October 31, 2014 Earth Science
It is difficult, if not impossible to find the exact top ten strategic minerals at any given time for all of the developed nations for two reasons: governments tend to be cagey about letting the world know what they are…
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October 31, 2014 Earth Science
Particulate pollution, also known as particulate matter (PM), encompasses a wide array of airborne pollutants that can affect an individual’s breathing and well being. The US EPA classifies PM in two categories: particulates that measure between 2.5-10 microns in diameter,…
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October 31, 2014 Earth Science
“We lost everything, we lost everything”! These were the cries heard over and over as the victims of Hurricane Katrina wandered the ruins in New Orleans and parts of Southeastern Texas, Southern Mississippi and Northwest Florida. The eye of Hurricane Katrina…
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October 31, 2014 Earth Science
The Earth is fine for our survival at the surface, but gets uncomfortably hot when we go too deep! The natural heat (thermo) from beneath the surface of the Earth’s crust (geo) shows promise as an endless and clean source…
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October 31, 2014 Earth Science
Avalanches kill an average of twenty five people per year. Unfortunately, this number is on the rise. This is due to more people venturing into the backcountry for recreation. Also, modern snowmobiles are more powerful than ever, allowing riders to…
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October 31, 2014 Earth Science
Particulate Pollution and Associated Health Effects Particulate pollutants are typically a mixture of organic and inorganic air-borne particles that can occur in either the solid or liquid state. The concentration of PM is not uniform in the atmosphere and varies…
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October 31, 2014 Earth Science
The East Arican Rift System is a massive rift zone spanning east Africa from the Afar Depression, by the Red Sea, south and then into the ocean near Mozambique. The massive rift valley is produced by a geological process in…
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October 30, 2014 Earth Science
Created in 1812 by German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs, the Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness measures the scratch resistance of various minerals. This scale is based on the ability of one mineral to scratch another, which is intended to measure hardness….
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October 30, 2014 Earth Science
Sedimentary rocks, or rocks formed from sediment, dust, garden soil, particulates from the air, substances from lakes, rivers, creeks, and ponds that have become stationary, are of three basic divisions: siliciclastic – or clastic – chemical and biochemical. And these,…
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October 30, 2014 Earth Science
Moeraki Boulders are just one of the many naturally occurring oddities that are found on Koekohe Beach and surrounding areas in New Zealand. Some have likened the appearance of these boulders to the bowling balls of giants, who have long…
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