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Geology News
Montana Current Events

Marks on a Tyrannosaurus rex skull indicate that the creature may have been fighting with its peers. The young dinosaur, “Jane”, was apparently bitten on the snout, causing the bones to heal asymmetrically.

An article at NewWest.net developed by University of Montana Journalism students includes a video about landslide hazards in Montana. Embedded within the article is a video in which geologists and an engineer discuss landslide hazards in Montana and other states.

Related: USGS Landslide Fact Sheet.

This is a gallery showing the natural beauty of Yellowstone National Park. Included are photos of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, a Fountain Paint mudpot in the Lower Geyser Basin, Grand Prismatic Spring, Rustic Falls, Old Faithful, the Morning Glory Pool, and more.

Learn More About Geysers.

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.”

It appears that Cretaceous dinosaur species in both America and Australia used to dig burrows into the earth. While it is not entirely clear what the burrows were used for, two possibilities could be shelter or nesting.

The U.S. Global Change Research Program released a report that explains how climate change might impact Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming, Montana and the Dakotas. Changes in growing seasons, declining water resources, higher summer temperatures, human health issues, altered ecosystems and higher temperatures are a few of the featured problems.

The U.S. Global Change Research Program released a report that explains how climate change might impact Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Western Montana. Wildfires, stressed water supplies, sea-level rise and stress on fish species 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.

With the difficult economy only a few state geological surveys are being well supported by their state budget process. Many are suffering large cuts in state appropriations. One state survey has been told that their appropriation will be zeroed out next fiscal year.

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.

The town of Libby, Montana will receive $6 million for asbestos cleanup and medical assistance. The town was the site of a W.R. Grace vermiculite operation where the vermiculite contained significant amounts of tremolite asbestos.

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.

A famous paleontologist who removed fossils worth at least $150,000 from private land is expected to plead guilty in a Billings, Montana court. The same paleontologist is also accused of taking fossils from federal land without authorization.

Trial began last week in Missoula, Montana on a case related to asbestos problems in Libby, Montana where W.R. Grace operated a mine between 1963 and 1990.

Researchers in Bozeman, Montana have been performing experiments on snow in an effort to predict avalanches. The crystalline structure of snow can form stronger or weaker layers under different conditions.

Paleontologists believe that fossilized eggs found in Montana belonged to a carnivorous dinosaur, most likely a caenganathid or relative of the velociraptor. Nests have never before been found for either of these dinosaurs, making this an important discovery.

Water and sediment were released from Milltown Dam, a Superfund site in Montana as part of an EPA approved project. Now, sediments found downstream contain more toxic materials than expected.

Just a few years ago the Bakken Formation was considered a marginal to submarginal resource because the oil and gas are locked in a rock formation with a low permeability. However, advances in drilling and recovery technology such as horizontal drilling and hydrofracturing have transformed the Bakken it into a viable resource.

It is estimated that there could be $1.5 trillion of coal beneath the ground in Montana. However, the state has not opened a new coal mine in decades. Some believe that the creation of new mines depends on the introduction of a carbon law.

The-Vug.com has a photo display of the Montana Moss Agate case by Brooks Britt from the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. This is one of several mineral exhibit competition cases that they feature as articles on their website.

If you collect minerals they note mineral dealer website updates on their homepage.

Montana State University researchers have identified numerous types of pollution in the Ganges River of India. Their work has been reported to the Indian Supreme Court in support of renewed efforts to clean up the river.

Although the recent USGS report on Bakken Formation Oil did not give details for Saskatchewan, the rock unit and an oil production potential extends northwest from the active areas in Montana and North Dakota.

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated mean undiscovered volumes of 3.65 billion barrels of oil, 1.85 trillion cubic feet of associated/dissolved natural gas, and 148 million barrels of natural gas liquids in the Bakken Formation of the Williston Basin Province, Montana and North Dakota.

The Bakken shale formation in North Dakota and Montana could yield up to 4.3 billion barrels of oil in the near future. This estimate is not the amount contained in the shale – it is just the amount that could be extracted using current technology. Industry officials believe that North Dakota will set a new record for oil production this year.

USGS Fact Sheet on Bakken Formation Oil

The National Teachers Enhancement Network has several online courses for Spring 2008. These courses are designed for practicing teachers and integrate content knowledge with teaching strategies. Courses in astronomy, environmental science, microbiology, physics, soil science and water quality still have availability. Students earn graduate credit through Montana State University. I have completed two N10 courses and found them to be a productive use of my time.

The Elm Coulee Field is located in Richland County, Montana and the western Williston Basin. The field is being developed with horizontal production wells into a dolomite unit that is about 9000 feet below surface. This story gives some insight into the field’s discovery.

Montana has a new geologic map, the first one since 1955. It was compiled by staff of the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology using data from hundreds of sources. The new map is 50×80 inches in size and features the state at a scale of 1:500,000. You can get one in glossy finish, matte or digital at the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology website.

A footprint found in Montana’s Hell Creek formation could have been made by a Tyrannosaurus rex about 65 million years ago. Based upon the shape and size of the print, researchers are confident that it was made by either Tyronnosaurus rex or by Nanotyrannus.

Montana has unveiled sixteen road signs that point out features of geological significance and explain them. These signs were inspired by Donald Hyndman’s “Roadside Geology of Montana”. Sixteen additional locations have been selected to receive a sign. The Roadside Geology Series is a collection of books that provide introductory-level explanations and road logs for a number of US states. More about the Roadside Geology Series.

A new species of ceratopsian dinosaur has been discovered in Montana. It is thought to be a long sought link between the dinosaurs of Asia and those of North America.