tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56751372571456008932024-03-16T18:49:30.587+00:00Structural GeologyA structural geology and tectonics blog. For geologists, students and anyone interested in our planet Earth.Jorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03508780804543314029noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675137257145600893.post-91330880660389999602012-12-24T09:37:00.001+00:002012-12-24T09:37:14.040+00:00Merry Christmas! ¡Feliz Navidad!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Jorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03508780804543314029noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675137257145600893.post-9287011637555765872012-12-20T20:42:00.001+00:002012-12-20T20:50:16.992+00:00Thursday Video: Further Up Yonder<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kBCvYrgxuTc/UNN5P2CMtFI/AAAAAAAAArk/-j46S6Wd8J0/s1600/timelapse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Processed frame of Further Up Yonder" border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kBCvYrgxuTc/UNN5P2CMtFI/AAAAAAAAArk/-j46S6Wd8J0/s320/timelapse.jpg" title="Processed frame of Further Up Yonder" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Giacomo Sardelli</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The year reaches its end, and I think this is the last <b>Thursday Video</b> post of 2012. It doesn't really have much to do with structural geology, but it is beautiful. Very. Probably you have already seen it, because it has been a big hit in most of social networks. I talk about "<i><b>Further Up Yonder: A timelapse message from ISS to all Humankind</b></i>"by <a href="http://www.giacomo.sardelli.name/blog/2012/11/26/further-up-yonder-en/" target="_blank">Giacomo Sardelli</a>. <br />
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As a geologist working in remote sensing with satellite images, I am delighted with the cinematography of this clip. It makes me feel happy I am a geologist, and what this video show is our playground.<br />
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Enjoy it and share it! And find out more in its <a href="https://www.facebook.com/furtherupyonder" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="309" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/54269169" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="550"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/54269169">Further Up Yonder</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/giacomosardelli">Giacomo Sardelli</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />Jorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03508780804543314029noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675137257145600893.post-34309022239290477162012-12-11T00:01:00.000+00:002012-12-11T00:01:00.173+00:00"Structural Geology", by Haakon Fossen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aOPNbBPyNUY/UMZJaTXRYeI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/MRuvVPEx3i0/s1600/Structural_Geology_Haakon_Fossen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Structural Geology, by Haakon Fossen" border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aOPNbBPyNUY/UMZJaTXRYeI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/MRuvVPEx3i0/s200/Structural_Geology_Haakon_Fossen.jpg" title="Structural Geology, by Haakon Fossen" width="156" /></a></div>
<i>Rainy summer day in <b>Delft</b>, The Netherlands. I look for cover and I enter into a bookshop -how convenient for a book-addict-. I end up buying a nice Parker pen and an uncommon souvenir: a copy of “<b>Structural geology</b>” by <b>Haakon Fossen</b>. Somehow, it sounds slightly like “The Neverending Story”. Like Bastian, I have been absorbed by a book. It's a long time since I bought my last geologic book in an actual physical shop, and not on a website. It must be special.</i><br />
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<b>Haakon Fossen</b> is <b>Professor of Structural Geology</b> at the <b>University of Bergen</b>. Apart from his academic background, Haakon has also worked in the oil and gas industry. You can learn more about him and his interests on <a href="http://folk.uib.no/nglhe/" target="_blank">his website</a>. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4WYx-VAdfOg/UMZEaGiW2vI/AAAAAAAAAp0/ELqAn9jGP3E/s1600/Fossen_page_224.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Haakon Fossen, Structural Geology" border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4WYx-VAdfOg/UMZEaGiW2vI/AAAAAAAAAp0/ELqAn9jGP3E/s320/Fossen_page_224.PNG" title="Haakon Fossen, Structural Geology" width="252" /></a>The book, published by <b>Cambridge University Press</b>, is an excellent manual on the principles of structural geology. But before commenting on the text itself, I'd like to remark that the material quality of the book is <b>superb</b>. This book simply says “read me, read me more”. Published in an A4 (kind of) size hardback format and full colour glossy pages. Rich in illustrations, sharp photographies and analogues.<br />
