakht, Ouarzazate Province, Souss-Massa-Draâ Region, ...

New study reveals insights on plate tectonics, the forces behind earthquakes, volcanoes

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Iit7oQRJG8c/UxZnVDLOeZI/AAAAAAAAGGU/UUymp9knog4/s1600/140304113542-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Iit7oQRJG8c/UxZnVDLOeZI/AAAAAAAAGGU/UUymp9knog4/s1600/140304113542-large.jpg" height="137" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Asthenosphere and lithospheric plate<br>Credit: Nicholas Schmerr/University of Maryland</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Earth's outer layer is made up of a series of moving, interacting plates whose motion at the surface generates earthquakes, creates volcanoes and builds mountains. Geoscientists have long sought to understand the plates' fundamental properties and the mechanisms that cause them to move and drift, and the questions have become the subjects of lively debate.<br>
<br>
</div>

New study reveals insights on plate tectonics, the forces behind earthquakes, volcanoes

Asthenosphere and lithospheric plate Credit: Nicholas Schmerr/University of Maryland The Earth&...