geology

Geology News
Minerals Current Events


Lithium Use in Batteries
May 24, 2012 | USGS

“Lithium has a number of uses but one of the most valuable is as a component of high energy-density rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.”

Minerals Bills in Congress
May 24, 2012 | Arizona Geology

Lee Allison provides summaries of and links to some of the minerals bills in Congress. These include:
* National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2012
* Federal Land Asset Inventory Reform Act of 2011
* National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2012
* Soda Ash Royalty Extension, Job Creation, and Export Enhancement Act of 2011

Deaths in Abandoned Mines and Quarries
May 21, 2012 | Geology.com

Abandoned mines and quarries are dangerous places! Every year about 20 to 30 people die in accidents that occur in abandoned mines across the United States. The victims range in age from preschool children to an 85 year-old mining veteran.

Uses of Diamond
May 11, 2012 | Geology.com

Diamond has many unique properties that make it the best possible material for a wide variety of uses beyond those of a gemstone.

The image at right is a green diamond crystal suitable for industrial use.

Afghanistan: Lineament Analysis in Mineral Areas
May 8, 2012 | USGS

USGS has published: “Lineament Analysis of Mineral Areas of Interest in Afghanistan“. The report provides lineament maps that identify areas that warrant further investigation for optimal bedrock water-well placement within 24 target areas for mineral resources. The data may also support the identification of faults related to modern seismic hazards and support studies attempting to understand the relationship between tectonic and structural controls on hydrothermal fluid flow, subsequent mineralization, and water-quality issues near mined and unmined mineral deposits.

What Are Minerals?
May 7, 2012 | Geology.com

Every person uses products made from minerals every day. Salt, antacid tablets, pencils, cell phones, jewelry, glass, paint, shingles fertilizer, vehicles, highways, buildings and much more are made from minerals.

Uses of Talc
April 17, 2012 | Geology.com

Most people are familiar with talcum powder, but did you know that the mineral talc is used to make ceramics, paper, rubber, paint, cosmetics, insecticides and many other products?

Video: Sustainable Mining Technology
April 3, 2012 | ArizonaExperience.org

“Dr. Mary Poulton believes Arizona can be a world leader in sustainable mining technology.” Quoted from the “ArizonaExperience.org” website.

Uses of Silver
March 30, 2012 | Geology.com

Silver, the white metal, has an illustrious reputation for its use in jewelry and coins, but today, silver’s primary use is industrial. Whether in cell phones or solar panels, new innovations are constantly emerging to take advantage of silver’s unique properties.

Emeralds Found in North Carolina?
March 19, 2012 | CharlotteObserver.com

Most people don’t realize that some amazing emeralds have been found in North Carolina. The North Carolina Museum of Natural History just received a gift of four emeralds found in Alexander County in 2011 that are worth millions of dollars.

Photographing Minerals
March 16, 2012 | Arizona Experience

An ArizonaExperience article includes a video in which Jeff Scovil, perhaps the most widely-known mineral photographer, offers tips on how to photograph minerals. The secrets seem to be in the lighting.

Spring Mineral Shows
March 15, 2012 | The-Vug.com

The-Vug.com has an updated list of mineral shows for spring 2012. This spring’s list is extensive and there is probably a show not far from you.

A Unique Use for Soapstone
March 13, 2012 | WhiskyStones.com

You might have heard about soapstone being used in cooking pots, wood stoves, fireplace surrounds, bed warmers and smoking pipes because of its ability to absorb heat and release it slowly. Now, here’s one for the cold.

TEROFORMA “Whisky Stones” from Galen Summer on Vimeo.

The College of William and Mary Receives Mineral Collection
March 5, 2012 | William and Mary

“The William & Mary Department of Geology has acquired a world-class mineral collection that geologists say will be a valuable resource in the department for many years. [...] It contains more than 500 specimens, and is appraised at $514,000.” Quote from the William and Mary press release.

Model for Reef-Type Platinum Group Element Deposits
February 16, 2012 | USGS

Layered, ultramafic to mafic intrusions are uncommon in the geologic record, but host magmatic ore deposits containing most of the world’s economic concentrations of platinum-group elements. These deposits are mined primarily for their platinum, palladium, and rhodium contents. Quoted from the USGS publication release.

Crystal Chemistry and Caldera Eruptions
February 6, 2012 | Eruptions

“Now, we have a study in Nature that discusses the magmatic events that led up to the Minoan eruption at Santorini — a fairly timely topic considering the rumblings there — that has gotten the media’s attention.” Quoted from the Eruptions Blog.

US Mineral Production in 2011: $74B – Up 12%
January 31, 2012 | USGS

“The value of mineral production in the United States increased by 12 percent in 2011 from that of 2010, suggesting that the nonfuel minerals industries, particularly metals, continued to recover from the economic recession that began in December 2007 and lasted well into 2009. The value of raw, nonfuel minerals mined in the United States was $74 billion in 2011, up from $66 billion in 2010.” Quoted from the USGS press release.

Storing One Bit in Just Twelve Atoms
January 12, 2012 | ComputerWorld.com

IBM researchers have announced that they have a new technology that enables them to store one bit of magnetic information in just twelve atoms of material.

