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Geology News
Minnesota Current Events

Geologists and other outdoor workers should know how to recognize ticks, avoid tick bites and recognize the early signs of Lyme disease. Early treatment with antibiotics can produce a rapid and complete recovery. If you miss the early symptoms Lyme disease can cause chronic neurological problems and joint pain that can persist for years.

Spectacular satellite images from NASA’s Earth Observatory show agricultural patterns and farming methods in various parts of the world. Scenes from Kansas, Bolivia, Minnesota, Thailand, Germany and Brazil.

Related: Beginner’s Guide to LandSat Images.

Severe to exceptional drought conditions are currently present in a number of US States. Southeastern Texas and northern Wisconsin are especially hard hit with broad areas of several other states experiencing drought conditions.

Stormwater runoff and sewage contaminate many US beaches. A study done by the Natural Resources Defense Council sampled, tested and rated 200 of the most popular beaches in the United States – both ocean and freshwater beaches were included in the study. Some of them had consistently high water quality and some had consistently low. You can view the report and a listing of the beaches on their website.

Sinkholes formed by solution in the floor of the United States’ Great Lakes host unusual ecosystems different from other parts of the lake just a short distance away. The sinkholes are often locations where water that has been underground for millions of years discharges with extreme amounts of dissolved metals.

The U.S. Global Change Research Program released a report that explains how climate change might impact Ohio, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. More heavy downpours, higher evaporation, higher temperatures, insect problems, invasive species problems and the impact on human health are a few of the featured problems.

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.

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.

The-Vug.com has a list of mineral shows being held across the United States in late May and June. Included are shows in Virginia, Nebraska, Montana, Ohio, California, Colorado, Alabama, Idaho, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Connecticut, Oregon, Indiana and other states.

Earth Observatory has a satellite image of Red River flooding in the Fargo, North Dakota and Moorhead Minnesota areas. The meandering channel appears to be bloated to a string of large pools. The snow-covered landscape give the color image a black-and-white appearance.

Water levels along the Red River in North Dakota and Minnesota are dropping slightly in some areas. The Weather Service expects the levels to drop slowly over the next few days.

Many residents of North Dakota and Minnesota who live along the Red River are starting to evacuate as the river hits record levels and levees start to leak.

Half a mile below Earth’s surface, cosmic rays reflect temperature shifts occurring in the stratosphere. This article reviews a 4-year study conducted from an old iron mine in Minnesota.

A bill that will require the petroleum industry to sell cleaner fuels is on the agenda for lawmakers in Minnesota. California already has a low carbon fuel policy. Minnesota, Massachusetts and Florida may see one this year.

The Minnesota Geological Survey collected 250 samples of glacial till from across the state and sent them for geochemical analysis. The samples were processed for gold grains; heavy minerals; precious metal, base metal, and gemstone indicator minerals; indicator mineral chemistry; bulk mineralogy counts; heavy mineral geochemistry and more. They found a number of interesting trends along with indicator minerals of kimberlite and metal deposits.

Governors from eight Great Lakes states signed an interstate water compact to protect water levels and water quality of the Great Lakes. The House might act on the issue today. States involved are: Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.

NASA Landsat Image

Governors from eight Great Lakes states signed an interstate water compact to protect water levels and water quality of the Great Lakes. President Bush says that he will sign the water management plan that will benefit Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.

Beach sand is much more than just little brown granules. It is comprised of microscopic shells, pieces of coral, tiny gems, mineral fragments, and more. This colorful and interesting slideshow displays the microphotography of Dr. Gary Greenberg.

An engineers report says that home sites damaged by landslides in Rochester, Minnesota were poorly prepared during construction. They were improperly filled, poorly compacted and graded too steeply.

UMD Image

This past summer of 2007, the University of Minnesota Duluth intiated a new six-week Precambrian geology field camp in the picturesque boundary waters area of northeastern Minnesota. The camp highlights mapping methods best suited to field studies of the diverse Precambrian terranes on the southern Canadian Shield. Students interested in pursuing field-based graduate research of Precambrian geology or in seeking entry- level jobs in the minerals exploration industry will particularly benefit from this field camp.

About 1.85 billion years ago a meteorite impact formed a large crater in the Sudbury district of Ontario, Canada. Debris from that impact was scattered across thousands of square miles. Recently, the Ham Lake fire exposed pieces of impact debris in northern Minnesota and provide interesting clues to understanding the unusual nature of the impact crater.