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Divided in twenty-one chapters, the text covers a wide range of topics organised in a sequence that travels from the realm of the <b>small </b>and the <b>infinitesimal</b> to the <b>tectonic regimes </b>that shape our planet. After an introduction to the basics of structural geology, Haakon immediately continues with topics on <b>strain </b>and <b>stress</b>, brittle and ductile <b>deformation </b>and regional regimes (i.e. contraction, extension, transpression and transtension and salt tectonics) and relevant techniques in structural analysis (i.e.<b> cross-section balancing</b> and <b>restoration</b>). The last chapter provides an integral view of structural geology, as a summary.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aCNeL-BLtr8/UMZFKY0zCLI/AAAAAAAAAp8/2UM4S788yQc/s1600/Fossen_metamorphic_core_complexes.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Basement window, Haakon Fossen" border="0" height="207" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aCNeL-BLtr8/UMZFKY0zCLI/AAAAAAAAAp8/2UM4S788yQc/s320/Fossen_metamorphic_core_complexes.PNG" title="Basement window, Haakon Fossen" width="320" /></a>Each chapter is thoroughly illustrated, from an opening full-page image to the broad variety of tables, illustrations and block diagrams that feed the reader's sight page after page. Most of the examples are taken from <b>up-to-date literature</b>, displaying field photos, seismic features, sand-box and other scaled analogues, etc.; all very sharp and with very good printing quality.<br />
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The <b>3D block figure</b>s are nicely drawn and fit perfectly their aim. They portrait the discussed topics clearly and in detail.<b> End-member diagrams</b> are also abundant in the text They are clear, complete and not overloaded with too much detail that would mask their purpose. Just for that reason this book is a “must” for any student and professional of the Earth sciences. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KmnJuVpTVwc/UMZMLFACpXI/AAAAAAAAAqk/enpIvroQBV8/s1600/fossen_rift_development.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fossen, Rift development" border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KmnJuVpTVwc/UMZMLFACpXI/AAAAAAAAAqk/enpIvroQBV8/s320/fossen_rift_development.PNG" title="Fossen, Rift development" width="311" /></a>Haakon's writing is very enjoyable. Easy to follow, fluid and precise. He writes straight to the point, with <b>accuracy </b>and <b>efficiency</b>. The text is easy to follow, as it is very careful in providing good and rich definition and continuous examples. I personally like very much the constant use of mathematical expressions supporting the definitions. A very basic knowledge of linear and matrix algebra will suffice. In depth explanations and short case studies are left for very handy and visually attractive boxes. Each chapter closes with a summary, review questions and a recommendation on further reading.
The book closes with two appendixes (one on the deformation matrix, very enjoyable -really!-, and another on stereographic projection) a very useful glossary, the description of the cover pictures of each chapter and the index.<br />
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Is that all? No. Because the book, actually, extends out of itself. At the end of each chapter the reader can find a recommendation on a e-module, also authored by Haakon, and freely available online in the companion website at cambridge.org
. The reader can also find in there all the images of the book in different resolutions, presentations, excel spreadsheets, sample chapters and so forth. <a href="http://www.cambridge.org/gb/knowledge/isbn/resources/item2708084/" target="_blank">Find out more here</a>.<br />
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If you have to recommend or buy a book on the principles of structural geology, this is the one.<br />
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<i>Structural Geology, by Haakon Fossen (2012). Hardback published by Cambridge University Press. 480 pages, 549 colour illus. Dimensions:
276 x 219 mm.</i><br />
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<b>Buy at</b> <b><a href="http://amzn.to/12hCVJk" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a> ¦ <a href="http://amzn.to/UxWitc" target="_blank">Amazon.co.uk</a> ¦ <a href="http://amzn.to/VzgcTg" target="_blank">Amazon.ca</a> ¦ <a href="http://amzn.to/RYSKDx" target="_blank">Amazon.es</a> ¦ <a href="http://amzn.to/RYTusl" target="_blank">Amazon.de</a> ¦ <a href="http://amzn.to/RYTVTx" target="_blank">Amazon.fr</a></b>Jorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03508780804543314029noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675137257145600893.post-10722343020454840612012-12-06T07:34:00.000+00:002012-12-06T10:57:32.877+00:00Thursday Video: Fracking!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_dVkAS_cNY/UMB2lE9dZZI/AAAAAAAAApU/3Wql_6ZAhU0/s1600/Fracking-diagrama.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_dVkAS_cNY/UMB2lE9dZZI/AAAAAAAAApU/3Wql_6ZAhU0/s320/Fracking-diagrama.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
The <b>fracking issue</b> in the United Kingdom is being <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-20619864" target="_blank">reignited once again since the Chancelor George Osborne has shown in his Autumn Statement support to the the industry</a> in this field, with tax advantages and other iniciatives.<br />
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I cannot have an opinion on this topic simply because <i>I don't have enough information</i>. But I find annoying how people who become specialists after reading two or three posts in a forum have a ground and solid opinion, not based on facts and data but on opinions of others.<br />
