Geology.com News - 9 Topics

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• Small Earthquake Draws Lots of Attention in Indiana.
• Bahamas Platform: Tidal Flats and Tidal Channels
• Spectacular Phytoplankton Bloom off Argentina
• World’s Longest Volcanic Eruption
• The Decline of Coal-Fired Power Plants
• How Will Coal and Natural Gas Compete in the Marketplace?
• HPHT “Fancy” Diamonds
• “We Have Grown to Detest Drilling”
• Dead Blackbird Mystery

Small Earthquake Draws Lots of Attention in Indiana. Posted: 02 Jan 2011 05:58 PM PST A small earthquake in Indiana can attract a lot of attention. A magnitude 3.8 earthquake that occurred there on Thursday, December 30 has drawn nearly 10,000 reports at the USGS “Did you feel it?” website. If you feel an earthquake you can report your experience there too.

Bahamas Platform: Tidal Flats and Tidal Channels Posted: 02 Jan 2011 05:41 PM PST Earth Observatory has a spectacular astronaut photo of tidal flats and tidal channels on the Bahamas Platform. The Bahamas is one of Earth best examples of a carbonate environment where the sediments that might eventually form limestone are deposited.

Spectacular Phytoplankton Bloom off Argentina Posted: 02 Jan 2011 05:31 PM PST “Off the coast of Argentina, two strong ocean currents recently stirred up a colorful brew of floating nutrients and microscopic plant life just in time for the summer solstice.” Quoted from the Earth Observatory image release. More image of phytoplankton blooms.

World’s Longest Volcanic Eruption Posted: 02 Jan 2011 05:13 PM PST The east rift zone of Kilauea Volcano has been in continuous eruption since January 3, 1983 – tomorrow is the 28th anniversary of the current eruption.

The Decline of Coal-Fired Power Plants Posted: 02 Jan 2011 04:57 PM PST About 1/2 of the electricity produced in the United States is from coal-fired power plants. An article titled “Coal’s Burnout” in The Washington Post explores why the use of coal for generating electricity is under pressure. Climate change and economics are pushing the use of coal in the same direction.

How Will Coal and Natural Gas Compete in the Marketplace? Posted: 02 Jan 2011 04:53 PM PST West Virginia has a wealth of energy resources. It has historically be a leading state for coal production and now much of northern West Virginia is over the Marcellus Shale natural gas field. An article in the Beckley Register-Herald titled “Will Natural Gas Replace Coal” explores how these two fuels might compete in the marketplace and how that competition might impact the West Virginia economy.

HPHT “Fancy” Diamonds Posted: 02 Jan 2011 04:42 PM PST The popularity of fancy diamonds (those with an attractive face-up color such as yellow, red, blue, green, purple, orange) has been increasing rapidly. Some of these stones are color-enhanced by the HPHT (high pressure high temperature) process – which can convert less desirable brown diamonds into much more attractive color. These HPHT diamonds are less valuable than stones with a natural fancy color and should be labeled in the marketplace. Related: Diamonds Don’t Form From Coal

“We Have Grown to Detest Drilling” Posted: 02 Jan 2011 04:09 PM PST John Hofmeister, former president of Shell Oil, explains why he believes that $5.00 gasoline is possible by 2012. He also make many comments about oil markets, public sentiment and approaches to reduced fossil fuel emissions.

Dead Blackbird Mystery Posted: 02 Jan 2011 04:01 PM PST On New Year’s eve about 5000 red-winged blackbirds fell from the sky above the community of Beebe Arkansas. What killed them is still a mystery.

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