Can You Make Money Faceting?
January 12, 2012 | Ultra Tec

A recent article in the Ultratec Newsletter by John Bailey was: “Can You Make Money Faceting?” He thinks you can make good money if you have the desire and basic skills.

Tranquillityite “Moon Mineral” Found in Australia
January 4, 2012 | Science

Researchers have discovered small amounts of tranquillityite, a mineral previously known only from lunar samples, at six locations in Western Australia.

Image by USDOE
2011 Critical Mineral Strategy
December 29, 2011 | United States Department of Energy

The United States Department of Energy has published their 2011 Critical Mineral Strategy. It explains how supply concerns for a variety of minerals threaten energy security in the United States.

Underground Potash Mine in Arizona
December 27, 2011 | Arizona Geology

American West Potash is exploring the possibilities of an underground potash mine in Arizona. Going underground instead of opening a pit lowers the environmental impact.

2012 Mineral Shows – There’s One Near You!
December 23, 2011 | The-Vug.com

The-Vug.com has an extensive list of mineral shows that are scheduled for the first quarter of 2012. There’s probably one (or more) near you!

Mineral Museums and Tours
December 21, 2011 | The-Vug.com

The-Vug.com has a state-by-state listing of rock and mineral museums, tours and other places of interest. Most states have several locations where you can view a nice exhibit and most of them are open year-round.

Earth Science Books for Kids
December 13, 2011 |

This is a great time to introduce kids to earth science with age-appropriate books. The geology.com store has children’s books on topics that include: dinosaurs, rocks, minerals, fossils, gemstones, volcanoes and more.

Afghanistan’s Copper and Gold Deposits Up for Bid
December 8, 2011 | Washington Post

The Afghan Ministry of Mines has been inviting companies to bid on contracts to mine the copper and gold in portions of Badakhshan, Ghazni, Herat, Balkh and Sar-e-Pul Provinces. Billions of dollars worth of metals could be in these areas but there are significant infrastructure and security problems.

Rover Discovers Gypsum Veins on Mars
December 7, 2011 | NASA

NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity discovered gypsum veins on Mars that indicate the ancient movement of water through underground fractures.

Fertilizer with a Reduced Ability to Explode
December 5, 2011 | New York Times

Fertilizer has often been used as an explosive – often in terrorist acts. Honeywell has a new ammonium nitrate / ammonium sulfate fertilizer that is much less explosive.

Import Reliance on Critical Minerals
December 4, 2011 | American Geosciences Institute

The American Geosciences Institute has an interesting article on critical minerals that outlines what makes a mineral “critical” and how the sudden loss of these resources could impact both the U.S. and global economy.

The United States has a 100% import reliance on the minerals listed at right.

Webinar: Canadian Exploration- High Demands for the Future Workforce
November 15, 2011 | American Geosciences Institute

The American Geosciences Institute has released a recorded webinar titled “Canadian Exploration- High Demands for the Future Workforce”. You can view it on their website.

Rare Earth Element Supply Disruptions?
November 15, 2011 | RenewableEnergyWorld.com

An article on RenewableEnergyWorld.com explores potential supply disruptions for rare earth elements. Between 2000 and 2009 demand for these materials increased by more than 50% and future demand will be supported by low carbon technologies.

H.R. 1904: Southeast Arizona Land Exchange
November 9, 2011 | House of Representatives

H.R. 1904 is a proposal that will authorize an exchange of Federal land for non-Federal land… to facilitate development of a world class domestic copper deposit capable of meeting a significant portion of the annual United States demand.

Should the US Ratify the Law of the Sea Treaty?
November 8, 2011 | Wall Street Journal

The Law of the Sea Treaty is an agreement that allocates the seafloor resources under the Arctic Ocean. A debate in the Wall Street Journal has arguments in favor and against.

Related article: Who Owns the Arctic?

Video: Visit to the Molycorp Rare Earth Mine
November 4, 2011 | PC World

This video takes you on a quick visit to the Molycorp rare earth element mine at Mountain Pass, California and provides some background on rare earth elements.

Rare Earth Projects are Risky Business
November 2, 2011 | Reuters

A Reuters article predicts that most of the recently launched rare earth exploration and mining projects will not be profitable.

Rare Earths at Bokan Mountain, Alaska
November 1, 2011 | Business Week

This is a story contains some of the history, geology and personal experiences behind the Bokan Mountain rare earth deposit. Located near Kendrick Bay, Alaska, Bokan Mountain could turn out to be one of the largest rare earth deposit in the United States.

Arizona Produces 10.5% of the US Non-Fuel Minerals
October 29, 2011 | Arizona Geological Survey

During 2010, Arizona’s non-fuel mineral production totaled $6.7 billion – about 10.5% of the USA production. Principal commodities mined were copper, molybdenum, sand and gravel, cement and crushed stone. Arizona also produced $273 million of coal bringing the total mined value to nearly $7 billion.

