PlanetGeo: The Geology Podcast

In this episode, we delve into the fascinating topic of garnet eyes, discussing how these unique geological features form and what they reveal about the history of metamorphic rocks. We explore different types of reaction rims and depletion halos, breaking down the complex processes that create these striking features. We also share personal stories and insights from our own experiences with garnet formations in places like the Tetons and Gore Mountain. Whether you're a seasoned geologist or ...

In this episode of PlanetGeo, we delve into the fascinating world of eskers, exploring their formation, significance, and economic importance. We explain how eskers, sinuous ridges formed by pressurized meltwater channels at the base of glaciers, provide crucial geological insights and serve as valuable tools in mineral exploration, such as in diamond mining. We share personal anecdotes and compelling visuals to illustrate how these unique glacial features reveal past glacial activity and hel...

Dr. Jesse Reimink and Chris Bolhuis share their firsthand experiences and insights from recent fieldwork. The episode delves into their fascinating observations and discussions about various geological features, including lava inflation structures, such as tumuli and inflation pits, the stunning landscapes shaped by fjords in Iceland, and the deposits of eskers in the Northwest Territories. They highlight the importance of careful, methodical analysis in geology and discuss how to draw conclu...

Dr. Jesse Reimink and Chris Bolhuis delve into the fascinating geological phenomenon of columnar jointing, sharing insights from Chris's recent trip to Iceland. They discuss the formation, size variations, and unique patterns of these striking hexagonal columns found in basaltic lava flows, addressing questions such as why they form, why some flows exhibit them while others don't, and the conditions that lead to different column orientations. The conversation also covers historical theories a...

In this episode, Chris Bolhuis and Dr. Jesse Reimink delve into the intricacies of the Jack Hills zircons from Western Australia, discussing their formation, significance, and the ongoing scientific debates surrounding them. They explore topics like plate tectonics, the age of zircons, and the methodologies used to study these ancient grains, and connect the importance of this research to broader planetary science and philosophical implications.Learn more, and see all the images with exclusiv...

In this episode of Planet Geo, Dr. Jesse Reimink and Chris Bolhuis delve into the fascinating and sometimes perilous world of landslides, focusing on a recent landslide known as the Big Fill landslide that occurred in the Teton Pass. They discuss the various triggers and mechanisms behind landslides, including the impact of water, earthquakes, and human activities. The hosts also highlight key historical landslides in the Teton region, such as the Gros Ventre and the Quake Lake slides, and ex...

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jesse Reimink and Chris Bolhuis delve into part two of their discussion on Earth's oldest rocks, specifically the Acasta Gneiss. They explore the origin, complex history, and significance of these ancient rocks, including insights from Dr. Reimink's PhD research which suggests an Icelandic rather than subduction zone setting for their formation. The conversation covers the challenges of studying such remote and deformed rocks, the iterative process of geological f...

Dive into the fascinating world of Mammoth Cave with Dr. Jesse Reimink and Chris Bolhuis in this episode of Planet Geo. From understanding the types of passageways formed by ancient underground rivers to exploring the intricate and beautiful cave decorations like stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstone, this episode provides a comprehensive and engaging look at one of the natural wonders of the world. Whether you’re preparing for a visit or just curious about subterranean geology, this in-dep...

In this episode, Chris Bolhuis and Dr. Jesse Reimink dive into the complexities of Zircon grains from the Jack Hills conglomerate in Western Australia—some of the Earth's oldest fragments. They discuss the environmental conditions necessary for their formation and survival, the role of magma differentiation in creating intermediate to felsic rocks, and the geochemical analysis using oxygen and hafnium isotopes which indicate the presence of water on Earth's surface over 4 billion years ago. T...

In this episode of Planet Geo, Chris Bolhuis and Dr. Jesse Reimink dive deep into the geology of the Grand Teton National Park. They cover the park's ancient rock formations, from the Archean gneiss to the granites formed around 2.5 billion years ago. The discussion also explores significant geological events like the Severe and Laramide orogenies, the impact of the Yellowstone Hotspot Track, and the glacial activity that sculpted the dramatic landscapes of the Tetons. Get access to The ...

Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!——————————————————Instagram: @planetgeocastTwitter: @planetgeocastFacebook: @planetgeocastSupport us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-usEmail: planetgeocast@gmail.comWebsite: https:/...

This episode is Part 2 of our Mammoth Cave series - where we discuss the geological setup that enabled creation of the longest cave system in the world. The geology of the region, including the Green River, set the stage for the formation of Mammoth Cave, the largest cave system that has been mapped. Stay tuned for our third installment on Mammoth Cave, where we discuss the cave 'decorations' or mineral formations. Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can g...

Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!——————————————————Instagram: @planetgeocastTwitter: @planetgeocastFacebook: @planetgeocastSupport us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-usEmail: planetgeocast@gmail.comWebsite: https:/...

This is the first episode in a series of 3 on the world's longest cave system - Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. In this episode, Chris and Jesse talk a little about Mammoth and some of its impressive statistics. The focus however, is more about the necessary ingredients for cave development in general. We talk about the 4 general ingredients: suitable rock type, a solvent, hydraulic gradient, and time. We also go into some detail on what each of these really mean. We h...

In this episode, Jesse and Chris talk about the geology of Iceland - although we keep it at a high level. We're going to come back to this - Iceland - later after Chris returns from his trip. Then, we'll get into some of detail that makes Iceland so unique. Here, we discuss how Iceland might be a prototype for the formation of continents and also talk a bit about the diversity of igneous rocks that make up the Island. The diversity of rocks speaks to the diversity of v...

Hardpan! Where did this idea for an episode come from? Chris has been doing a ton of yard work lately and it’s not uncommon come across a layer when digging a hole that is next to impossible to penetrate. He has to bust out my pick axe to get through it. It's Called Hardpan.Really dense layer that often occurs below the topsoil. Problems:Roots can’t penetrate into the hardpan (Hayden Valley in YNP). Trees are easily blown over if they can even grow he...

Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!——————————————————Instagram: @planetgeocastTwitter: @planetgeocastFacebook: @planetgeocastSupport us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-usEmail: planetgeocast@gmail.comWebsite: https:/...

Today we really go into the weeds. Jesse and a colleague just published a paper in the journal Nature that proposes a new model for how continents became stable. Stable continents have all the granite at the surface, which contains all the heat producing elements like U and Th and K - elements that decay away. Today, we discuss that paper in detail, and along the way learn a bit about the early Earth, what we know and don't know! Here is a link to the paper, which is open access and can be do...

Today, Chris and Jesse get into a discussion about Earth’s oldest material. Earth is 4.568 Billion years old. First of all, that’s amazing the geochronologists have refined this down to 3 decimal places. How do we know this? The oldest grains ever found are 4.38 billion years old. If that’s the case, then how do we know the Earth is significantly older than that? Join us as we answer that and many other important questions about Earth’s oldest stuff. ...

In this episode, we tackle a listener question regarding planning a geology trip for students. Both Chris and Jesse have quite a bit of experience in planning and executing field excursions for students. We believe that seeing geology in the field is one of the most powerful learning opportunities for students of all levels. In our discussion, we talk about the difficulties in convincing the higher-ups that this is actually a good idea. We also get into some of the str...

Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!——————————————————Instagram: @planetgeocastTwitter: @planetgeocastFacebook: @planetgeocastSupport us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-usEmail: planetgeocast@gmail.comWebsite: https:/...

Join us as we have the honor of interviewing Dr. John Douglas. Jesse and Chris have been following his research on how the Grand Canyon was actually formed for some time. We have recently finished our audio-visual book on the Grand Canyon (Link above) and we have a chapter dedicated to the actual cutting of the Canyon. The answer to this question has been elusive, but there are a few leading theories. John has been leading the way on the Spillover Theory as a mechanism...

