Researchers found that chemical reactions between injected freshwater and fractured shale caused barium to leach directly from the rock. They also discovered a specific depth interval where barite grains were 'bitten' by pyrite, leading to barium mobilization in clay minerals.
Researchers propose that large meteorite and comet impacts into the sea created structures with favourable conditions for life. Water interacting with impact-heated rock enabled synthesis of complex organic molecules, and the enclosed crater provided a microhabitat for life to flourish.
Geologists now track tectonic plate motion to understand ocean and mountain range formation, as well as animal species distribution. The technology reveals new geological relationships in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, with implications for predicting earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Scientists from the University of Exeter will lead a four-year €5.4 million project to discover essential raw materials and minerals in Europe. The team aims to use advanced techniques to expose previously unknown underground resources for high-tech products.
Scientists have inventoried and categorized all of Earth's rare mineral species, revealing clues about the planet's sub-surface conditions and past biological upheavals. The rarest minerals are found at five or fewer locations worldwide and offer insights into what an inter-planetary probe might find.
A study found that fossilized bees from 50 million years ago were finicky about the pollen they fed their larvae, always collecting it from the same plants. The bees also ate a wide variety of things on their own flights, showing they didn't waste time searching for specific food sources.
Dr. Rodney Ewing has made significant contributions to the field of geoscience, bridging disciplines to develop new applications and advancing science through publications. He serves on various advisory committees and policy boards, providing timely leadership in the disposal of high-level radioactive waste.
A giant mound near the Moon's south pole has been found to be a result of a unique volcanic activity triggered by a colossal impact. The Mafic Mound, standing 800 meters tall and 75 kilometers across, exhibits a different mineralogical composition than the surrounding rock.
A team of researchers found a fossilized mammal from the Cretaceous period that may have suffered from a fungal infection affecting its fur. The Spinolestes had fused hairs resembling hedgehog spines and reinforced spine structures, indicating a unique adaptation to its environment.
Researchers found that magnesium oxide can react with oxygen under high-pressure conditions, potentially leading to the formation of magnesium peroxide in rocky planets outside our Solar System. This suggests that the interiors of these planets may have a different chemical composition than Earth's mantle.
Research predicts Earth's mineralogy is unique in the cosmos, with over 1,500 undiscovered minerals, influenced by physical characteristics, geological activity, and biological processes.
Researchers reconstructed dinosaur tracks at a 154-million-year-old quarry site, suggesting carnivorous dinosaurs hunted herbivorous island-dwelling dinosaurs. The digital model reveals that the predators could have immigrated via a land bridge as sea levels dropped.
Groundwaters in southern Western Australia have pH levels as low as 2.4 and salinities up to 28%, affecting bedrock and sediments. Human activities like mining and agriculture contributed to this extreme acidity, with deforestation and irrigation using desalinized seawater exacerbating the issue.
Scientists have analyzed seabed sediments to reconstruct past climates in the Mediterranean basin over 20,000 years. The study found reliable markers for wind patterns, fluvial cycles, and oxygenation conditions, shedding light on climate change.
Research by Indiana University scientists reveals that soil mineral surfaces determine nitrous acid release into the atmosphere, playing a pivotal role in smog formation and greenhouse gas lifetime. This finding could contribute to improved models for understanding and controlling air pollution, a significant public health concern.
The Curiosity rover has taken samples of Martian rocks and soils using the CheMin instrument, which has provided insights into processes on Mars. The analysis reveals a complex mineralogy, including aqueous alteration and hydrated sulphates.
A new climate model simulates global carbon cycle interactions between plants and microbes, revealing a loss of soil carbon stocks in temperate regions due to increased microbial activity. The CORPSE model predicts gains in soil carbon capture in boreal regions and tropical South America.
Dinosaurs had highly developed color vision, including the ability to see ultraviolet light, which likely contributed to the evolution of feathers. This discovery sheds new light on the origin of feathers and their role in dinosaur communication and mating.
Researchers have discovered a mid-Cretaceous greenhouse world, with superhigh sea-surface temperatures that prevailed during the Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a. Additionally, scientists have identified impact spherules in Karelia, Russia, which may be linked to the 2.02 Ga Vredefort impact event.
This article covers various geology topics including Mars exploration, environmental lead poisoning, earthquake hazards, the Indus Civilization collapse due to aridification event, end-Cretaceous mass extinction analysis using clumped isotope paleothermometry, and geological events such as the Tibetan Plateau's reorganization.