Another Carbon Form as Tough as Diamond Discovered
October 13, 2011 | Carnegie Institution for Science

“Scientists at Carnegie’s Geophysical Laboratory are part of a team that has discovered a new form of carbon, which is capable of withstanding extreme pressure stresses that were previously observed only in diamond.” Quoted from the Carnegie Institution for Science news release.

The Many Uses of Diamond
October 11, 2011 | Geology.com

Diamond is the world’s most popular gemstones and it’s qualities as the hardest natural substance make it an excellent abrasive. However, diamond is used for many other things which include: heat sink, speaker dome, laser windows and microbearings.

Related: Diamonds Don’t Form From Coal

Diamond as an Ultradurable Component in Micromachines
October 5, 2011 | National Institute of Standards and Technology

Diamond may be the ideal substance for MEMS devices,” says NIST’s Craig McGray. “It can withstand extreme conditions, plus it’s able to vibrate at the very high frequencies that new consumer electronics demand. But it’s very hard, of course, and there hasn’t been a way to engineer it very precisely at small scales. We think our method can accomplish that.” Quoted from the NIST press release.

Hyperspectral Mapping of Afghanistan’s Minerals
October 5, 2011 | USGS

“Imaging spectroscopy is a tool used in mineral resource assessments and other geologic applications to provide extremely detailed information of what kinds of minerals are present on the Earth’s surface.” Quoted from the USGS research release.

Rare Earth Substitutes and Consumption Declines
October 4, 2011 | Pittsburgh Live

After amazing price increases, manufacturers who use rare earth elements are finding substitutes and ways to cut consumption. This is putting some downward pressure on prices.

Related: What are Rare Earth Elements?

Image by USGS.
Afghanistan Minerals: The Low-Hanging Fruit
October 3, 2011 | USGS

“Working with the Department of Defense Task Force for Business and Stability Operations, members of the USGS Minerals Project assessed fuel- and non-fuel mineral resources of Afghanistan from October 2009 to September 2011 with the goal of identifying particular deposits that could be relatively easily developed.” Quoted from the USGS report.

Oh No! Who Really Owns the Natural Gas in Shale?
September 23, 2011 | Business Week

Is natural gas part of the shale or is it a fugitive commodity that is not an integral part of any specific rock unit? Will a refined legal definition of natural gas in Pennsylvania overturn thousands of historic leases?

USGS Estimates of Afghanistan’s Rare Earth Element Resources
September 16, 2011 | USGS

“The Khanneshin carbonatite contains a major potential source of light rare earth elements (LREE), such as lanthanum, cerium, and neodymium. The LREE prospects in the Khanneshin carbonatite are comparable in grade to world-class deposits like Mountain Pass, CA, and Bayan Obo in China, both of which primarily contain LREE.” Quoted from the USGS news release.

Gypsum Crystals the Size of a House
September 15, 2011 | MSNBC

Huge crystals in the Cave of the Crystals in Naica, Mexico may have taken a million years or more to reach their current size.

Valuable Chemical Elements and Element Groups Risk List
September 14, 2011 | British Geological Survey

“The risk list gives a quick indication of the relative risk in 2011 to the supply of the chemical elements or element groups which we need to maintain our economy and lifestyle.” Quoted from the British Geological Survey news release.

Gold and Other Precious Metals from Meteorites?
September 14, 2011 | University of Bristol

“Ultra high precision analyses of some of the oldest rock samples on Earth by researchers at the University of Bristol provides clear evidence that the planet’s accessible reserves of precious metals are the result of a bombardment of meteorites more than 200 million years after the Earth was formed.” Quoted from the University of Bristol news release.

Concave Facets?
September 12, 2011 | Ultratec-Facet.com

Gemstones have been faceted for hundreds of years and up until about 20 years ago the facets have been perfectly flat surfaces. New equipment allows facets to be cut with a concave shape that gathers light from a wider range of angles and broadly diverges it within the stone. The result is a bright and interesting gem. The down side is that the weight of the stone is reduced.

Japanese Technology for Chinese Rare Earth Materials
September 12, 2011 | Reuters

Although China is keeping tight controls over the export of rare earth minerals the country is trying to encourage Japanese companies to bring rare earth technologies to China.

Every day you can find links to several earth science news topics right here. Bookmark this page and visit often. You can also receive our news for free by RSS feed or in a daily email message.

Earn a Master of Education in Earth Science


marcellus shale gasMarcellus Shale: The most overlooked resource in the eastern United States!
Diamond formationDiamonds from Coal? Diamonds form under a variety of conditions that rarely involve coal as a source of carbon.
Mineral RightsMineral Rights / Oil & Gas: Who owns the minerals under your land? Have they been sold? Can someone mine without permission?
uses of gold The Many Uses of Gold: Learn how the unique properties of gold make it extremely suited for a large number of industrial uses.
download google earth Download Google Earth Free! High resolution 3D satellite views of Earth. Download it Free.
meteorites Meteorites: Learn about meteorites from meteorite hunter, Geoffrey Notkin. What are meteorites? irons, stones, stony-irons.

News content contributed by
© 2005-2011 Geology.com. All Rights Reserved.
Images, code and content of this website are property of Geology.com. Use without permission is prohibited. Pages on this site are protected by Copyscape.