“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.”
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.
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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Hobart King
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