Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology & Volcanology

Imaggeo on Mondays: The ephemeral salt crystals

Dan V. Palcu August 12, 2019

The ephemeral crystals. Credit: Dan Valentin Palcu (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)

Rock salt stalactites (Speleothems) are the indicators of entrance in a salt cave. These crystal stalactites precipitate from brine only at the entrance in the salt caves, as that is the only place where the physical and chemical properties of the air and the brine dripping from the ceiling allow these crystals to grow and be preserved. And they are extremely fragile – if there is just a sma ...[Read More]

Imaggeo on Mondays: Loch Coruisk – home of the wild Kelpie

Cedric Gillmann July 22, 2019

Home of the wild Kelpie Credit: Cedric Gillmann (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)

On the south-western coast of the Isle of Skye, Scotland, lies Loch Coruisk, supposedly home of a water horse. At the southern end of this freshwater Loch, the Scavaig River discharges into a sea Loch, Loch na Cuilce. Loch Coruisk snuggles close to the center of the Cuillin Hills complex, younger than both the northern and southern formations of the Isle. At present, the neighbouring hills are dom ...[Read More]

Geosciences Column: How erupting African volcanoes impact the Amazon’s atmosphere

Olivia Trani July 12, 2019

An aerial view of the towering volcanic peak of Mt. Nyiragongo. Research suggests that its emissions can reach as far as South America, impacting the atmosphere of the Amazon Basin. (Credit: MONUSCO/Neil Wetmore via Wikimedia Commons)

When volcanoes erupt, they can release into the atmosphere a number of different gases initially stored in their magma, such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and sulfur dioxide. These kinds of gases can have a big influence on Earth’s atmosphere, even at distances hundreds to thousands of kilometres away. A team of researchers have found evidence that sulfur emissions from volcanic eruptions i ...[Read More]

Imaggeo on Mondays: Penguins – a biogeochemical link between sea and land

Daniel Wasner May 6, 2019

Linking Sea to Land. Credit: Daniel Wasner (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)

A couple of Chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica) at their nesting site on Deception Island, maritime Antarctica. Sea birds contribute importantly to biogeochemical cycles in coastal ecosystems and on islands. Feeding on the marine food chain and nesting on land, they carry large amounts of marine nutrients into terrestrial ecosystems. This might be of particular importance for the nitrogen ( ...[Read More]