Chloritoid is a metamorphic mineral commonly found inside phyllite rocks – which is shale (a type of mudstone containing clays, silts and muds) that has been metamorphosed several times. Confusingly, chloritoid does not actually contain the element chlorine but instead is an iron magnesium manganese alumino-silicate hydroxide. This particular specimen is from Lyon, France: In larger sized specimen ...[Read More]
Imaggeo on Mondays: Travertine takeover
This week’s Imaggeo on Mondays is brought to you by Olivier Galland, who took this photo during an incredible outreach adventure in the Andes… The image displays the spectacular Puente del Inca (The Inca Bridge) hot springs, in the Argentinian Andes of the Mendoza province, along the Vacas River, close to the foot of Cerro Aconcagua. When the mineral-rich, sulphurous waters reach the surface, the ...[Read More]
Imaggeo on Mondays: Mammoth structures, springs and snowmelt
Spring waters are rich in minerals, carrying with them dissolved components of the rocks they have travelled through. The water that discharges at Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park is highly alkaline (contains a lot of dissolved CO2) and rich in calcium, but as the water cools, the calcium precipitates to form the white limestone terraces you see here. This limestone is known as tra ...[Read More]
Introducing the new EGU Bloggers!
Since it started, the EGU Blog Network has had great coverage of geochemistry, palaeontology and geoscience in global development, but what about the other fields in the geosciences? Well, over the past couple of months we’ve been seeking out some fantastic Earth science bloggers who are keen to share their knowledge, experiences and the latest research in their fields with you. They’ve put togeth ...[Read More]