Wasatch Fault Flyover

This video is a flyover of the most active fault zone in the interior of the US. It is overdue for a large rupture.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DByPiCkznE0

A large quake could be very damaging to a lot of people and structures.

Harry Allen

Gigapan Panorama Photography

Did you ever want to take Super detailed Panorama Photography? Check out the Gigapan system --It is a automated panorama robot to take many many shots with a simple digital camera and put them together as a "Gigapan " It would be great for the Geology shots that just don't quite fit in the viewfinder

Geologic Froth

Geology of National Parks

Planning you trips for nest year? Check out the geology before you go on your nest road trip:


Geology of National Parks

Harry Allen

Petrified Forest

Here are some photos from a Triassic dino fossil dig in the Petrified Forest N.P.

Chinleana: Petrified Forest Fieldwork Photos - 2008

Harry Allen

Where does your oil come from?

Here is a map that shows where our imported oil comes from.

RMI's Oil Imports Map - RMI MOVE

Harry Allen

| Drillers break into magma chamber

Hot news they drilled into a magma in Hawaii. I'll bet the drillers were surprised.


BBC NEWS Science & Environment Drillers break into magma chamber

Harry Allen

100 Things You've Done Meme: A Geologist's Version

This is an interesting post about the 100 geology things you have done or seen.


Geotripper: 100 Things You've Done Meme: A Geologist's Version

Who has seen the most Geothings?


Harry Allen

Colorado Plateau Geology Class

Colorado Plateau Geology Class -- Yavapai College Community Education (Non Credit)

Terry Steinborn and I are teaching a class on the Geology of the Colorado Plateau which will be followed by a Edventures field trip to see the Geology of many of the National Parks in Utah and Arizona within the Colorado Plateau .
The class starts Feb 12 and goes for six weeks. It is being put on by the Yavapai College Community Education department. It is scheduled for 9 to 11 on Thursdays. To register call the office at 928-717-7755 or mail in the form available on the web site:

Yavapai College : Community Education

The contact person at Community Education is Heather Hurst -- heather.hurst@yc.edu

The follow up field trip is going to be 7 days (six nights) --April 18-24 and look at most of the Colorado Plateau's Geology and National Parks. These are the highlights of the trip and the rough itinerary:

1. Prescott to South Rim Grand Canyon to Kanab
2. Zion to Bryce Canyon
3. Grand Staircase/Escalante to Capitol Reef (Torey)
4. San Rarael Swell to Arches to Moab
5. Canyonlands to Moab
6. Monument Valley to Canyon DeChelly
7. Petrified Forest to Prescott

The field trip will be through the Yavapai College Edventures Program. Registration should begin near the first of the year.

It would be a good idea to sign up for the class early so they can find us a good classroom with enough room for all. We don't want to turn anyone away.

Harry Allen

havasu flood video

In the AZ Water Science Center highlights section is a video of the results of the August 17 flood in Havasu canyon. New channels were cut by the massive erosion' event'.

Geology in action.

USGS Arizona Water Science Center

Harry Allen

Self-correcting Dino Dance floor

Desent on the Dino Dance Floor Theory in northern Arizona

Arizona Geology: Evolving dino story example of self-correcting science in action


Harry Allen

Electoral and Geologic Boundaries

This is an interesting post election geologic note:

Electoral and Geologic Boundaries « Clastic Detritus

I guess the western mountains don't fit as well as the older eastern ones.

Harry Allen

Welcome to the Anthropocene

Has man's effects on the planet reached the point where we need a new Era. Is the Holocene over?

Food for thought.

GSA Journals Online - Journal -

Harry Allen

Havasu Canyon restoration

Here is the latest on the Havasu flood damage.

Arizona Geology: Havasu Canyon restoration estimated at $2 million+

Harry Allen

Happy birthday, Earth!

Happy 6011 th Birthday Earth -- The earth was born October 23 4004 BC.

Arizona Geology: Happy birthday, Earth!


Have a late Birthday party this weekend.

Harry Allen.

Verde Valley Field Trip

Last weekend we had another amazing field trip lead by Paul Lindburg. This one was on the Verde Valley Geology. Paul puts on a great trip and explains the geology to all levels in the club-- both the professional geologists and the enthusiast proto-geologists learned from his explanations. More than 24 people showed up for the all-day venture from Jerome to Page Springs.

We will have one more trip in his series -- the Sedona /Oak Creek Canyon section. More on that trip later.

Harry Allen

Hot news from USGS

The USGS released a fact sheet on the Geothermal Resources. If they were near the big population centers we could have lots of power and hot water for everyone -- as they do in Iceland.

