Geobulletin alpha

Carbon Taxes in the Political Arena 

In mid-June the Democratic party is evidently debating whether a carbon tax should be part of the party’s election platform. Donald Trump does not support a carbon tax. Congressional Republicans consistently oppose a carbon tax. However, there is a sense that Republicans may prefer a carbon tax to additional carbon emissions regulations or as part of comprehensive tax reform. Currently, California and nine other states, most of Canada, and the European Union price carbon, generally through [...]

Airliner Chronicles: When Disaster Arrived from the Heavens 

I thought briefly of making this one of those "What is it?" kind of posts, but it seemed kind of obvious. We were flying home from our weekend in St. Louis, and without a GPS, I was trying to get myself situated correctly into the geography that was drifting by slowly far beneath us. I was not too particularly successful at orienting myself while over the "flyover" states of Oklahoma, Kansas

Dreams of Summer and Southwest Travels: Hole in the Wall, Mojave National Preserve 

Christmas is over and suddenly the snow and blizzards aren't so fun any more. I find myself dreaming of warmer places and times, including a great journey we took last summer across the southwest with my students. Since my current travels are over until February, I'm going to travel through the archives to check out some marvelous geology along our southwestern tier of states: Arizona,

PG test pitfalls 

A while back, I discussed how I prepared for the ASBOG tests that are required for the Professional Geologist (PG) license in many US states. I mentioned that I did successfully pass both tests (Fundamentals of Geology and Practice of Geology). But when I was actually in the exam room, which parts did I have the most trouble with? I didn't have too much trouble with the Practice of Geology -

Altered states (of lava domes) 

Time for some shameless self-promotion – but also some research blogging. Last week I (finally) had a paper come out about my graduate modeling work on the hydrothermal systems and alteration in lava domes. (I’m sorry it’s not open access – I couldn’t afford it this time! But feel free to contact me if you want a copy.) Basically, the rundown is this: Lava domes, like volcanoes in general, are big

Mining on 10 Million Acres in Six States Impacted by BLM’s Proposed Withdrawal 

On September 24, 2015, the federal Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) published a Notice of Proposed Withdrawal (“BLM notice”), proposing to withdraw from mineral location and entry federal lands identified as “sagebrush focal areas” in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming. The BLM notice commences a two-year temporary segregation period, prohibiting location and entry … Continue

Miners and States take Notice, the EPA is Updating its CERCLA Financial Responsibility Requirements 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) has recently announced that it would take steps to finalize rules establishing financial responsibility requirements for hard rock mines under section 108(b) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”). Section 108(b) gives the EPA the authority to require certain facilities to have some type of financial … Continue

July 27, 2015 

Predicting the Shape of River DeltasMIT News The Selenga River Delta of Lake BaikalGeology.com A Challenge to the New York Fracking Ban ?Poughkeepsie Journal Measuring the Height of Mount McKinleyUnited States Geological Survey Cavers Enter Devil’s Well For the First Time in 30 YearsThe Salem News Online There’s a Volcano Called “Kick ’em Jenny”, and

Oklahoma starts a border war with Kansas featuring the latest earthquake weapons 

All the states hate each other.  They'd be shooting but for the damn Feds who control the army.  All the states have is the puny National Guard, which is only good for shooting protesters. You can see this in their geological maps which end at the border, and make no effort whatsoever to splice with the enemy.  In fact, when we needed a magnetic survey we gave up on New York and

Degree of Interior Design 

Earning an Interior planning degree is becoming one of the most popular degrees provided by accredited universites and colleges. At this period, interior design is actually regulated in twenty-four states. Thus if you are looking at entering the world of interior planning it is recommended that you generate a bachelors degree in Interior planning before […] The post Degree of Interior Design appeared first on Liberty, Equality, and

Wyoming, Colorado Seek To Halt BLM’s Fracking Regulations; Environmental Groups Intervene 

On the heels of a preliminary injunction motion filed in the action by two industry groups challenging the federal Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) final rule regulating hydraulic fracturing on public lands, the states of Wyoming and Colorado likewise filed a preliminary injunction motion in their related case last Friday. In their brief, the states … Continue

