the-star-stuff:

Asteroid Impact Craters on Earth as Seen From Space

Asteroid impact craters are among the most interesting geological structures on any planet. Many other planets and moons in our solar system, including our own moon, are pock-marked with loads of craters. But because Earth has a protective atmosphere and is geologically active — with plate tectonics and volcanic eruptions, mostly relatively young oceanic crust, and harsh weathering from wind and water — impact structures don’t last long and can be tough to come by.

But on a few old pieces of continent, especially in arid deserts, the marks of asteroids have been preserved. One well-known example is our own Barringer crater, also known as Meteor Crater, in Arizona. The images here show some of the biggest, oldest and most interesting impact craters on the planet.

(Source: )

the-star-stuff:

Plate Tectonics

A tectonic plate (also called as lithospheric plate) is a massive, irregularly shaped slab of solid rock, composed of both continental and oceanic lithosphere. The lithosphere consists of the Earth’s crust and part of the uppermost mantle. The Earth’s surface or lithosphere is divided into about 7 large plates and 20 smaller ones.

sttarlight: Baatara gorge waterfall, Lebanon The waterfall descends the Baatara Pothole, located on the Lebanon Mountain Trail. Discovered in 1952, the waterfall drops 255 m into a cave of jurassic limestone. The waterfall and accompanying sinkhole were fully mapped in the 1980s by the Speleo club du liban. The cave is also known as the “Cave of the Three Bridges.” During the spring snow melt, a 90-100 meter cascade falls behind the three bridges and then down into the 250 meter chasm. Source

sttarlight:

Baatara gorge waterfall, Lebanon

The waterfall descends the Baatara Pothole, located on the Lebanon Mountain Trail. Discovered in 1952, the waterfall drops 255 m into a cave of jurassic limestone. The waterfall and accompanying sinkhole were fully mapped in the 1980s by the Speleo club du liban. The cave is also known as the “Cave of the Three Bridges.” During the spring snow melt, a 90-100 meter cascade falls behind the three bridges and then down into the 250 meter chasm.

Source

(Source: losdramas)

I’m going to post more stuff tonight, I promise!

Labs/midterms/personal stuff have been kicking my butt, as I’m sure many of you understand!

But tonight! Yes, tonight I shall upload some things! (From field trips/class material/reblogging some of you!)

Best text ever. I sincerely advice buying it if you’re pursuing geology - it’s super interesting, and is laid out in a manner that is readable. Klein, C. and Dutrow, B. 2008. Manual of Mineral Science. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New Jersey. 675 pages.

Best text ever. I sincerely advice buying it if you’re pursuing geology - it’s super interesting, and is laid out in a manner that is readable.

Klein, C. and Dutrow, B. 2008. Manual of Mineral Science. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New Jersey. 675 pages.

Antiform found on an outcrop on the TransCanada highway near Fredericton, NB. (gneissgeologist)

Antiform found on an outcrop on the TransCanada highway near Fredericton, NB.

(gneissgeologist)

(Source: thegneissgeologist)

(Source: highwaykind)

Does anyone else hate summary sedimentology logs as much as me?

I don’t think so.

So.  Many. Unconformities. - “Geological layers are normally laid down horizontally. Here at White Pocket, there are completely reckless swirls, stripes, offsets, unconformities and overlaps that challenge conventional wisdom—and remember, this phenomenon covers a vast area from Coyote Buttes to the Paria River. Unlike Coyote Buttes to the west, White Pocket has a characteristic white crust overlying its red, orange and yellow stripes.” (Geology gone mad: White Pocket by Chief Bwana on Flickr.)

So.  Many. Unconformities. - “Geological layers are normally laid down horizontally. Here at White Pocket, there are completely reckless swirls, stripes, offsets, unconformities and overlaps that challenge conventional wisdom—and remember, this phenomenon covers a vast area from Coyote Buttes to the Paria River. Unlike Coyote Buttes to the west, White Pocket has a characteristic white crust overlying its red, orange and yellow stripes.”

(Geology gone mad: White Pocket by Chief Bwana on Flickr.)

Synform - strata dip towards the center of the axis. (Geology at Hancock by grail76 on Flickr.)

Synform - strata dip towards the center of the axis.

(Geology at Hancock by grail76 on Flickr.)

Examples of types of quartz - coarse crystalline, fibrous microcrystalline, and granular microcrystalline.

(From Geol 2131 slides by Dr John Spray at the University of New Brunswick.)

Agate (SiO2) - A variety of chalcedony, which is a microcrystalline type of quartz (tectosilicate).  (agate-achate-achat by Agates and Minerals on Flickr.)

Agate (SiO2) - A variety of chalcedony, which is a microcrystalline type of quartz (tectosilicate). 

(agate-achate-achat by Agates and Minerals on Flickr.)

Rubellite [Na(Li1.5,Al1.5)Al6Si6O18(BO3)3(OH)4] - Red/pink tourmaline (cyclosilicate), a gemstone. (t-r-a-n-s-p-a-r-e-n-t-l-i-f-e)

Rubellite [Na(Li1.5,Al1.5)Al6Si6O18(BO3)3(OH)4] - Red/pink tourmaline (cyclosilicate), a gemstone.

(t-r-a-n-s-p-a-r-e-n-t-l-i-f-e)

(Source: transparent-life)

(Source: iliketolive)

Peridotite - ultramafic igneous rock, consisting mostly of olivine and pyroxene. (Peridotite by Vootriant on Flickr.)

Peridotite - ultramafic igneous rock, consisting mostly of olivine and pyroxene.

(Peridotite by Vootriant on Flickr.)