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How much of the arguments against fracking are pure <b>myths</b>? How much the economy really benefits from this shale production? Surely there are pros and cons, but like in many other topics, "controversy" many times is simple ignorance and fanatism. It reminds me the "controversy on evolution": There is not such controversy, full stop.<br />
It's actually difficult to find reliable information on it.<br />
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Is Blackpool going to collapse? No.<br />
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Is fracking causing earthquakes? Perhaps <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/8864669/Cuadrilla-admits-drilling-caused-Blackpool-earthquakes.html" target="_blank">Mw 2.3 or 1.5 events</a>, but hardly anything that doesn't already occur naturally in the British Isles<br />
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<i>Is the Large Hadron Collider kill us all? Well, do you see what I mean with "controversies". A controversy is good, it sparks debate. A "controversy" is not. I doesn't spark anything. </i><br />
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Most of sources are <b>biased </b>to one side or to the other, and hardly anyone speaks about the geomechanics behind, about the drilling technique, about the geology involved... The truth is that we consume more and more energy, and we need to get it from somewhere. We all know that oil and gas is a patch and not a permanent solution to our energy needs. But <i>as long as we live in as we do now</i> (heating systems based on gas, cars running on petrol), <i>we need fossil fuels and this is not an option</i>.<br />
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This week <b>The Independent</b> published a story that, in my opinion, is just bad journalism. "<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-great-rush-government-to-give-green-light-to-mass-exploration-for-shale-gas-8372543.html" target="_blank">The great rush: Government to give green light to mass exploration for shale gas</a>", simply don't talk about what is actually fracking. It just echoes the arguments of Greenpeace, and this is all. The media has been repeating that for two or three days now:<br />
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<blockquote>
"They suggest more than 32,000 square miles – or 64 per cent of the
countryside – could potentially be exploited for shale gas and is being
considered for exploration licences."</blockquote>
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So what? It doesn't mean that this 64% of countryside will contain profitable prospects. Most of the surface of any country is potentially open for exploration of mineral deposits, and we don't live in open pits, do we?<br />
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Unfortunately, geology is an unknown topic for the vast population. Hardly anyone stops to think "<i>one moment... this earthquakes in Blackpool, CAN they actually be produced by some fluid injection in the rocks down my feet?</i>"<br />
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This short clip I found in YouTube is quite appropiate for today. . It's an animation that illustrates part of a talk given by <b>Prof. Mike Stepheson</b> asking, precisely, for <b>information</b>. The public needs information, not ready-made ideas and opinions. And then, they will decide what is best.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKW4_UGVGBw </i></span></div>
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And yeah, keep wearing shorts and tshirt at home while outside is freezing. That really helps the debate.<br />
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Any opinion? Any good source of information? Let's discuss. :-)<br />
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<i>I find the term "fracking" awesome. I think I will use it as substitute of the F word. "What do you think of this fracking shales thing, pal?"</i><br />
<br />Jorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03508780804543314029noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675137257145600893.post-60187404575633213422012-12-04T07:30:00.000+00:002012-12-04T12:17:41.045+00:00Photo: normal faults in the Betic Cordillera<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BU0EaFIsZ_o/UL3kFiilxxI/AAAAAAAAApE/19Rt3jZY4NE/s1600/agosta.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Normal faults in the Tablate area, Granada, Spain" border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BU0EaFIsZ_o/UL3kFiilxxI/AAAAAAAAApE/19Rt3jZY4NE/s320/agosta.PNG" title="Normal faults in the Tablate area, Granada, Spain" width="239" /></a></div>
<b>Journal of Structural Geology</b> is one of the publications I like the most in our field. I have full access to it included in my Geological Society membership, and I enjoy taking a look to the abstracts every now and then. I usually try to read a paper from JSG every second week or so. I am not always successful in this!<br />
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This month catched my attention a beautiful outcrop depicted in the "<b>Photograph of the month</b>" article, provided by <b>Fabrizio Agosta</b>, from the University of Basilicata, Italy, and it display a recent trench dug for a highway in Granada, Spain, where Triassic basement (marbles) are in contact with beach deposits of Tortonian age (Upper Miocene). Those deposits are beautifully deformed during extension in the <b>Betic Cordillera</b> by several normal faults, forming a typical <b>conjugate pattern</b> alternating synthetic and antithetic faults.<br />