Researchers found diverse mineralogy in the South Pole Aitken basin's subsurface, suggesting pre-existing diversity in the Moon's crust and mantle. The study used data from the Moon Mineralogy Mapper to analyze light reflected from central peaks of smaller craters within the basin.
Scientists at Rice University and MARUM developed a new computerized model to simulate the complex chemistry at the boundary layer, where quartz and water meet. The model accurately predicts dissolution rates, which could revolutionize engineering calculations related to building materials and radioactive waste storage.
A new analysis of Hadean mineralogy suggests that no more than 420 different minerals were present at or near Earth's surface during the first 550 million years after life emerged. These minerals formed from magma and alteration, excluding rare elements such as borate and molybdate minerals.
Scientists analyzed 538 amber samples to reconstruct ancient atmospheric compositions, finding that oxygen levels were significantly lower than today. This suggests a link between low oxygen and high carbon dioxide concentrations, which may have influenced climate and life evolution.
A new PLOS Collection delves into the complex evolutionary cascade theory that made sauropod dinosaurs' gigantism possible. Researchers investigate factors contributing to their unique body size, including mobility, posture, and nutrition.
Researchers uncover new geological phenomena, including mirror-like faults, petit-spot volcanism, and water in nominally anhydrous minerals. These discoveries shed light on the complex processes shaping our planet's surface.
Research on Chelyabinsk meteorite fragments reveals evidence of intensive melting process, likely caused by a collision or proximity to the Sun. The dark fragments contain spherical 'bubbles' and platinum group elements, which are unusual for their formation time period.
A new study on carbonado diamonds reveals the presence of a 3D connected pore network, while another paper discusses sea-level change off New Jersey and ancient Sierra Nevada faulting. Meanwhile, volcanic activity in Hawaii is examined through core-seismic-log integration.
A Western University-led team of geologists has solved the long-standing puzzle of the Martian meteorite age by directing energy beams at tiny crystals found in a Martian meteorite. The team discovered that the most common group of meteorites from Mars is almost 4 billion years younger than previously believed.
Research at University of Liverpool found variations in Earth's core affect day length over periods of one to 10 years. The study resolves previously poorly characterised changes and provides new insight into the chemistry and mineralogy of the Earth's deep interior.
Researchers from the University of Bonn have found the oldest known dinosaur embryos in China, shedding light on the rapid growth and high reproductive rate of these ancient animals. The discoveries provide valuable insights into the biology of dinosaurs, including their development and behavior.
A 18-mile-long feature with a distinct mineral signature has been discovered in the Copernicus crater on the Moon's near side. The finding suggests that pre-existing mineralogical diversity is not always blended away by large impacts, contradicting long-held assumptions.
The 244-million-year-old Thalattoarchon saurophagis, a giant ichthyosaur, provided significant findings on the recovery of modern marine ecosystems following a severe Permian extinction. The discovery sheds light on the dynamics of evolving planet and its impact on today's environment.
A new study on the Sutter's Mill meteorite suggests that asteroid surfaces are more complex than previously thought, with a diverse mixture of rocks and minerals. The research, published in Science, used advanced imaging techniques to analyze the meteorite's mineralogy and structure, revealing unexpected diversity and complexity.
Curiosity rover analyzed its first solid sample of Mars using the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite. The analysis included separating molecules, identifying chemicals, and detecting volatiles and isotopes to search for signs of life.
Harry W. Green II, a distinguished professor at UC Riverside, has been awarded the 2012 Roebling Medal by the Mineralogical Society of America. He is recognized for his novel approach to geophysics using transmission electron microscopy, which has borne significant fruit in understanding natural deformations and mineral reactions.
The Geological Society of America's GEOLOGY journal has posted 35 new studies online, covering various disciplines such as volcanology and paleoclimatology. These studies explore topics like super-eruptions, vegetation change, and geochemical asymmetry in hotspot volcanoes.
Dr. Gordon E. Brown, Jr. receives the prestigious AGI Ian Campbell Medal for his groundbreaking work on synchrotron technology and its applications in environmental science. His research has focused on addressing societal issues through innovative geochemical reactions and remediation of contaminated sites.
Researchers studied Dead Sea sediment cores to reconstruct climate conditions over the past 10,000 years, finding rapid changes between moist and dry phases. They linked pollen data to plant species that can tolerate specific temperature and precipitation levels.
Researchers propose that oceanic crust 'oozed' continents at depths of 30-40 kilometers instead of 100 km, supported by analysis of oldest rocks. This new theory challenges the conventional understanding of continental crust formation.
