photos

When I wrote the post on the aftermath of Hurricane Ike earlier this week, I mentioned that before and after photographs would probably be coming in the near future.

A new web page from the USGS today shows the devastation left behind on the Bolivar Peninsula from Hurricane Ike (The Bolivar Peninsula is located just northeast of Galveston Island).

The photos are horrific.

[Via USGS]

Yes! It’s a new day and a new meme is spreading across the geoblogosphere like a forest fire. I’m always game to participate in a new meme and this one sounds like it could be especially fun. Chuck at Lounge of the Lab Lemming posted a list of 50 great minerals that he believes everyone should see.

Below is my list of 50 minerals that I’ve seen and think others should see. Bold minerals indicate those that I’ve seen in the field, while italicized minerals have been seen in a museum or laboratory. Where available, I’ll try to include some information about where I observed the mineral (thanks to old field notebooks and school reports). You’ll notice a lot of these locations are very similar. That’s mostly because many of these minerals were observed on many mineralogy class field trips.

Anyway, let’s have some fun!

1. Actinolite
Observed in Wrightwood, CA

2. Agate
Observed at Olmsted Point, Yosemite, CA

3. Amanzonite
Observed in pegmatite found in White Mountains near Lone Pine, CA

4. Andersonite
It’s a radioactive mineral. And it fluoresces. If that isn’t cool, I don’t know what is.

5. Apatite
Made from the same stuff that makes up your teeth!

6. Borax
Observed at Searles Lake, Trona, CA

7. Beryl
Observed in pegmatite found in White Mountains near Lone Pine, CA

8. Beta Quartz
Observed in Bishop Tuff, Owens Valley, CA

9. Biotite
Observed at Olmsted Point, Yosemite, CA

10. Calcite
Observed at Dolomite Loop near Lone Pine, CA

11. Chrysocolla
Observed in Darwin, CA

12. Cinnabar
Observed at Olmsted Point, Yosemite, CA

13. Cordierite
I might have seen this in the field, but I’m not sure. Definitely seen in lab.

14. Corundum
Observed at the mouth of the Russian River, near Jenner, CA

15. Cummingtonite
I can’t think of a single person (geologist or not) who snickers when they hear the name of this mineral.

16. Dolomite
Observed at Dolomite Loop near Lone Pine, CA

17. Fluorite
Observed in Darwin, CA

18. Epidote
Observed at Dolomite Loop near Lone Pine, CA

19. Galena
Observed in Darwin, CA

20. Garnet
Observed at the mouth of the Russian River, near Jenner, CA

21. Glaucophane
Observed at the mouth of the Russian River, near Jenner, CA

22. Gypsum
Observed in Darwin, CA

23. Hanksite
Observed at Searles Lake, Trona, CA

24. Hornblende
Observed at Olmsted Point, Yosemite, CA

25. Ice
Everywhere. I’ve seen this in New Zealand, California, Utah, Colorado, Oregon. Even in my kitchen (though I don’t really count that as being in the field… no matter how scarce food or a good beer may be). And it fits the definition of a mineral: “A naturally-occurring, inorganic homogeneous solid with a definite chemical composition and a unique and ordered crystalline structure.”

26. Jasper
Observed in San Francisco, CA

27. Kyanite
Observed at the mouth of the Russian River, near Jenner, CA

28. Lepidolite
A really beautiful looking mica mineral that is generally rose colored.

29. Limonite
Observed in Darwin, CA

30. Microcline
Observed at Olmsted Point, Yosemite, CA

31. Molybdenite
A boring mineral. At least from what I remember from mineralogy lab. I probably associate this with sleeping in the back of class.

32. Muscovite
Observed at Olmsted Point, Yosemite, CA

33. Olivine
Observed in basalt flows near Independence, CA

34. Opal
Observed at McLaughlin Gold Mine near Napa, CA

35. Orthoclase
Observed at Olmsted Point, Yosemite, CA

36. Pink Halite
Observed at Searles Lake, Trona, CA

37. Plagioclase
Observed at Olmsted Point, Yosemite, CA

38. Pyrite
Observed in Darwin, CA

39. Quartz (var. Rock Crystal)
Observed at McLaughlin Gold Mine near Napa, CA

40. Quartz (var. Smokey)
Observed at Olmsted Point, Yosemite, CA

41. Realgar
A beautiful mineral. And another one that we would always joke about when we realized that it’s chemistry was “AsS”.

42. Romanechite
Observed at Dolomite Loop near Lone Pine, CA

43. Sanidine
Observed in Bishop Tuff, Owens Valley, CA

44. Serpentine
Observed in San Francisco, CA. Easily my favorite mineral and a key ingredient in California’s State Rock.

45. Sphene
Observed in pegmatite found in White Mountains near Lone Pine, CA

46. Staurolite
A beautiful dark colored mineral. I remember this one specifically from asking our petrology professor what his favorite mineral was. He instantly answered “staurolite” before we even finished the question.

47. Stibnite
Observed in McLaughlin Gold Mine near Napa, CA

48. Talc
Observed at Dolomite Loop near Lone Pine, CA

49. Travertine
Observed in Owens Valley, CA

50. Tremolite
Observed at Dolomite Loop near Lone Pine, CA

More Information

• All My Faults Are Stress Related
• Clastic Detritus
• Dinochick Blogs
• geoberg.de-Blog (in German)
• Geotripper
• Highly Allochthonous
• Hypo-Theses
• Looking for Detachment
• Lost Geologist
• Lounge of the Lab Lemming
• Magma Cum Laude
• Musings of a Life-Long Scholar
• NOVA Geoblog

The weekend is almost upon us and that means it’s probably time for a new meme to sweep through the geoblogosphere. Last week, it was Pangea Day and before that it was Tag Clouds (I think we’re burning through Accretionary Wedge ideas at an alarming rate).

What was the first geology trip you ever went on? Where did you go, what were your impressions and most important of all; do you have any photos?

Earlier this evening, I uploaded a set of photos I found in my iPhoto library that documents the first geology trip I ever went on as a student at Riverside Community College, way back in the spring of 2001. It was lead by Dr. Jim Mehegan, one of the best professors I have ever had and who had a huge impact on my academic life. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2004 while kayaking the Colorado River.

The field trip in 2001 was for an introduction to geology class and visited the Eastern Mojave Desert over 3 days. Specific features we would look at were the Pisgah Crater, Cima Volcanic Field, Amboy Crater and the area around Essex/Hole in the Wall. The trip was an absolute blast.

At an old lava flow from Amboy Crater

About to hike up Amboy Crater

First time hunting for fossils! (FYI, I’m the scrawny guy in the white shirt on the left)

Why do they call it Hole in the Wall?

Welded Tuff

Hiking to the top of the Kelso Dunes

At the top of the Kelso Dunes

Running down the face of the Kelso Dunes. (The Kelso Dunes are known as “barking dunes” for the sound that is made when air in the pore space of the sand grains is compressed and forced out from beneath the surface)

It’s amazing how young and dorky looking I am back then. Fortunately, a lot has changed in the past 7 years since I first started out in geology.

Then again, maybe nothing has changed.

I thought I’d continue the theme of volcanoes and Hawaii by featuring this photo taken yesterday at the Halema’uma’u Crater on Kilauea.

Image Credit: mylineis9 on Flickr.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has more pictures and information.