Geology

Earthquakes, large and small, happen every single day along zones that wrap around the world like seams on a baseball. Most don’t bother anybody, so they don’t make the news. But every now and then a catastrophic earthquake hits people somewhere in the world with horrific destruction and immense suffering. On Oct. 7, 2023, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck near the historic city of Herat, Afghanistan, leaving more than 1,000 people dead in the rubble, according to estimates. It was followed by two more earthquakes, just as powerful, on Oct. 11 and Oct. 15. A few weeks earlier, on Sept. 8, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake shook ancient villages apart in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, killing nearly 3,000 people. In February 2023, a large area of Turkey and Syria was devastated by two major earthquakes that hit in close succession. As a geologist, I study the forces that cause earthquakes. Here’s why some seismic zones are very active while others may be quiet for ge...

Open Access Government takes a closer look at the hydrology and surficial geology in Alaska to illustrate the broader picture of geology in the region, primarily focusing on Permafrost and Periglacial Studies From reporting on oil and mineral finds to helping in the aftermath of deadly mudslides, the Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys (DGGS) in Alaska staff tirelessly put effort into growing the economy and safeguarding their communities. Investing in geology is essential for commercializing and discovering Alaska’s untapped gas, oil, coal, and mineral resources and preventing geologic risks to Alaskans. Under the banner of the Director’s Office, the DGGS consists of five sections: the Geologic Materials Center and the Alaska Geospatial Office. The Director’s Office oversees strategic planning for the Division’s programs to ensure DGGS serves the community’s needs, oversees the Division’s financi...

FARGO — Students say a pledge from North Dakota State University to allow them to complete their studies in a discontinued program is falling far short of expectations. In addition, they and faculty question cuts to the science program to begin with, saying the move is shortsighted and goes against the standards of a land grant institution. Shelby Tooz, 20, of Moorhead, declared geology her major just days before talk emerged of the program being in danger, and she spent the following weeks and months in limbo. “I felt very kind of betrayed by a university that I grew up liking. Now when I think of NDSU I just think… They’ll take what you like and rub it in the dirt,” Tooz said. She’s since transferred to a geology program at the University of Minnesota Duluth. NDSU President David Cook and then-interim Provost David Bertolini warned of likely budget cuts last fall, and in January of this year outlined st...

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com. Why don’t rocks burn? – Luke, age 4, New Market, New Hampshire While many rocks don’t burn, some of them do. It depends on what the rocks are made of – and that’s related to how they were formed. There are three main rock types: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. These rocks are made of minerals that all have different characteristics. Some will melt into magma or lava – super-hot, liquid rock – when they are exposed to heat. Others will catch fire. Rocks can look alike, but one rock is not like another. Rocks that burn when they get heated up are combusting. This means that elements within the rocks are reacting with oxygen in the air to produce heat a...

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com. Will the Earth last forever? – Solomon, age 5, California Everything that has a beginning has an end. But the Earth will last for a very long time, and its end will come billions of years after anyone who is alive here now is gone. Before we talk about the future of our planet, let’s review its history and when life appeared on it. The history of human beings is very, very short compared with that of Earth. 4 billion years old Our planet formed from a giant cloud of gas and dust in space, which is called a nebula, about 4.6 billion years ago. The first continent might have formed on its surface as early as 4.4 billion years ago. The atmosphere of the early Earth did not contain oxygen, so it would have been toxic to hum...