July 2015

Earth's magnetic shield is much older than previously thought

An artist’s depiction of Earth’s magnetic field deflecting high-energy protons from the sun four billion years ago. Note…

A Rare Manganaxinite on Rhodonite

Manganaxinite Formula: Ca 2 Mn +2 Al 2 BSi 4 O 15 (OH) System:Triclinic Colour:Brown, golden-yellow Hardness:6½ - …

Fish teeth and tectonic plates tell a new story about world's largest ocean current

Fossil fish teeth recovered from the ocean floor around Tasmania have shed new light on the origins of the world'…

Spectacular Malachite, Chrysocolla

Chrysocolla System: Orthorhombic Colour: Green, bluish green, ... Lustre: Vitreous, Waxy, Earthy Hardness: 2½ - 3½ A…

Origins of life: New model may explain emergence of self-replication on early Earth

A schematic drawing of template-assisted ligation, shown in this model to give rise to autocatalytic systems. O…

Gascoyne's 'Trapped Continent' Turns Up Unusual Gold Deposit

The Nalunaq Gold Mine contains hanging wall rocks (pictured) which are Paleoproterozoic amphibolite-facies metadolerites…

First measurements taken of South Africa's Iron Age magnetic field history

Magnetic field strength in the South Atlantic Anomaly is shown. Credit: Michael Osadciw/University of Rochester. …

'Carbon sink' detected underneath world's deserts

Scientists followed the journey of water through the Tarim Basin from the rivers at the edge of the valley to the des…

Geology of the Pilanesberg Ring Dike complex

While big game animals such as lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and water buffaloes draw most visitors to Pilanesb…

Twin volcanic chains above a single hotspot with distinct roots

Scientists find explanation for geochemically distinct parallel tracks of volcanoes formed by the same volcanic hots…

Beautiful Afghanite Crystal

Afghanite Formula: (Na, K)₂₂Ca₁₀[Si₂₄Al₂₄O₉₆](SO₄)₆Cl₆ System:Hexagonal Colour:white, light blue, dark ... Hardne…

Grenada reports decreased activity at underwater volcano

An underwater volcano north of Grenada is showing a decline in seismic activity, authorities on the eastern Caribbean isl…

Excellent complimentary pair of sliced Malachite and Azurite

Malachite Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 System:Monoclinic Colour:Bright green, with ... Hardness:3½ - 4 Streak:Light gre…

Key facts about Nepal's quake and the risk of sequels

Three months after a massive earthquake struck Nepal, killing more than 8,800 people and destroying nearly 600,000 home…

Undersea volcano called Kick 'em Jenny rumbling off Grenada

An active underwater volcano off Grenada's northern coast called Kick 'em Jenny was rumbling Thursday and regiona…

Researchers map out trajectory of April 2015 earthquake in Nepal

Images showing the back-projected power and path of the Nepal earthquake. Researchers have accurately mapped out…

Unique diamonds discovered in frozen lava sample from Kamchatka

Geologists have found a new type of diamond in the frozen lava eruption of the Tolbachik volcano in Kamchatka. T…