Recently learned about farmers spreading basalt on fields to drawdown CO2 -- thought it was nifty.

Back of the envelope, where is basalt primarily mined? do we know how much of it is in production each year?

(22M) Originally, I thought I would never want to go to school for geology, it wasn’t even an offered major at the college I went to, my plan was to go into environmental law or public policy of some sort for grad school. But after a multiple disappointing internship experiences and long job searching I haven’t been able to find work in that field. So I applied for everything I could and got a job for the USGS at entry level (water technician). It’s so different from what I’m used to but I’m really loving it here and I’ve seen the work geologists do and I’m very interested in trying to get a position out West (in New England currently) doing research or working closer with data and not just collecting it, but I am finding I’m limited here by not having a masters or phd. Firstly should I go back to school to get a masters will it even benefit??

If yes, would I even qualify for programs: Geology I, GIS 1 &2, and oceanography are the most related courses I have in terms of hard Geological Sciences, my school didn’t offer many and didn’t have an engineering program so even if I was interested at the time I couldn’t of taken any related courses. I didn’t take any supplementary math or physics courses (dumb I know). I know working for the usgs will improve my odds but idk how much it will replace coursework I might need. My gpa was above 3.0 so I know I’ll be alright there, do you think I need to go and take any more courses or do something else to supplement? I’ve heard the term “field camp” too for learning geological data collection methods is that only offered for undergrad geology majors
Also heard of ASBOG but am a little confused if that could even apply to me. Am I massively overthinking this? I really am interested in becoming a geologist, I want to do it in a relatively fast and the least expensive way. All advice appreciated!!

1 - Native gold in a quartz vein

2, 3 - Electrum with argentite in a massive pyrite vein

4, 5 - Native gold with Bi-Te-S solid solution (non-stoichiometric mineral) in a carbonate vein

Minerals in the photo: Arg - argentite, Au - native gold, Bi-Te - Bi-Te-S solid solution, Elc - electrum, Ccp - chalcopyrite, Po - pyrrhotite, Py - pyrite.

Microscope - Carl Zeiss AxioImager M1 , lens x5 and x20.

I published these photos in our telegram channel "Mineragraphy" earlier

https://preview.redd.it/0au3dz2ktuuc1.jpg?width=2750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9a881883f86224a872927bdcb32d3329c0f29c0e

https://preview.redd.it/r3kcqs2ktuuc1.jpg?width=2774&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=baabdb3e215631acd81201f85df60874d61e62de

https://preview.redd.it/y4ug5t2ktuuc1.jpg?width=2528&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bafcf3cb796c31d222d1ae243f36c237301dc9e8

https://preview.redd.it/39nitr2ktuuc1.jpg?width=2916&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=aca5ea48ceec303ad5fe8637d1859bad5e0ab950

https://preview.redd.it/rxaz5t2ktuuc1.jpg?width=2728&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c20077572675681192849ffdb470314912c6c37b

The layers/cut extends about 2-3 meters above what you can see in the photo. I first thought it was a coal seam, but it seems to be just soil and rock (or crumbled rocks?). I've never seen such a loose layer under rock and haven't seen a dark layer that wasn't coal (other than all shale outcrops). Fun fact, springtails LOVE it. I poked at it and they jumped everywhere.

Just wanted to share this cool erosion pattern I found on a hike at my local creek today

Was out hiking near some old mines in Joshua Tree, California with some friends recently and saw this formation near the top of one of the mountains. None of us have any geological knowledge past surface level stuff but this still caught our attention, and we were super curious what it is/what causes it.

We thought they might be old fault lines but since they're vertical we figured that was pretty unlikely, but as I mentioned none of us really know much 😅

So what did we find, or what can cause these kind of seams?

Has anyone attended or is currently as a grad student at SIU in the geology graduate program? What is your experience? Would you recommend this program?

I’m considering applying at SIU for the geology graduate program. But I’m confused by the fact they only offer two concentrations in either environmental geology or geospatial analysis. Yet they show a broader list of “areas of interest”.

I’m working on a lab exercise for my students and I’m looking at numbers of earthquakes worldwide. When I broke it down by magnitude I found that for the last few years the databases show more M4.9 quakes than M4.8. Since 2017. This just shouldn’t happen. Are some being double counted? What am I doing wrong?

http://ds.iris.edu/ieb/index.html?format=text&nodata=404&starttime=2023-01-01&endtime=2024-01-01&minmag=0&maxmag=10&mindepth=0&maxdepth=900&orderby=time-desc&src=iris&limit=25000&maxlat=89.41&minlat=-89.41&maxlon=172.62&minlon=-172.62&zm=1&mt=ter

If water is being boiled and expelled via geysers in Yellowstone, that suggests the heat source is not ridiculously deep (at least to me, a regular idiot). How close to the surface is magma/lava in Yellowstone, and why does it not surface? Thanks.

Cross sections/schematics are so much work but also so satisfying when they're done and pretty.

Where would a source of igneous intrusive rocks be, like a batholith? Everywhere else that I've seen granite it was surrounded by other granite rocks, boulders, outcrops, etc.

I’ve heard somewhere the theory that grasslands are a result of fire wielding humans burning down forests. As an outsider, I am unable to verify this claim, is it taken seriously academically? Where can I read about this claim? Or is it completely a hoax.

Thanks.

Low tide and the beach is like a mile wide. Super sandy and super shallow and gradual for a long ways out I think. What makes this beach so wide and shallow and sandy rather than steep and rocky? Thanks!

I can’t seem to find conclusions on google and related geology sites about limestone. Specifically;

• What types of conditions better favour high, sturdy limestone cliff faces?

• Is limestone enriched soil fertile or acidic and low nutrient density?

• Can limestone cliffs occur on coastlines without significant erosion?

I appreciate any and all answers on this minor curiosity, thanks for reading!