The idea for this episode came from the comment section of a social media post. It has it's roots in one of the biggest misconceptions in Geology and also Geochronology. The comment was about radio-carbon dating and how it's been "proven" to be unreliable. In this episode, Jesse and Chris have a discussion about the "toolbox" for geochronoligists and we also spend a lot of time talking about Uranium to Lead decay. We hope you enjoy.Download the CampGeo app now at this ...

In charge of the Nations Rock Collection. That's a pretty sweet job description. Join us as we have the honor of interviewing Dr. Mike Ackerson. In this episode, we certainly get into some detail about igneous petrology. Mike and Jesse are good friends and have spent some time discussing things that introductory geology classes take for granted. For instance, there are some questions on the formation of granite. This might seem ridiculous because this topic...

Today, Jesse and Chris discuss the geology of Nickel - The Devil’s Metal. Surprisingly, Earth’s core has a high percentage of Nickel - 10 to 20% of the core is nickel. We allow ourselves the luxury of getting into the details on nickel and why the core has so much. Of all the metals we’ve discussed on the podcast, the geology of nickel is the most complicated. In addition to discussing the geologic settings that form or concentrate nickel, we also spend some time discu...

Today, we have the another great interview - Dr. Anji Shah. She works for the USGS and has done a lot of work on heavy-mineral sands and critical elements. In this discussion, we talk about the paleo-environment that could concentrate critical minerals in heavy sands. Dr. Shah also tells us how "airborn geophysics" is important in looking for mineral deposits over huge areas that are often canopy covered. We hope you enjoy!Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On...

Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!——————————————————Instagram: @planetgeocastTwitter: @planetgeocastFacebook: @planetgeocastSupport us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-usEmail: planetgeocast@gmail.comWebsite: https:/...

In this episode, Jesse and Chris discuss the geology of asbestos. Really, we cover all things related - history, past uses (some of which are mind boggling), health issues, and of course the mineralogy. If you want the datail, this episode is for you. Jesse goes off the deep end a little as he nerds out on some geochemistry. We hope you enjoy. Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of...

Dr. Adam Simon joins PlanetGeo to discuss many topics. One of the most interesting topics of discussion is the copper dilemma facing the world. If we want to transition to green energy like Electric Vehicles, we will face a shortage of copper. Dr. Simon describes Copper as the artery of a green transition. However, he's done the math and it doesn't add up. There isn't enough to make the transition. We hope you enjoy this extremely informative and ente...

Today, Chris and Jesse once again revisit the topic of Bowen's Reaction Series. We've never approached the topic in such a before. The heart of our discussion centers around 1- What is Bowen's Reaction Series? and 2- How do we approach this highly idealized concept in an introductory class. How rocks really crystallize in a geologic setting is far more complex than Bowen's Reaction Series. This can lead to confusion when students progress in their geologic studies when...

Today is our latest episode in our series on climate. Jesse and Chris discuss the meaning of "Hard Water". Chris and Jesse both have hard water at our houses and we talk about how that happens. We wrap up this episode by talking about how the topic of hard water fits into our series and climate. We hope you enjoy!Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. ...

Join us as we interview Dr. Steph Mrozek. Steph is an economic geologist with interests in interests in skarn and porphyry deposits and geochemistry applied to mineral exploration. In our interview, the discussion turns to degrees in geoscience and educational pursuits. We’ve received a number of questions from listeners about what degree to pursue and how far to go. Steph offers unique perspectives on this topic that many of our listeners will find very useful. T...

Join Chris and Jesse as we tackle questions about the Grand Canyon. A 4th grade class, Bronx Little School, reached out in a letter with a list of fantastic questions. We knew right away we wanted to make an episode about this. These questions, and our responses, provide a great introduction to the geology of The Grand Canyon. Below are the questions - asked and answered:1. How deep is the Grand Canyon?2- Why are the rocks orange, red, and black? How were the roc...