USGS Fact Sheet 2008-3082: Assessment of Moderate- and High-Temperature Geothermal Resources of the United States

Harry Allen

Dinosaurs trampled dunes in Navajo Sandstone

Look for tracks on your next trip to the Arizona Strip.

Coyote Buttes has Dinosaur tracks in the inter dune areas of the Navajo sandstone near the AZ UT border.

Arizona Geology: Dinosaurs trampled dunes in Navajo Sandstone

Harry Allen

NAU geology talks on age of grand canyon

Nancy Riggs sent us notification of the up comming talks at NAU

"The age and development of the Grand Canyon has recently become a hot topic, with a paper in Science and abundant media attention.
This week and next (Oct. 23) the Department of Geology will have two speakers with contrasting views of the Canyon's history.This Thursday, please come to hear Karl Karlstrom, from University of New Mexico, at 4 PM in Geology 103.
His talk is titled Debate about the age of the Grand Canyon: Hypothesis for tectonic influences on carving of the <6 Ma Grand Canyon.Next Thursday we will host Carol Ann Hill from teh USGS Denver.
Dr. Hill's talk is Evolution of Grand Canyon from the Laramide to the present: Some new ideas, and is also at 4 PM in Geology 103.Attached please find the Science paper by Hill and colleagues (Polyak et al., 2008) and Karlstrom's perspective (Karlstrom et al., 2008) in Geology.�
we have pdfs of several other relevant papers; please let me know if you would like any of them (including comment/replys to the Science article)."

Harry Allen

Colorado Plateau

November 16 1-2:30 Sharlot Hall -- Ron Blakey and Wayne Ranney will give a talk on theit new book about the paleogeography of the Colorado Plateau. If you want to get a copy of their book in advance you can get it fron the Grand Canyon Association:

Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau: Grand Canyon Association Books & More

Should be a great talk . It would be best to get an advance reservation for a good seat. Call Sharlot Hall at 928-445-3122.

Harry Allen

Prescott N.F Geologic map

For all you map geeks out there-- there is a new Central Arizona geologic map avaiable from the USGS.

It is just great. It has all the new mapping on one big sheet as well as all the radiogenic dates, wells, linaments, faults ,dips,and correlations.

All the local geology on one really large sheet for only $7.00.

Product Details
If that does not work here is the link to the usgs store where you can search for the Prescott National forest geologic map
http://store.usgs.gov/b2c_usgs/b2c/start.do


Harry Allen

Why geologists only get better with age

Good news for all us retired geologists.

The more rocks you see --the better geologist you become.

Highly Allochthonous : Why geologists only get better with age

Retired Harry

Verde Valley Geology Meeting

Paul Lindburg will give a talk on the Geology of the Verde Valley at the Prescott Library at 6:30 this coming Wednesday, October 8. Paul is a well-known geologist, the first to decyper the history of the Jerome copper deposits. He led a Club outing last May to Jerome where he made some very complicted geology clear to both geologists and non-geologists thanks to posters, drawings, and an amazing 3-D model. This time he is moving on to the Verde Valley, with its faults, lake beds, salt deposits, and lava flows. The talk will be complimented by a field trip to the Verde Valley on Saturday, October 18.

Debbie Allen

Plate Tectonics and the History of Geology Class

Terry Steinborn and Harry Allen are doing an Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) class on the history of geology and how it evolved into the Plate Tectonics theory --which is the "Theory of Everything Geologic."
Call 717-7634 to register for the class. It will be Thursdays 9-11 am at Sharlot Hall Museum starting on October 23 It is six weeks long and ends after Thanksgiving on Dec 4th.
Good news -- No Tests.

101 geoblogs

Here is a list of geoblogs for any interest level in geology. I had no idea there were so many out there.


Arizona Geology: 101 geoblogs

Enjoy.

Harry Allen

Highlands Center Field Trip Oct 5

We are having a short field trip to the Highlands Center on Sunday October 5 at 1:00 pm

Highlands Center for Natural History

One of our members (Jim Neal) is writing a Geologic Field Guide to the trails of the Highland Center. This trip is a chance to look at the outcrops and help him field check the Geology.

Everyone is welcome --in fact- some of the Trails are on the forest service "HikingSpree 2008" so you can earn credit toward a hiking prize by going on our trip.

Harry Allen

WAC gets look at groundwater water model

Here is an article about the long awaited hydro model for out water supply.


CVBugle - County WAC gets look at groundwater water model

I have always wanted to know what data they use and what data they need to get a really good model of a water basin.

Harry Allen

Arizona Geology: Grand Canyon not as old as recently claimed

More on the debate about the age of the Grand Canyon that we heard about at the last meeting.

