Do budding geologists like rock hammers? [more inside]
posted by DU on Sep 11, 2009 - 20 answers

I came home from Sequim Bay here in Washington with several cannon ball sized rocks I found on the beach. They had fallen from the hill-side as it eroded, leaving round capsule like depressions. They are a bit flaky and seem to be made of mud/sand that has hardened (but not like the sandstone I've seen elsewhere). What are these called? What caused them?
posted by pocketlama on Jul 9, 2009 - 4 answers

What are some simple experiments that help explain complicated phenomena? [more inside]
posted by Christ, what an asshole on Jul 6, 2009 - 15 answers

Recent research has concluded that strong volcanic plumes exhibit cyclonic, storm-like rotation, which helps explain why volcanic thunderstorms occur. The article indicates that the volcanic plume from Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 exhibited anticlockwise rotation, which I infer to be consistent with the rotation of a low-pressure system in the northern hemisphere. My question: Will the rotational direction of these volcanic mesocyclones be governed by the Coriolis Effect, local atmospheric conditions, compositional characteristics of the plume, or some combination of these factors?
posted by baphomet on Mar 29, 2009 - 6 answers

ScienceFilter: How can I best get involved? [more inside]
posted by freya_lamb on Nov 12, 2008 - 5 answers

Why does this rock have so many stress lines and pits on it? [more inside]
posted by Java_Man on Oct 16, 2008 - 14 answers

I was wondering if anyone has explored the notions of alternate geological history, i.e. different continents to the ones we know, and the mechanisms by which they might have arisen? [more inside]
posted by Chairboy on Jul 14, 2008 - 11 answers

When I was a kid living in La Mesa, California, my mother got to poke around in the tailings at local tourmaline and mica mines as part of weekend classes we took at the natural history museum. Are there any kinds of similar gemstone mines anywhere near where I live now - Sacramento, California - that offer similar opportunities?
posted by luriete on Jun 30, 2008 - 7 answers

What hand tools would be needed to remove a chunk of iron from an iron meteorite you've discovered in the field? [more inside]
posted by Naberius on Mar 24, 2008 - 11 answers

This time next year I'll be a freshly graduated Australian geolgist. I'd like to work overseas, and I'm tempted by Canada or the US. What should I be aware of while trying to arrange all this, and how easy would it be to work as close to New York as possible? [more inside]
posted by twirlypen on Mar 24, 2008 - 12 answers

Please help me re-locate an unusual geological formation on Google Earth. It is somewhere in northern Russia. [more inside]
posted by proj08 on Feb 21, 2008 - 5 answers

Looking for unique schools or programs for the study of History. In the US or abroad. [more inside]
posted by Nillocsoc on Jan 3, 2008 - 13 answers

An Egyptian friend of mine found this rock in the West Desert of Egpyt. Can anyone tell us what it is? It's really abnormal-looking. (All of my theories involve Sun Ra and pharaonic collusion with Saturn.)
posted by odasaku on Dec 20, 2007 - 13 answers

Where in nature can I find a dinner plate sized rounded flattish rock that can be heated to high temperatures without exploding? [more inside]
posted by Infernarl on Dec 2, 2007 - 20 answers

Brain storm-fodder: What's the most innovative idea you've got for an thesis on GIS (Geological Information Systems) and archeology? [more inside]
posted by Rabarberofficer on Sep 3, 2007 - 9 answers

I need geology-activites suitable for children for an Rock-hound-day. [more inside]
posted by Rabarberofficer on Aug 6, 2007 - 10 answers

If Russia gets to claim the North Pole as its own based on geological origins, shouldn't India automatically get Antarctica? [more inside]
posted by riffola on Aug 3, 2007 - 20 answers

Geology-type gifts for a middle school Earth Sciences teacher? [more inside]
posted by mckenney on Jul 3, 2007 - 17 answers

Tell me about the oil industry. It's one of the places I could possibly work upon graduation. Is it as evil as it is sometimes made to look? [more inside]
posted by twirlypen on May 8, 2007 - 16 answers

I am wondering if anyone knows where to find free ware/economical software that will calculate the surface area of an object defined by a closed curve saved either as a bitmap or vector image? [more inside]
posted by plumberonkarst on Jan 15, 2007 - 6 answers

What are some interesting places that have the name "devil" in them (like devil's tower, or devil's postpile)? I'm thinking about visiting as many as I can. [more inside]
posted by 445supermag on Jan 31, 2006 - 76 answers

How much potable-ish water is water is extremely deep underground? [more inside]
posted by Kickstart70 on Dec 20, 2005 - 7 answers

Pint-size paleontology: Where in WA state (Seattle area), is a good place for an 8-year-old to be able to look for and (probably) find fossils? (And take some home) [more inside]
posted by -harlequin- on Dec 15, 2005 - 7 answers

Has anyone made or seen a good physical model for plate tectonics? [more inside]
posted by argybarg on Aug 9, 2005 - 4 answers

Can anyone identify what type of material this rock is made of? Its blue and purple and sort of sparkles, but that stuff is on a black material. Is it an odd piece of coal? Airplane goo? Dirty salt? I found it sitting in the middle of a parking lot near Boston... which seems like an odd place to find such a thing.
posted by jwells on Jan 13, 2005 - 14 answers