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copper
Future Copper Prices and Supply Situation
November 7, 2009 | Arizona Geology Blog

“A financial analysis of the global copper market predicts uncertainty in the short term but the possibility of “severe shortages and much higher prices” in the longer term.” Quoted from the Arizona Geology Blog.

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National Geothermal Data System
November 6, 2009 | Arizona Geology Blog

The Arizona Geological Survey has received a $15.7 million grant that will enable them to lead the development of a national geothermal data system. Forty state geological surveys will be contributing state-specific geothermal data. Press release for this event.

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Arizona Historical Maps, Reports and Photos
October 5, 2009 | Arizona Geology Blog

A diverse set of historical maps, reports, letters, and photos on mining in Arizona from the Arizona Geological Survey archives is now available online in the new “Arizona Mines” section of the Arizona Memory Project.

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Electric Utilities Are Nervous About Building More Coal Plants
September 29, 2009 | New York Times

Fearing potential problems with carbon legislation electric companies in the southwest states such as Arizona, Nevada and southern California are looking harder at renewable sources of electricity instead of coal.

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Interesting Petroglyph Photos
September 11, 2009 | Geology.com

Petroglyphs, sometimes known as “rock art,” are images cut into or scribed onto a stone surface by people. They are often produced as a form or art or communication. This photo gallery features petroglyphs from worldwide locations including: Arizona, British Columbia, California, Chile, Hawaii, India, Mexico, Namibia, Nevada, New Mexico, Norway, Ontario, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Utah, Virgin Islands, Washington.

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Black Point Lava Flow
September 7, 2009 | Earth Observatory

Earth Observatory has a photograph of the Black Point Lava Flow in northern Arizona taken from the International Space Station. The flow is part of Arizona’s San Francisco Volcanic Field, a group of geologically young (approximately six million to less than one thousand years old) volcanoes, lava flows, and cinder cones located just north of Flagstaff, Arizona. Quoted from the Earth Observatory release.

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Water
How Much is Water Worth?
August 31, 2009 | The Arizona Republic

In an interesting article in The Arizona Republic, Robert Glennon, a law professor, tells a story about a steel company liquidating its assets. They sold nearly 2000 acres of prime real estate, their plant and equipment, an iron-ore mine and other valuable assets – but their water rights were sold for more than all of their other assets combined. So, plant and equipment will wear out and real estate can only be sold one time. However, water rights give you access to an essential substance over time.

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uranium
Uranium Debates: Arizona and Colorado
August 30, 2009 | Arizona Geology Blog

Lots of people are extremely interested in uranium exploration and mining projects in Arizona and Colorado. Lee Alison links to a number of news articles here, and here, and here from his Arizona Geology Blog.

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Mammoth
Siberian Mammoth Moves to New Home
August 30, 2009 | Arizona Geology Blog

A twelve-foot-tall Siberian mammoth fossil on display at the Arizona Geological Survey courtesy of the Natural History Museum of Novosibirsk, Russia has been surprising visitors to the survey’s atrium since February. The fossil has been purchased and is moving to a new home. Staff members of the Novosibirsk museum have recovered several mammoth and woolly rhino fossils which were eroding from a stream channel in Siberia.

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Stimulus Money for National Parks
August 26, 2009 | CNN

CNN has a video that reports how much economic stimulus money is going to various National Parks. Many Parks have an enormous list of deferred maintenance – a grand total of $9 billion. But , some people believe that money to the National Parks is not a form of economic stimulus.

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Meteor Crater, Arizona
Impact Craters on Earth and the Moon
August 17, 2009 | Earth Observatory

Impact craters on the Earth are eroded rather quickly, but stay preserved for much longer on the Moon. This article details recent craters on both.

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Information for Arizona Homeowners and Buyers
August 5, 2009 | Arizona Geological Survey

The Arizona Geological Survey has lots of geologic hazards information for homeowners and home buyers that can be downloaded and viewed immediately for free from their website.

Their webpage for real estate hazards includes information on floods, earthquakes, problem soils, mass movements, subsidence and earth fissures, radon, karst, abandoned mines, volcanic hazards, radon and more.

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Geologic Maps of the San Pedro River
August 3, 2009 | Arizona Geological Survey

“The Arizona Geological Survey is releasing six, new geologic map sheets showing the extent and age relationships of Quaternary alluvium along more than 175 miles of the San Pedro River and its major tributaries, Aravaipa Creek and Babocomari River. A 76-page report accompanies the maps. The Arizona Department of Water Resources used the geologic maps, in conjunction with other data, to delineate subflow zones in the watershed.” Quoted from the AZGS website.

Congratulations to AZGS for publishing these in both .pdf and .jpg formats that allow anyone anywhere to view these maps immediately online and print as their equipment allows. More geological surveys should share their publications with such easy-to-view graphics.

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Worldwide Petroglyph Photo Collection
July 29, 2009 | Geology.com

A collection of petroglyph photos from Arizona, British Columbia, California, Chile, Hawaii, India, Mexico, Namibia, Nevada, New Mexico, Norway, Ontario, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Utah, Virgin Islands, Washington.

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Water
Arizona Water Use: Agriculture vs Mining
July 23, 2009 | Arizona Geology Blog

The largest water consumer in Arizona’s Sahuarita-Green Valley complains that a proposed mining operation will have a negative impact on water supplies in the valley. The mining company claims that they will recharge 105% of the total mine water production as close to the mine as possible.