Today, we re-visit one our earliest episodes that we recorded when this whole thing began. We've decided to do a small series on Earth's climate and feel that this is the best kickoff point for that topic. We begin by discussing the forgotten history of climate science. This is important because we have known the physics of greenhouse gases for over 200 years. This pre-dates excessive fossil fuel consumption and any thought of political ideology around climate change.&...

We are on a break, but you can join us now on a virtual Summer Science Institute trip! Follow the virtual Mr. Bolhuis as we go on a geo-tour of many of the premier National Parks in the US.Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Ra...

We are happy to announce the release of our new Geology of the Grand Canyon book on the CampGeo mobile app - Download now to start listening! We are on a break, but you can join us now on a virtual Summer Science Institute trip! Follow the virtual Mr. Bolhuis as we go on a geo-tour of many of the premier National Parks in the US.Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You...

We are on a break, but you can join us now on a virtual Summer Science Institute trip! Follow the virtual Mr. Bolhuis as we go on a geo-tour of many of the premier National Parks in the US.Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Ra...

We are on a break, but you can join us now on a virtual Summer Science Institute trip! Follow the virtual Mr. Bolhuis as we go on a geo-tour of many of the premier National Parks in the US.Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Ra...

We are on a break, but you can join us now on a virtual Summer Science Institute trip! Follow the virtual Mr. Bolhuis as we go on a geo-tour of many of the premier National Parks in the US. We are also excited to announce that we have just released a new audiobook on our CampGeo mobile app on Earth's Climate. It's a five-part series with all the images you need to really learn how Earth's climate works and what we can do about some issues we have with it. You can access our CampGeo mobile app...

We are on a break, but you can join us now on a virtual Summer Science Institute trip! Follow the virtual Mr. Bolhuis as we go on a geo-tour of many of the premier National Parks in the US.Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Ra...

We are on a break, but you can join us now on a virtual Summer Science Institute trip! Follow the virtual Mr. Bolhuis as we go on a geo-tour of many of the premier National Parks in the US.Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Ra...

We are on a break, but you can join us now on a virtual Summer Science Institute trip! Follow the virtual Mr. Bolhuis as we go on a geo-tour of many of the premier National Parks in the US.Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Ra...

Today, Jesse and Chris tackle the topic of the Slow Carbon Cycle. We've been talking about this for a while now. This is a very complicate cycle that involves many variables. In this episode, we work through some scenarios such as the Himalayan uplift and plug them into the Carbon Cycle. It's a little bit of mental gymnastics. The ingredients for the Carbon Cycle to operate are freshly exposed rock, water (both in the oceans and the atmosphere), and plate tectoni...

In this episode, we tackle the issue of infiltration capacity. The idea came to us in the form of a listener question due to recent events. Infiltration capacity is simply a way of describing the ability of soil and regolith to soak up water during storm events that drop a lot of rain in a short period of time. There are several variables that must be accounted for in describing the infiltration capacity for a given area. Humans have also caused a significant change re...

Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!——————————————————Instagram: @planetgeocastTwitter: @planetgeocastFacebook: @planetgeocastSupport us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-usEmail: planetgeocast@gmail.comWebsite: https:/...

Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!——————————————————Instagram: @planetgeocastTwitter: @planetgeocastFacebook: @planetgeocastSupport us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-usEmail: planetgeocast@gmail.comWebsite: https:/...

Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!——————————————————Instagram: @planetgeocastTwitter: @planetgeocastFacebook: @planetgeocastSupport us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-usEmail: planetgeocast@gmail.comWebsite: https:/...

Today we talk about Copper! The metal that is essential to all our lives, but goes largely underrated. Here is a link to the article Chris references in the podcast talking about the sources of copper deposits. Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!Like, S...

Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!——————————————————Instagram: @planetgeocastTwitter: @planetgeocastFacebook: @planetgeocastSupport us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-usEmail: planetgeocast@gmail.comWebsite: https:/...