States Show Their True Colors on Fracking – One Enacts a Ban, While Two Others Prohibit All Local Bans 

Three states have recently taken a stand for or against controversial bans on hydraulic fracturing. Oklahoma, Texas, and Maryland have all passed laws within the past month relating to hydraulic fracturing bans. Oklahoma Last Friday, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin signed Senate Bill 809, which prohibits local governments from choosing whether to have oil and gas … Continue

May 26, 2015 

What Are Fluorescent Minerals ?Geology.com Expedition to Cruzeiro Tourmaline Mine, Minas Gerais, BrazilGemological Institute of America Doppler on Wheels to Study TornadoesNational Science Foundation Newly Released USGS Topo Maps for LouisianaUnited States Geological Survey New Orleans: New Levee System is Sinking FastThe Lens NOLA More Deadly Flooding in Texas and OklahomaCNN US Natural Gas Net

April 20, 2015 

Cuba: Mining and Petroleum IndustriesUnited States Geological Survey Cuba: Fossil and Renewable Energy ReportEnergy Information Administration Video: Impressive Mudflow at Ubinas Volcano (Peru)Weather.com What Are Water Rights ?Gizmondo Schlumberger: 20,000 Jobs CutBloomberg The Oldest Stone Tools Ever Discovered ? (3.3MYO, Kenya)ScienceMag.org Cement That Absorbs CO2 ?PBS Some Coastal Communities May Not Have Time for Tsunami

March 25, 2015 

Marcellus Shale: Drilling Productivity ReportEnergy Information Administration Angola Oil and Gas ReportEnergy Information Administration Why is Denver a Mile High?The Geological Society of America Crocodile Attack on Ramree IslandSlate Burmese Pythons Upset Florida Everglades Animal PopulationsUnited States Geological Survey NASA Surprised By Chelyabinsk Russian Meteor FragmentsForbes Recovering Valuable Metals at Sewage Treatment Plants ?Mining.com A

March 23, 2015 

USGS: “Secretly Stashed” Gold Maps of AfghanistanUnited States Geological Survey Ecuador Oil and Gas ReportEnergy Information Administration World’s Largest Oil Companies (based on 2014 production)Many are surprised that Exxon is #4 behind SaudiAramco, Gazprom, National IranianForbes Car-Size Stingray May Be World’s Largest Freshwater FishNational Geographic Space Radar Tracks Underground Water Pollution RiskNASA FEMA Has Not

March 13, 2015 

Reawakened Oklahoma Faults Could Produce Larger Future EventsUnited States Geological Survey Teachable Moments in Earthquake ScienceIncorporated Research Institutions for Seismology What I Do as a Research GeologistLifeHacker Sinkhole at Bus Stop in South Korea Swallows PassengersCaving News Video: Extreme Caving at Burrington CombeCaving News Karst Field Studies 2015 Summer ProgramCaving News US89 in Arizona to

Engraved copper plates used to print topographic maps 

AZGS received dozens of engraved copper plates used to print topographic maps of Arizona. The plates are being surplussed to states and universities by the USGS which no longer uses them for producing maps.  After cleaning, we hope to put selected plates on display to demonstrate how maps used to be made, one layer (eg, topography, hydrography, streets) at a time.  They are also

Darwin Day resolution introduced in Arizona legislature 

State Representatives Sherwood and Rios introduced a resolution in the Arizona House proclaiming February 12, 2015 as International Darwin Day in Arizona.   The resolution states: Whereas, February 12, 2015 is the 206th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin; and Whereas, Charles Darwin is recognized for the discovery of natural selection as the mechanism by

February 11, 2015 

Citizen Scientists Lead Astronomers to Mystery Objects in SpaceNASA USGS Publishes Historical Hydraulic Fracturing DataUnited States Geological Survey Geoscience Enrollments & Degrees Robust in 2014American Geosciences Institute Searching for Caves with Thermal Imaging on a DroneCaving News A Visit to Sharps Cave, West VirginiaCaving News The Organism that Didn’t Evolve for 2 Billion YearsLos Angeles