GSA, paleoanthropology, paleoclimate

Records from Lake Magadi, Kenya, suggest environmental variability driven by changes in Earth’s orbit

itssedimentary

via Records from Lake Magadi, Kenya, suggest environmental variability driven by changes in Earth’s orbit Boulder, Colo., USA: Rift Valley lakes within eastern Africa range from freshwater to highly alkaline systems and are homes to diverse ecosystems. These Rift Valley lakes are also sedimentary repositories, yielding a high-resolution environmental record that can be targeted to… Continue reading Records from Lake Magadi, Kenya, suggest environmental variability driven by changes in Earth’s orbit

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It’s Sedimentary, My Dear Watson!

itssedimentary

Geology, Earth science, and natural history are fun and fascinating! I'm incredibly passionate about the amazing stories the Earth has to tell us! In the blog posts below, you'll find content covering the spectrum of introductory geology to more advanced topics. You can also check out what I'm currently researching and learn more about myself!

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Join me on TikTok @azurite.emily !

itssedimentary

I've been making YouTube videos for years, but now I thought it would be fun to get into more short-form videos on TikTok! Join me for tons of geology and Earth science fun! https://www.tiktok.com/@azurite.emily/video/6959614128965143814?is_copy_url=0&is_from_webapp=v1&sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6898752795400046085 https://www.tiktok.com/@azurite.emily/video/6958199634644716806?is_copy_url=0&is_from_webapp=v1&sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6898752795400046085

arizona, geomorphology, structure

Understanding Earth Fissures: A Man-Made Geohazard

itssedimentary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SXaMH8gV6I Earth fissures are long, narrow cracks in the ground that form where the ground is sinking. They can erode very quickly, posing a hazard to nearby infrastructure. In Arizona, land subsidence--the sinking of the earth--is caused by groundwater withdrawal, meaning that earth fissures are a man-made--or anthropogenic--hazard. This video that I made as part… Continue reading Understanding Earth Fissures: A Man-Made Geohazard

geomorphology, GSA, paleoanthropology, sedimentary

A Greener Sahara: Ancient Oases and Prehistoric Human Habitation in the Modern Desert

itssedimentary

via A Greener Sahara: Ancient Oases and Prehistoric Human Habitation in the Modern Desert I was able to interview Dr. Kathleen Nicoll, an Associate Professor at the University of Utah, as part of the Geological Society of American Science Communication Internship. You can learn about some of the research Dr. Nicoll works on in the… Continue reading A Greener Sahara: Ancient Oases and Prehistoric Human Habitation in the Modern Desert

geology of disney, paleobiology

The Geology of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge | Black Spire Outpost, Batuu

itssedimentary

https://youtu.be/C7OS_gpFl2Y Not too long ago at a theme park not too far away, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened at Disneyland—and soon at Walt Disney World—transporting people to Black Spire Outpost on the planet of Batuu. While the tall rock spires of Batuu enhance the other-wordly experience, they take their inspiration from some very real rocks… Continue reading The Geology of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge | Black Spire Outpost, Batuu

arizona, geomorphology

How do you form a mushroom rock?

itssedimentary

Thanks to a variety of weathering and erosive processes, rocks can come in all shapes and sizes. The above rock from the McDowell Mountains near Phoenix, AZ has a peculiar shape similar to that of a mushroom! This rock is an example of a tor--an exposed mass of rock that abruptly rises above the surrounding ground… Continue reading How do you form a mushroom rock?

geology of disney, tectonics

Could an Earthquake Destroy Disneyland?

itssedimentary

https://youtu.be/mZhLp-Sa3Ug Ah Disneyland, the Happiest Place on Earth, home of Mickey Mouse, churros, and some shaky rocks. I've previously gone over how Walt Disney World is located in a very sinkhole prone area and that the Epcot World Showcase Lagoon is in part a massive sinkhole, but don't worry the Disneyland Resort has its own… Continue reading Could an Earthquake Destroy Disneyland?

arizona, petrology

A journey to the center of the Earth | Peridotite xenoliths

itssedimentary

You don’t need to go on a Jules Verne journey down to the center of the Earth, sometimes the center of the Earth is brought up to us! These rocks are examples of peridotite xenoliths. A xenolith is a fragment of rock that becomes enveloped by magma without being melted or incorporated into it. In these… Continue reading A journey to the center of the Earth | Peridotite xenoliths