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The Earth has a layered internal structure with the crust, upper mantle, mantle transition zone, lower mantle, outer core, and inner core from the surface to the center. In the Earth’s formation stage at approximately 4.6 billion years ago, the heavy metal components were separated from silicates and sank in the magma ocean, and a core formed at the center of the Earth. In this core-mantle separation process, partitioning of noble gases between the core and mantle occurred. Credit: Taku Tsuchiya, Ehime University

A deep reservoir of primordial helium in the Earth

Geology Page - May 8, 2021

From left, University of Wyoming students Shane Scoggin, Adam Trzinski and Jessie Shields are part of new research investigating crustal melting in western North America. Here, they examine igneous rocks in the Snake Range of Nevada. Credit: Jay Chapman

Scientists probe mysterious melting of Earth’s crust in western North America

$DeMMO field team from left to right: Lily Momper, Brittany Kruger, and Caitlin Casar sampling fracture fluids from a DeMMO borehole installation. Credit: ©Matt Kapust$

Earth’s crust mineralogy drives hotspots for intraterrestrial life

Isua in Greenland Credit: Hanika Rizo

Traces of Earth’s early magma ocean identified in Greenland rocks

Despite ESA’s GOCE mission ending over seven years ago, scientists continue to use this remarkable satellite’s gravity data to delve deep and unearth secrets about our planet. Recent research shows how scientists have combined GOCE data with measurements taken at the surface to generate a new model of Earth’s crust and upper mantle. This is the first time such a model has been created this way – and it is shedding new light on the processes of plate tectonics. The new model produced in ESA’s 3D Earth study shows for the first time how dissimilar the sub-lithospheric mantle is beneath different oceans, and provides insight as to how the morphology and spreading rates of mid-oceanic ridges may be connected with the deep chemical and thermal structure. Credit: ESA/Planetary Visions)

Gravity mission still unearthing hidden secrets

A transmitted light view through a 200-micron section of a peridotite sample, showing the three main minerals - olivine (clear-green), orthopyroxene (grey-green) and garnet (pink). Credit: Dr Emma Tomlinson, Trinity College Dublin.

A new, clearer insight into Earth’s hidden crystals

Geology Page - February 17, 2021

The colorful banded Tepees are part of the Blue Mesa Member, a geological feature about 220 million to 225 million years old in the Chinle Formation in Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. Credit: NPS

How rocks rusted on Earth and turned red

Geology Page - February 8, 2021

A graphic showing the convective heat cycle (red arrows) that drives plate tectonic motion (black arrows) on Earth. Heat flows toward subduction zones through the uppermost mantle layer, the asthenosphere. A computer model from Rice University finds that the asthenosphere can locally drag plates along with it rather than acting exclusively as a brake on plate movements as had been widely believed. (Image courtesy of Surachit/Wikimedia Commons)

Former piece of Pacific Ocean floor imaged deep beneath China

Geology Page - November 20, 2020

Fragments of the Oued Awlitis 001 meteorites acquired by the Ludovic-Ferrière. Credit: University of Manchester

Donwilhelmsite : New mineral from the moon could explain what happens...

Geology Page - November 4, 2020

Planet Earth. and You!

Geologist helps confirm date of earliest land plants on Earth

Geology Page - November 4, 2020

Structure layers of the earth.

A new way of looking at the Earth’s interior

Geology Page - October 23, 2020

Brazilian emeralds in a quartz-pegmatite matrix. (Photo courtesy of Madereugeneandrew/Wikimedia Commons)

Earth grows fine gems in minutes

Geology Page - October 9, 2020

Pioneering new research has helped geologists solve a long-standing puzzle that could help pinpoint new, untapped concentrations of some the most valuable rare earth deposits. Credit: Michael Anenburg, ANU.

Geologists solve puzzle that could predict valuable rare earth element deposits

Geology Page - October 9, 2020

A rough diamond from Kankan, Guinea, that was analyzed in a new study led by a PhD student at the U of A. The imperfections inside the diamond are small inclusions of a mineral called ferropericlase, which is from the lower mantle. Credit: Anetta Banas

Uncovering new understanding of Earth’s carbon cycle

Geology Page - September 12, 2020

carbon cycle

Understanding Earth’s ‘deep-carbon cycle’

Geology Page - September 12, 2020

Enhanced map of hematite (red) on Moon using a spheric projection (nearside only). Credit: Shuai Li

Has Earth’s oxygen rusted the Moon for billions of years?

Geology Page - September 12, 2020

Basalt, the most-common rock on Earth’s surface, encases green crystals--a geologic "nesting doll" phenomenon called a xenolith. Basalts such as this one derive from a section of the mantle that has been depleted in incompatible trace elements, which is usually attributed to continental crust formation. In their work, Tucker and his collaborators propose another mechanism that would impart this signature. Credit: Carnegie Institution for Science

Probing the origin of the mantle’s chemically distinct ‘scars’

Geology Page - September 1, 2020

Earth

The age of Earth’s inner core revised

Geology Page - August 26, 2020

$-A grain-size comparator chart (to scale). The chart shows the different size fractions from silt (63 µm) through to large cobbles (128256 mm). Such charts are useful for field comparisons.$

Grain Size : What is Grain Size? How is Grain Size...

Geology Page - August 21, 2020

Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano in Tanzania, a source of carbonate-rich magma.

Geologists publish new findings on carbonate melts in Earth’s mantle

Geology Page - August 6, 2020

Workers excavating Hall’s Cave in Central Texas. Image Courtesy of Michael Waters

Cooling of Earth caused by eruptions, not meteors

Geology Page - August 6, 2020

Map of the Earth showing the present-day deviation from expected magnetic field direction. The star is Saint Helena

South Atlantic anomalies existed 8 – 11 million years ago

Geology Page - July 24, 2020

Earth

Study could rewrite Earth’s history

Geology Page - July 16, 2020

Earth magnetic field. Credit: Carnegie Institution for Science

How does Earth sustain its magnetic field?

Geology Page - July 11, 2020

Earth’s geomagnetic field

Earth’s magnetic field can change 10 times faster than previously thought

Geology Page - July 11, 2020

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