Arizona Geology: Grand Canyon not as old as recently claimed


Harry Allen

Ike Before and After Pictures

This is a link that shows the effect of a large storm (Ike)on an offshore bar near Houston
You can see that most of the sediment movement that you can really see occurs via the large storms.
It is a form of the old geologic theory of Catastrophism.

Hurricane Ike Before and After Pictures

Never own a place on a flood plain or off shore bar if you want to keep it for a long time.

Harry Allen

Virtual Seismic Atlas « Clastic Detritus

Have you ever wanted to see what goes on in the subsurface.
This is a link to a site that shows you the seismic pictures of some cool geologic
structures from all over the world.

Virtual Seismic Atlas « Clastic Detritus

This give you an idea about the data people use to intrepret the subsurface geology.

Now find the OIL.

Harry Allen

Five most important minerals

Here is a good question for all.

What are the five most important minerals to know and why?

One answer is here>
All of My Faults Are Stress-Related

What do you think?

Quartz
Calcite
Clay minerals
Feldspar
Olivine
Ice

Pick your favorite five.

Harry Allen

Arizona Geology: UA scientist verifies 'hockey stick' climate model

Feeling a little warm???

Arizona Geology: UA scientist verifies 'hockey stick' climate model

Harry Allen

Sciencedebate 2008

Presidential answers to Science questions

Part One -- Obama answers

Sciencedebate 2008

Part two -- Mc Cain later (when the answers are released)

Harry Allen

Arizona Geology: Iron King mine - Humboldt Smelter added to Superfund list

We have a new superfund site in the neighborhood

Arizona Geology: Iron King mine - Humboldt Smelter added to Superfund list

Harry Allen

Land Use History of the Colorado Plateau Home Page

Another interesting source of information about the Colorado plateau


Land Use History of the Colorado Plateau Home Page

From NAU and the USGS

Harry Allen

New book

A new book by Ron Blakey and Wayne Ranney

Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau

Soon to be published.

Harry Allen

Flooding reached 9 feet above Havasu Creek

Flood info.
Arizona Geology: Flooding reached 9 feet above Havasu Creek

It could be a good post flood field trip.

Harry Allen

Geologists and denial of human-caused climate change

Here is an interesting post from a hard rock geologist about the denial of global warming.

All of My Faults Are Stress-Related: Geologists and denial of human-caused climate change


Harry Allen

Treasure in them there hills

Check out the lost treasures/mines in our hills

Treasure Tales: Arizona

Good hunting

Harry Allen

Significantly Older Grand Canyon?

How old is the Grand Canyon?

Some new data questions the conventional Six Million year B.P.date for the cutting of the Grand Canyon.

http://www.unm.edu/~market/cgi-bin/archives/002711.html#more

Come to the September meeting and find out more about the debate.

Harry Allen

Tornado At Valle

As a precursor to the Redlands Dam failure there was a tornado spotted near Valle

azdailysun.com Flagstaff & Northern Arizona Region


Harry Allen

Havasu flooded Sunday

An earthen dam broke and flooded Havasu canyon at the Grand Canyon.

The AP story follows.

Daily Camera AP News


Here is a video of the flood
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=9333562&ch=4226713&src=news

Harry Allen

Back in Arizona

We are back from the Mid Atlantic Ridge --sometimes known as Iceland. Great geology at our feet, beautiful impressive place. Good to be back in AZ though.

The question of the day. Will all of the artificial flooding in the Canyon work?

Arizona Geology: Is there enough sand to rebuild Grand Canyon sandbars?


Harry Allen

Check out this conference

The annual Hydrological Society meeting will be in Flagstaff on September 21 to 24. Also the AIPG (professional geologists) meeting is simultaneous. They have both workshops and some very interesting field trips.

I haven't checked out the pricing to see if it is possible to just go on a field trip or attend a lecture of interest without signing up for the whole conference. Included at the site is a "Phoenix to Flagstaff" geology road guide (pdf file) which is worth a look if you drive on I17.

http://www.azhydrosoc.org/2008_symposium.html

Debbie

May earthquake Sichuan China

This is a detailed paper on the 7.9 earthquake in China . It is a technical GSA report with some good illustrations of the geologic details of the quake. Very interesting since this is not a place where quakes would be expected on a regular basis.

GSA Journals Online - Journal -


Harry Allen

"Anatomy of the Grand Canyon"

I found a review of a new geology/photo book on the Grand Canyon in Lee Allisons blog.


Arizona Geology: New book: "Anatomy of the Grand Canyon"

This could go in my ever increasing collection of Canyon books.