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Hazardous Faults in the Intermountain West Region
July 20, 2009 | USGS

USGS has released Open File Report 2009-1140: “Evaluation of Hazardous Faults in the Intermountain West Region”. “This region contains thousands of faults that have moved in Cenozoic time, hundreds of which have evidence of Quaternary movement, and thus are considered to be potential seismic sources.”

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Sun
Climate Change in the Southwest
July 9, 2009 | U.S. Global Change Research Program

The U.S. Global Change Research Program released a report that explains how climate change might impact Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, California and New Mexico. Wildfires, increased flooding, stressed water supplies, and high temperatures are a few of the featured problems.

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Raven Maps: Spectacular State Wall Maps
July 2, 2009 | Raven Maps

Raven Maps are the most beautiful state wall maps that I have ever seen. They show the elevation and relief of a complete state through a skillful use of vibrant colors and topographic shading. Maps are available for individual states, the Conterminous United States, North America, Mexico and the world.

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Are Real Estate Agents Liable for Natural Hazard Damage?
July 1, 2009 | Arizona Geology

Can a home buyer hold her real estate agent liable if she buys a property and it is damaged by a natural hazard? How about if there were public meetings, state real estate bulletins and government publications that announced and explained the hazard? Here’s a case from Arizona.

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Roadside Geology of Your Favorite State
June 28, 2009 | Roadside Geology / Geology.com

Learn about the geology of your favorite state as seen along the highway. This series of books by Mountain Press are filled with maps, photos, park locations and detailed descriptions. Get one before your next trip.

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National Geothermal Data System
June 15, 2009 | Arizona Geology

A post at the Arizona Geology blog gives a brief description of the National Geothermal Data System and how data for the system will integrate with the Geoscience Information Network.

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arizona.gif
Giant Solar Energy Plant for Phoenix
June 6, 2009 | Arizona Geology

A new solar energy plant with 3500 parabolic mirrors will generate 290 megawatts of electricity near Phoenix, Arizona.

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Renewable Energy Land Rush
June 4, 2009 | Arizona Geology

Lee Alison notes that a lot of people are interested in lands that could serve as sites for renewable energy development.

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Microfossils in the Grand Canyon
June 1, 2009 | University of California, Santa Barbara

Microfossils found in the Grand Canyon are giving researchers new clues about “Snowball Earth,” the popular term for glaciations that occurred between approximately 726 and 635 million years ago. This article discusses the fossils of the Canyon’s Chuar Group.

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volcano
Climb a Volcano!
May 26, 2009 | USGS

One of the “frequently asked questions” posted on the USGS website is: “Where can I climb a volcano?” They list over 20 volcanoes that you can climb in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington.

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The Vug
Mineral & Lapidary Clubs
May 22, 2009 | The-Vug.com

The-Vug.com has a comprehensive listing of mineral and lapidary clubs from across the United States. It could be the most complete and up-to-date listing on the web. Included are hundreds of clubs and organizations located in all 50 states.

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New Cave Insects, Arachnids and Crustaceans
May 12, 2009 | USGS

“Caves in northern Arizona and western New Mexico are being researched and inventoried by scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating agencies. Southwestern caves have been little studied, and scientists are now finding that these lightless and nutrient-poor natural systems are home to life forms found nowhere else on Earth. This research has identified unique communities of arthropods (insects, arachnids, and crustaceans) that include 3 new genera, or groups of species, and at least 15 new species—some only known to exist in a single cave.” Quoted from the USGS release.

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Sand Dunes and Climate Change in Arizona
May 11, 2009 | USGS

USGS has a new podcast about moving sand dunes in Arizona. Here is their description…. “Climate change is increasing the mobility of sand dunes in the southwest, posing threats to roadways, infrastructure, human health, cultural practices of the Navajo Nation, and much more. Vegetation on dunes serves as stabilizers, but as the climate warms and precipitation decreases, there is less vegetation growth.”

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Grand Canyon Uranium Exploration
May 10, 2009 | New York Times

The Bureau of Land Management authorized eight new uranium exploration permits that will allow Quaterra Alaska Inc. to prospect on the Kaibab Plateau, north of Grand Canyon National Park. The permits are within an area that the House Natural Resources Committee ordered to be withdrawn from new mining claims in 2008.

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Arizona
Podcast: Migrating Sand Dunes
May 6, 2009 | USGS

USGS scientist Margaret Hiza and intern Leanna Begay discuss how migrating sand dunes are affecting the southwestern United States. It is thought that global warming is diminishing the plant life that helps anchor the dunes.

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East Africa Rift The East Africa Rift System: Learn some basics about the East Africa Rift System from this article by James Wood and Alex Guth of Michigan Technological University.


meteorites What are Meteorites? Join meteorite hunter, Geoffrey Notkin, as he begins a series of monthly articles on the topic of meteorites.


marcellus shale gas Marcellus Shale: The most overlooked resource in the eastern United States!


Mineral Rights Mineral Rights / Oil & Gas: Who owns the minerals under your land? Have they been sold? Can someone mine without your permission?


sliding rocks of racetrack playa Sliding Rocks of Racetrack Playa: How these rocks slide across a dry lake bed is a mystery. Learn what is thought to move them. © iStock / S. Hoerold


yosemite rockfall Spectacular Yosemite Rockfall:A photo sequence of the fall and debris avalanche by Herb Dunn.


coal through a microscope Coal Through a Microscope: Coal is more than a black rock. It's THE most interesting rock.



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