This week, we are asking you to do us a favor. We are really exited because we just launched our brand new campGeo mobile app. So, we would really appreciate if you clicked on This Link, downloaded the campGeo mobile app, and left us a rating and review on there. This week we talk about the origin of this concept, why we are excited about this mobile app, and what types of content can be found there today. Also, if you have suggestions for new types of visual audiobooks please...

Today, Jesse and Chris discuss the distinction between sinkholes and karst topography. There is a surprisingly large portion of the U.S. that has potential to be affected by karst. It is also extremely important as a source of drinking water. We also discuss the distinction between the technical definition of karst and what is called pseudokarst. Below is a link to the article and diagram we allude to in the show. We hope you enjoy.https://www.frontiersin.org/art...

We get a bit reflective today and discuss the importance of Geoscience to society - and how it has changed in the last three years. Jesse recently went to a conference on economic mining and came away newly excited. If the world is going to make the energy transition, certain elements are critical in allowing us to meet that demand. Today, we talk about the issues surrounding the energy transition and how geoscientists are playing an integral role (and will continue to do so) in s...

Today, we each give our take on disappearing streams. When the idea was first pitched, we were thinking about 2 different things. The result - we talked about each. Join us as we continue our series on water.Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning n...

Today we have the great pleasure to interview a close friend of the podcast - Andrew Dewitt. Andrew has had a long career in the environmental consulting industry and provides insights into what it take to be a geoscientist working in this field and gives lots of excellent advice. This is a must-listen episode for any aspiring young geoscientist. Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of Na...

Today, we are talking about the process of making petrified wood. Basically, wood has to be quickly buried in a wet setting where the water is also saturated in certain minerals - usually silica. Also, there must be little oxygen present or oxidation reactions have to occur to use up all of the available oxygen. This prevents the wood from getting eaten by decomposers. We will also get into the geologic settings where this is likely to occur.Finally, we talk a little a...

Today, we talk about all things soil creep. Have you ever been on a steep slope and seen bent or curved trees, slanted fence posts, slanted headstones or signs? Look closely and you can often see the surface has a rippled appearance. Soil Creep is a form of what we call Mass Wasting in Geology. Mud flows, avalanche, and rockfall are also examples of Mass Wasting. Creep just happens very, very slowly. Join us and learn how this fascinating process works!Down...

Just as in so many aspects of the way the world works, geology determines the drainage patterns (or watershed) of rivers. Today, we discuss the major types of drainage patterns - they're not random and we also get into how the geology at the surface determines this shape. This is a continuation of our series on water.Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can ...

Today, we cover something very interesting - a new initiative by the United States Geological Survey to map Earth's resources at a new level. Geology is newly relevant to society and. some people argue we are entering a new 'golden age' of geology - how exciting! Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our F...

Today, we cover one of our favorite past times - RockHounding! It's a totally fun, engaging activity that gets you outside and learning about nature. And, who knows, you might find something spectacular along the way! Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!...

In this episode we start a looong conversation about how to identify rocks. We begin by outlining a few simple rules to go by, and how to start to think about identifying rocks when you find them out in the world! Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!Like...

Listen to Yellowstone's rock music here! Today we talk about the fun exercise of turning seismic activity recorded live from Yellowstone National Park, turning it into musical notes, and playing it for a live audience! As usual, we get into the geology behind the story! Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at the college l...

Today, we talk about Uranium! Uranium is a really interesting element and today we talk about how it's used, a bit about nuclear reactors, then dive into the geology. Uranium has two major oxidation states, 4+ and 6+ and the chemical differences between these really drive how Uranium deposits form! Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of g...

In PlanetGeo today, we discuss one aspect of Yellowstone National Park Geology that goes under-appreciated - the Absaroka Volcanics. They are a geological curiosity, but a massive one at that - the volume of volcanic rocks produced by the Absaroka volcanoes dwarfs the Yellowstone hotspot. Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at ...