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I find two things very interesting: first, the strain concentration near the marble; second, that the cut is actually double, as there is a smaller slope near the foreground, adding an extra third dimension to the structure. Beautiful!<br />
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Take a look here. You can download a <b>pdf</b> and a high resolution version of the photo: <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2012.09.006" target="_blank">http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2012.09.006</a><br />
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<i>I really would like to include a low quality version of the picture here in this article, but even though the very short article is freely accessible, it would cost me just to embed the photo £18.57. Funny non-open access world!</i>Jorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03508780804543314029noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675137257145600893.post-22662365441871319162012-12-03T13:18:00.002+00:002012-12-03T13:18:20.861+00:00Online plate tectonics<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/" target="_blank">The Geological Society of London</a> revamped their <b>website </b>a couple of months ago or so. It's basically the same site as before,
but better organised and with a much nicer layout and design. Thumbs up for this!.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4MRRVWhYWCc/ULyl18ZNrcI/AAAAAAAAAo0/dUae-i8o4qE/s1600/Plate_tectonics_Geological_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Plate tectonics - Geological Society of London" border="0" height="123" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4MRRVWhYWCc/ULyl18ZNrcI/AAAAAAAAAo0/dUae-i8o4qE/s320/Plate_tectonics_Geological_.jpg" title="Plate tectonics - Geological Society of London" width="320" /></a></div>
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of the things I like the most is the "<a href="http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Home/Plate-Tectonics" target="_blank">Online plate tectonics</a>" site,
aimed to <b>students aged 14 - 16</b> (I personally think any person will enjoy
it, at any age). The site starts with an interactive introduction to
the distribution of <b>plate boundaries</b>, <b>volcanoes </b>and <b>earthquakes</b>. It has also sections on <b>the pioneers of
plate tectonics</b>, explanations about the <b>geochemical</b> <b>and geomechanical
properties of plate</b>s, and how the plate tectonics have shaped the
geography of the <b>United Kingdom</b>. It also counts with <b>tests </b>and <b>glossary</b>
areas, where the young visitor can check their knowledge and find
answers to their questions.The teachers also have their area, with indications and guidelines. </div>
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A
great initiative for kids, teachers and general public alike. It
doesn't matter how much you know about plate tectonics, you will like
this site and you will bookmark it!</div>
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Enjoy it and spread it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Home/Plate-Tectonics" target="_blank">http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Home/Plate-Tectonics </a><br />
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<br />Jorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03508780804543314029noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675137257145600893.post-20152691598969031582012-11-26T20:09:00.000+00:002012-11-26T20:09:46.288+00:00Industrial Structural Geology: Principles, Techniques and Integration<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-54bXKznmXwA/ULPMPo0-IuI/AAAAAAAAAog/Nd52UVxvAs4/s1600/geolsoc_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-54bXKznmXwA/ULPMPo0-IuI/AAAAAAAAAog/Nd52UVxvAs4/s1600/geolsoc_logo.jpg" /></a>The <b>Geological Society of London</b> organises this week the <i><b>Industrial Structural Geology: Principles, Techniques and Integration</b></i> conference, from the 28th to the 30th of November.<br />
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A bit late, but if you are around registration is still open. It costs £150 for fellows (£250 for non-members) and £30 for students.<br />
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The program is here: <a href="http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/en/Events/%7E/media/shared/pdfs/specialist%20and%20regional%20groups/petroleum/ISG_Final%20Programme.ashx">http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/en/Events/~/media/shared/pdfs/specialist%20and%20regional%20groups/petroleum/ISG_Final%20Programme.ashx</a><br />