Researchers found amino acids in 14 carbon-rich meteorites with high temperatures, suggesting high-temperature Fischer-Tropsch reactions created them. These reactions produce prebiotic components of life using hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen.
A recent study analyzed the photospheric stellar abundances of planet-host stars, uncovering a wide variety of terrestrial planet compositions. The results suggest that extrasolar planets may be significantly different from Earth due to variations in elemental ratios and planetary formation processes.
WHOI scientists Henry Dick and Joe Pedlosky received prestigious medals from the American Geophysical Union. Dick was awarded the Harry H. Hess Medal for his work on the mantle melting and ocean crust formation along global ocean ridges.
Researchers found diamonds from the lower mantle contain compositions consistent with oceanic crust, suggesting slabs of oceanic crust sank into the lower mantle and cycled back up. The discovery provides direct evidence for the Earth's carbon cycle extending to great depths.
A new study using lead and neodymium isotopes in lunar rocks indicates the moon is approximately 4.36 billion years old, challenging the long-held estimate of 4.5 billion years old. This finding also has implications for the age of Earth, suggesting it may be younger than previously believed.
A new study from the University of Cambridge shows that simple chemical reactions can delay or prevent CO2 from spreading in deep saline rock formations. The findings have implications for carbon sequestration methods and may enable engineers to manipulate reaction strength to enhance storage.
A team of scientists has discovered a new mineral, krotite, which is believed to be one of the earliest minerals formed in our solar system. The mineral was found in an unusual inclusion embedded in a meteorite and is composed of calcium-aluminum-rich refractory material.
The LRO mission has released a comprehensive collection of data, including global maps with resolutions as low as 100 meters per pixel. The dataset includes more than 192 terabytes of raw information, equivalent to approximately 41,000 typical DVDs.
A team of British scientists are heading to the Antarctic Peninsula to collect rock samples and analyze their mineralogy, geochemistry, and isotopic character to determine how glaciers and ice sheets behaved in past climates. They aim to predict how these natural systems will react in years to come if temperatures continue to rise.
UCF physicists analyze space dust using far IR spectroscopy to identify minerals and provide clues about solar system formation and life emergence. The findings will be published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society journal.
Eric J. Essene, George E. Gehrels, and Dana L. Royer received the Penrose, Day, and Donath Medals for their groundbreaking research in metamorphic petrology, U-Th-Pb geochronology, and paleoclimatology.
A Caltech team has found structurally bound hydroxyl groups, indicating the presence of water in a lunar mineral. The discovery is significant for understanding the moon's composition and its history.
The University of Leicester is involved in the ExoMars mission, which aims to characterise the chemical, geological and possible biological environment on Mars. The mission will attempt to gather samples from a depth 1-2m below the surface where they are protected from radiation.
Asteroid impacts over billions of years have left the Moon with a pockmarked surface, but a new crater may expose a portion of the lower crust. The Apollo Basin, formed by a smaller asteroid impact, measures 300 miles across and is believed to reveal the lunar crust's early history.
Carnegie scientists Kenneth Caldeira, Yingwei Fei and Steven Shirey have been elected AGU Fellows for their exceptional contributions to climate science, geological research and Earth sciences. Their work has significantly advanced scientific understanding of the internal structure of Earth and other planets.
A device created by UIC geoscientists simulates extreme sea floor conditions in a lab chamber, allowing scientists to examine samples under harsh conditions using X-ray diffraction. The device can simulate deep-sea pressure and temperatures, enabling the study of mineral formation, clay mineralogy, and hydrothermal systems.
The HRS technology combines space sensors with ground and air measurements to provide advance warnings of natural disasters such as forest fires. It can also identify water contamination, pollution spills and monsoon strikes, offering valuable insights for property developers and authorities.
The Moon absorbs electrically charged particles to produce water, confirming a key process on the lunar surface. The discovery enables scientists to create images of the Moon and other airless bodies using hydrogen atoms as tracers.
The Deep Impact spacecraft and Moon Mineralogy Mapper have found clear evidence of water on the lunar surface, which forms and dissipates each day. The data suggests that hydrogen ions from the sun interact with oxygen-rich minerals in lunar soil to produce water molecules.
Scientists have found evidence of water on the moon's surface using a NASA instrument, which detects wavelengths of light reflecting off the lunar soil. The discovery suggests that water may originate from an astronomical phenomenon called the solar wind, forming trace amounts in the lunar soil.