Today we are extremely honored to get the opportunity to discuss all things geoscience and National Defense with Dr. Stefanie Tompkins, the Director of DARPA! Dr. Tompkins is the first Presidential Appointee we have ever had on our podcast and in this interview she clearly shows why she has achieved such an incredible level of success in her career. With Dr. Tompkins we discuss the value of geoscience training, the role of research funding, and how varied geoscience careers can become. W...

Today we talk all about Levees! They are a very important and under-appreciated aspect of our society, infrastructure, and river systems! Here is a link to the excellent article that we mention in the podcast. Please let us know if you have questions! Levee LinkDownload the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FR...

Today, Jesse and Chris discuss a headline that's been making a splash lately. There was a paper recently published that looked into why some areas of New York City appear to be sinking. We took this as an opportunity to discuss an important geologic concept - Isostasy or Isostic Adjustment. Our conversation spanned glaciers, mountains, and cities. We hope you enjoy. Below is a link to the published paper. I've also included a link to one of the articles wri...

Today, Jesse and Chris take on a couple of listener questions. One is regarding a passion for geoscience and would like to know our opinion on returning to school for a trajectory change.The other question is more for Jesse. It regards recent changes in mass spectrometry so we re-visit this important topic. We hope you enjoy.Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks se...

Here is a link to the paper we discuss in this episode:In this episode, we talk about meandering streams. Why don't rivers flow in straight paths? As soon as a river flattens out, it begins to meander. It’s these meanders that manage the energy of the water. How? They really do 2 things: 1- they increase the resistance (physics) and 2- they decrease the gradient. Essentially, the river is changing itself to minimize the energy it expends to maintain a state...

In this episode, we talk about meandering streams. Why don't rivers flow in straight paths? As soon as a river flattens out, it begins to meander. It’s these meanders that manage the energy of the water. How? They really do 2 things: 1- they increase the resistance (physics) and 2- they decrease the gradient. Essentially, the river is changing itself to minimize the energy it expends to maintain a state of equilibrium. We also get into some detail.&nb...

In this episode, we interview author Andrew Alden. He wrote Deep Oakland: How Geology Shaped a City. This book is a wonderful read and it offers a unique lens in which to view a city. Jesse and Chris both think that this idea should become a series - much like the Roadside Geology series. Andrew talks about his motivation for the monumental task. The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake that shook the city of San Francisco and kind of woke him up to the idea. Deep O...

Today, we answer some listener questions in what we call "office hours". We each chose a question for the other to answer. We did not know what questions we would be asked so our answers were on the fly. Jesse asks Chris a question from Joyce (his mom) about a new word that she needs to know. Chris chose paleomagnetism. Then, Jesse asked a more serious question regarding the potential for humans to influence the chemistry of magma in the geologic future.Chris cho...

Join us today as we discuss one of the more important ancient rock formations - Banded Iron Formations or otherwise known as BIF's in the geologic community. Wherever found, they provide us with Iron ore - some of the best on the planet. In this episode, we delve into the geologic story of how these important and beautiful rocks formed. There is some newer research that has altered some earlier thinking on BIF formation. We hope you enjoy.Download the CampGeo app now a...

In this episode, we take on the topic of Barrier Islands. This is a very relevant topic because recent storms have devastated some of these Islands. The intersection between geology and humans is always an interesting topic. Barrier Islands need three things:Sand supplyBroad sloping coastlineWaves/tides/currents must be strong enough to move sand (high-ish energy)Waves must be dominant In this context we discuss the 3 ways in which they form. Each Island has it's ...

In this episode, Chris and Jesse give a live talk at Grand Valley State University. We were invited to speak by the student chapter of the AAPG - American Association of Petroleum Geologists. They were interested in hearing our "story" about how each of us came into the geoscience field and how PlanetGeo came about. There was also a Q and A session where we were asked a variety of questions that spanned many topics. We hope you enjoy, and as usual please send us any qu...

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!Available here: geo.campcourses.comWe hope you enjoy, and as usual please send us any questions you have!Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!Li...