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You can find more information at the<a href="http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/en/Events/Industrial%20Structural%20Geology.aspx?ec_trk=followlist&ec_trk_data=Events" target="_blank"> GeolSoc</a>. I will be there on Wednesday and Friday, if you fancy a drink (or two...)Jorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03508780804543314029noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675137257145600893.post-48445660737730788112012-11-23T09:40:00.000+00:002012-11-23T09:52:17.040+00:00Undiscovering a ghost island in the PacificGeographic exploration of our the lands of our planet is basically done and we can say confidently that there are not major unknown features out there. People still find waterfalls in the Amazon and the Himalayas -vertical features not easily detected with satellite data- , or relatively small rivers in the jungle -streams covered by jungle- but we have such a good coverage of the Earth by many sensors onboard satellites, that we can hardly imagine a team of explorers discovering a new river or an island.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2FLz35HoRJU/UK854DivxBI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/MYAv-TQerTc/s1600/Sandy_Island.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2FLz35HoRJU/UK854DivxBI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/MYAv-TQerTc/s320/Sandy_Island.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
What <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/22/sandy-island-missing-google-earth" target="_blank">published yesterday the Guardian</a> is actually quite the opposite: a team of marine scientist in the search of an island that, even though it was mapped in <b>Google Earth</b> as <b>Sandy Island</b> near New Caledonia it didn't really exist. So they <b>undiscovered </b>it!<br />
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The team on board the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RV_Southern_Surveyor" target="_blank">RV Southern Surveyor</a>, led by <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/where-did-it-go-scientists-undiscover-pacific-island-20121122-29ro4.html" target="_blank">geologist Maria Seton</a>, from Sidney University, embarked on a voyage to research plate tectonics in that part of the Pacific, and passing near the location of the island, decided to investigate it, as they had found discrepancies about its more essential nature: even though Google Earth spotted it, the island didn't appear on the navigation chart of the vessel and no images of it where available.<br />
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What did they found? Nothing.Waters not less shallow than 1300 m and not a single evidence of the presence of the island. Check out the location in this map:<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?t=h&hl=en-GB&ie=UTF8&ll=-19.360385,160.092773&spn=1.438132,2.496643&z=9&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br /></div>
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The article in almighty Wikipedia on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Island_%28New_Caledonia%29" target="_blank">Sandy Island</a> reports that some amateur radio enthusiasts had already "undiscovered" the island in 2000, but the story didn't circulate. In that article also explains that it could be a case of a copyright trap -a cartographic method of introducing deliverated errors in order to detect unauthorised copies of a map-. <br />
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Do you know any similar case of copyright traps? I do them sometimes in my geological maps!<br />
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By the way, you may not know the story of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landsat_Island" target="_blank">Landsat Island</a>, an island not mapped before being observed on Landsat images! <br />
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Source: <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/22/sandy-island-missing-google-earth">http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/22/sandy-island-missing-google-earth</a>Jorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03508780804543314029noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675137257145600893.post-19017019670401891022012-11-12T08:09:00.002+00:002012-11-12T08:09:32.323+00:00Isopach maps vs isochore maps<b>Thickness maps</b> are a fundamental tool in structural geology. They represent thickness variations and thickness trends of a given unit. <b>Isochore</b> and <b>isopach maps</b> are two different types of thickness map. To make it clear from the beginning: <br />
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<ul>
<li>An <b>isopach</b> is a line that connects points of equal <b>true thickness</b> (i.e. measured perpendicular to bedding), whereas...</li>
<li>an<b> isochore</b> is a line that connects points of equal <b>vertical thickness</b>. </li>
</ul>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K8qPnxWlfQI/UJ_wbCZRCnI/AAAAAAAAAoA/nkQReLE5LjE/s1600/anticline_thickness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K8qPnxWlfQI/UJ_wbCZRCnI/AAAAAAAAAoA/nkQReLE5LjE/s400/anticline_thickness.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fig. 1.- A constant thickness layer is drilled at different angles by three wells</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>Figure 1</i> depicts a perfect <b>cilindrical fold</b>, where the western flank dips more than the eastern flank. <i>Well 1</i> cuts the yellow bed at a higher angle than <i>well 3</i>, and therefore, the vertical thickness found in well 1 is larger than in<i> well 3</i>. <i>Well 2</i> cuts the bed where is horizontal, and therefore the vertical thickness equals the real thickness. The <b>real thickness</b> of the yellow bed is constant: 500 m. <br />