Harry Allen

Volcanic Field Trip

Terry Steinborn is leading a trip to the San Francisco Volcanics on July 19 th . The bus trip leaves from the flagpole at Yavapai College at 7:00 am and returns about 5:00

The trip costs $30.00 and you bring your own lunch. Call the OLLI office at 717-7634 to make a reservation. There are about 20 openings at last check.

Harry Allen

Flooding Visible from Space

Take a look at the flooding on the Mississippi.

Iowa, Illinois and Missouri Flooding Visible from Space

Even those busy beavers at the Corps of Engineers can't control mother nature.

Remember: Flood Plains are Plains that Flood! Duh!

We just got back from Flordia and it is HOT and HUMID there-- I need to dehydrate.

Harry Allen

Gold Panning Trip

Here are a couple if pictures from our gold panning outing.

Above is Bruce Williams learning from the master Roy Row.

Tiny golden fortunes were made by most of the people-- I however still need to find a single flake of gold.

Harry Allen

A volcano that is not a Volcano

Two years ago a well blew out in Indonesia which caused a large amount of mud to bubble up -- It is still going on. This gives you an idea of the scale of the mud problem.

Sidoarjo's Man-made Mud Volcano - The Big Picture - Boston.com

Harry Allen

Volcanoes from Space

Part two.

How do we know where volcanoes will erupt?

One of the ways is to look for evidence that there is a magma on the move. We should see swarms of small earthquakes and some pushing up of the earths surface as the magma moves up.

Take a look at the Three Sisters area in Calf. --it went up 15cm in 4 years --that is huge. Check out the radar data in this article:

Monitoring Volcanoes from Space

Harry Allen

Moho review

Terry Steinborn -- one of our members is teaching a OLLI class on volcanos . One of the class questions was how deep is the bottom of the crust? There is a good map of how deep in the following article:


Mohorovicic Discontinuity - The Moho - GEOLOGY.COM


Take a look at where we are --in our part of the basin and range -- it is thick in our portion of the crust.

Harry Allen

geotaging photos

In case anyone wants to record where you took a field photo and see it on Google Earth. I found a tutorial on how to geotag your photos and put the lat /long into the header info of your digital camera (EXIF file).

http://www.macameraclub.com/Geotagging.pdf

It uses all free programs so the cost is right. You can see what amd where you have photographed on Google Earth and post them for all to see if you choose.

Harry Allen

The Saturday morning gold panning field trip was a big success - at least in terms of learning how to pan for gold, if not for the volume of gold discovered. Nineteen people showed up to wade in Lynx Creek near Stoneridge in Prescott Valley. Roy Row and Kevin Hoagland shared knowledge and showed the different panning techniques for plastic pans with riffles (preferred) and the old fashioned metal pans. Roy came up with the largest "nugget," a flake that he estimated was worth about 15 cents. Most of the panners at least had a grain of gold by the end of the morning; it didn't pay for the gas, but those big nuggets are out there waiting.

mentos

Just for fun--from the nsf. (and the Lee Allison blog)


http://nsfgov.httpsvc.vitalstreamcdn.com/nsfgov_vitalstream_com/mentos_coke.swf

Try this at home-- if you dare.

Is it be similar to what happens in a geyser?

Harry Allen

All of My Faults Are Stress-Related: Tectonics of the May 12 Sichuan earthquake

I found an answer to why the deadly Chinese quake happened so far from the normal plate boundaries.

All of My Faults Are Stress-Related: Tectonics of the May 12 Sichuan earthquake

This blog -- from Durango CO also has some interesting geo-thoughts about the four corners area. Check the archives section.

We hope to have the details on the panning field trip soon --e. g. if a place can be found with enough water to do the panning as well as a chance to find a flake of gold.


Harry Allen

Geology.com - Earth Science News, Maps, Dictionary, Articles, Jobs

This is another good website for the latest geologic happenings worldwide.

Geology.com - Earth Science News, Maps, Dictionary, Articles, Jobs


They often have good small articles about the latest geo events.


Harry Allen

Arizona Geology

Lee Allison ( the state Geologist) has a great blog on the geologic happenings in Arizona.

Arizona Geology

He adds new geo-things every day --so check his blog often often.

Harry Allen

Gold Panning Field Trip June 7

On Saturday June 7 you will have an opportunity to learn how to pan for gold. Roy Row, and experienced panner, will demonstrate techniques and get us started. Right now the location is still to be determined; it depends on how much water is flowing at different sites. This will be a morning trip. If you do not have a gold pan we will have a few available from Yavapai College for practice. If the monsoon rains come as scheduled, we may have a second trip in August for more serious panning.

Debbie Allen