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!Available here: geo.campcourses.com In this episode, Chris and Jesse give a live talk at Grand Valley State University. We were invited to speak by the student chapter of the AAPG - American Association of Petroleum Geologists. They were interested in hearing our "story" about how each of us came into the geoscience field and how PlanetGeo came about. There was also a Q and A session where we w...

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!Available here: geo.campcourses.comToday, we talk about Rocks and climate. Specifically, we discuss the ways that ancient rocks would have interacted with our ancient atmosphere. We begin by talking a little about the Carbon Cycle and how it's affected by plate tectonics. We then discuss some ways that experimental researchers are making rocks in the lab and studying the ways that changing gas compo...

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!Available here: geo.campcourses.comToday, Jesse has a bone to pick with Chris. After he gets some issues off his chest, we tackle the topics of Internal Dynamics and Plate Tectonics. Specifically:What is the interior structure of the Earth? Chemistry/ physical behaviorHow do we know the interior structure of the Earth?Why is the hottest layer of the Earth a solid? Why is the LOC liquid?What ar...

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!Available here: geo.campcourses.comRock Man Ethan is a geoscience communicator and producer of the What's Inside That Rock video series - you can find Ethan on all the social media channels (TikTok, Instagram, Twitter) @rockmanethan. Make sure to check him out! We hope you enjoy, and as usual please send us any questions you have!Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of fre...

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!Available here: geo.campcourses.comNew minerals are being 'discovered' every year, and there are press articles about them all the time! In this episode we go behind the scenes and dive into what it takes to name a mineral, where new minerals are being found, and why it's important to our everyday lives. We hope you enjoy, and as usual please send us any questions you have!Download the CampGeo app now at t...

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!Available here: geo.campcourses.comWe hope you enjoy!Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!———————————————...

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!Available here: geo.campcourses.comIn this episode, we tackle the issue of when plate tectonics started on Earth and why this is an important question. This is a large part of Jesse's research so he has a lot to say. In order to address this question, we first discuss some parameters and what defines plate tectonics.We also get into some detail by discussing some variations on the plate tectonics model:&n...

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!Available here: geo.campcourses.comDo you like wine? Do you know what Terroir is? Our guest, Brenna Quigley, is a leader in the geology of wine and how the geology affects the flavor profile of the grapes - in other words, Terroir! She can be found here to learn more!Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of...

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!Available here: geo.campcourses.comIn today's episode, we continue with our series on 'So... You think you know plate tectonics?' - Part 3. We tackle these questions regarding Planetary Tectonics:What would the Earth look like if PT was not an active process?Mars has all of the solar system’s largest volcanoes. Why?Is there granite on other planets?No water, no granites, no oceans, no continentsWhy does P...

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!Available here: geo.campcourses.comYou can also check out Jesse's Etsy shop here - JRRStonework and use promo code PLANETGEO10 for a 10% discount on all items.Rare Earth Elements are a huge topic in mining and geology now, and in technology. The most important at the moment is Neodymium (Nd) and it is also really important for geology research. Let’s cover the basics.In this episode, we discuss Neodymium in two...

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!Available here: geo.campcourses.comYou can also check out Jesse's Etsy shop here - JRRStonework and use promo code PLANETGEO10 for a 10% discount on all items.We are on a break still, but releasing episodes on the really important elements - where they are found, why the are found there, and why we care about these elements in our society! There is some really interesting stuff in here, so enjoy.Remember you ca...

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!Available here: geo.campcourses.comYou can also check out Jesse's Etsy shop here - JRRStonework and use promo code PLANETGEO10 for a 10% discount on all items.We are on a break still, but releasing episodes on the really important elements - where they are found, why the are found there, and why we care about these elements in our society! There is some really interesting stuff in here, so enjoy.Remember you ca...

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!Available here: geo.campcourses.comYou can also check out Jesse's Etsy shop here - JRRStonework and use promo code PLANETGEO10 for a 10% discount on all items.We are on a break still, but releasing episodes on the really important elements - where they are found, why the are found there, and why we care about these elements in our society! There is some really interesting stuff in here, so enjoy.Remember you ca...

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!Available here: geo.campcourses.comYou can also check out Jesse's Etsy shop here - JRRStonework and use promo code PLANETGEO10 for a 10% discount on all items. We are on a break still, but releasing episodes on the really important elements - where they are found, why the are found there, and why we care about these elements in our society! There is some really interesting stuff in here, so enjoy. Remember you ...

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!Available here: geo.campcourses.comWe are on a break! But, we have so much great volcanology content from past episodes and interviews, we decided to release them all in a sequence. Four parts will be coming at you over the next few weeks, with interviews from some of the top volcanologists out there in the field. Let us know what you think!Remember you can Support Us Here,and share PlanetGeo with your fr...

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!Available here: geo.campcourses.comWe are on a break! But, we have so much great volcanology content from past episodes and interviews, we decided to release them all in a sequence. Four parts will be coming at you over the next few weeks, with interviews from some of the top volcanologists out there in the field. Let us know what you think!Remember you can Support Us Here,and share PlanetGeo with your fr...

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!Available here: geo.campcourses.comWe are on a break! But, we have so much great volcanology content from past episodes and interviews, we decided to release them all in a sequence. Four parts will be coming at you over the next few weeks, with interviews from some of the top volcanologists out there in the field. Let us know what you think!Remember you can Support Us Here,and share PlanetGeo with your fr...

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!Available here: geo.campcourses.comWe are on a break! But, we have so much great volcanology content from past episodes and interviews, we decided to release them all in a sequence. Four parts will be coming at you over the next few weeks, with interviews from some of the top volcanologists out there in the field. Let us know what you think! Remember you can Support Us Here,and share PlanetGeo with your f...

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!Available here: geo.campcourses.comRemember you can Support Us Here,and share PlanetGeo with your friends and family!——————————————————Instagram: @planetgeocastTwitter: @planetgeocastFacebook: @planetgeocastSupport us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-usEmail: planetgeocast@gmail.comWebsite: https://planetgeocast.com/Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive im...

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!Available here: geo.campcourses.comIn today's episode, we continue with our series on 'So... You think you know plate tectonics?' - Part 2. Can you answer the following questions? 1- How do sedimentary rocks relate to plate tectonics? 2- How does plate tectonics explain or relate to the formation of metamorphic rocks? 3- How does plate tectonics relate to the formation ...

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!Available here: geo.campcourses.comYou can find out more about Cate Larsen and all her social media links here at groovygeologist.com! Remember you can Support Us Here,and share PlanetGeo with your friends and family!Cate - aka - groovygeologist is a geo-communicator. She utilizes the power of the internet to bring geology education to the masses. She has a B.S. in geology and a passion for teachin...

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!Available here: geo.campcourses.comOne day, I (Chris) walked into class and announced that we were beginning plate tectonics. I was so excited to begin teaching this content. The response from my students was not at all what I expected. They let me know that they had all the plate tectonics they could handle in middle school and there wasn't anything left to learn. They knew the 3 basic types ...

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!Available here: geo.campcourses.comLink to: Barrenlands: The Epic Search for Diamonds in Canada'sToday, we get to interview author Kevin Krajick. Below is a small sample of his credentials and accolades.Senior Editor Science News Communications, Columbia Climate SchoolAuthor at State of the PlanetWork has been featured in National Geographic, Newsweek, The New Yorker, Science, Smithsonian Mag, etcTwo time Winne...

Link to: Barrenlands: The Epic Search for Diamonds in Canada'sToday, we get to interview author Kevin Krajick. Below is a small sample of his credentials and accolades.Senior Editor Science News Communications, Columbia Climate SchoolAuthor at State of the PlanetWork has been featured in National Geographic, Newsweek, The New Yorker, Science, Smithsonian Mag, etcTwo time Winner of the American Geophysical Union's Walter Sullivan Award - excellence in science journalismFinalist for the N...