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If we would do an <b>isopach map</b> of the yellow unit, it would show a constant value of 500 m, because this unit doesn't show any thickness (true) variation... It would be a pretty boring map :-). But it would be telling us quite a lot already; for starting, we could think we are dealing with a parallel fold formed by flexural flow (for example).<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YKPN7ttQZV0/UJ_wZ7LiuPI/AAAAAAAAAn4/HCjcIrpAifA/s1600/isochore_map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YKPN7ttQZV0/UJ_wZ7LiuPI/AAAAAAAAAn4/HCjcIrpAifA/s320/isochore_map.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fig. 2-. Isochore map for the yellow unit in figure 1.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>Figure 2</i> shows the <b>isochore map</b> -contours for equal vertical thickness- for the yellow bed depicted in <i>figure 1</i>. Red colour indicates minimum vertical thickness, whilst purple shows maximum value. You can see that it shows what you can see in the cross section: we would measure increasing vertical thickness as we move away from the hinge of the fold, as the dip of the bed increases and therefore we would cut the yellow bed at a higher angles. <br />
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We can see that the difference between an isopach map and an isochore map is quite obvious and simple to understand. Unfortunately, some people interchange both terms, and too many times we can see isochore maps refered to as "isopach maps"<br />
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If we would get the map from <i>figure 2</i>, and somebody would tell us that this is a isopach map over and anticline, we could wrongly conclude that the real thickness around the hinge line of the fold is smaller than in the flanks, and we would probably think that we have in front of us as growth anticline, for example. <br />
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Another error may come from working with seismic surveys and not realising that if you take a surface representing a top unit, and you substract another
surface representing a bottom unit, the result is a isochore map, not a
isopach map. <br />
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Hence... how many structures have been wrongly studied, how many wells haven't reached a target because somebody used wrong a simple word? Better not even to know it! And this is considering that everytime we read a vertical thickness in a well log the well was actually vertical and not deviated at all. If you take a surface representing a top unit, and you substract another surface representing a bottom unit, the result is a isochore map, not a isopach map. <br />
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<i>If you have any question, just ask in the comments. If you have any suggestion for a new article, just let me know. You are also welcomed to write some contribution!</i><br />
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<br />Jorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03508780804543314029noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675137257145600893.post-18787213587087663042012-11-09T21:00:00.002+00:002012-11-09T21:00:29.194+00:00Cosmos and Carl Sagan Day<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SRkaolmweV0/UJ1uPtzWMtI/AAAAAAAAAno/cRrVfm0abTo/s1600/Sagan.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SRkaolmweV0/UJ1uPtzWMtI/AAAAAAAAAno/cRrVfm0abTo/s320/Sagan.JPG" width="234" /></a>I was born at the end of the 70's. One of my earliest TV memories is the Olympic Games of Moscow in 1980. I was 3 and I honestly don't remember much about it. But something I clearly remember from my childhood is watching <i><b>Cosmos</b></i>, by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Sagan" target="_blank">Carl Sagan</a>. I don't remember the program itself, because I was probably too young to understand it, but I know I loved it and I loved its music by <b>Vangelis</b>. I remember the excitement in my young minds, probably mixing <b><i>Cosmos </i></b>with <i><b>Galactica</b></i> or <b><i>Martian Chronicles</i></b>!<br />
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Years later, as a teenager, I spent a fortune (by my standards!) buying the VHS collection. I watched it so many times that after a couple of years the tapes were broken.<br />
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Today would be Sagan's birthday. He was born on a <b>9th of November</b>. And today, almost 20 years after he died, people celebrate the "<a href="http://centerforinquiry.net/carlsaganday" target="_blank">Carl Sagan Day</a>". Sagan was the voice of science, the voice of reason and talked about the Universe in a way that it was impossible not to stop to think what a privileged lot of molecules with conscience we are.<br />
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Still today, Cosmos has a deep effect on me. It makes me happy to be a scientist and not any other thing. It makes me happy to have spent many nights in the garden looking up to the January sky through my telescope. It also makes me miss people that were around me in the 80's and they are long gone by now. <br />
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Now you can enjoy it directly in YouTube. Show it to your kids if they speak English! I hope they like it as much as I did 30 years ago.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="309" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLBA8DC67D52968201&hl=en_GB" width="550">I would like t<br></iframe>
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<i>I would like to dedicate this post to my friend Daniel Herrero. He came to my home the day Carl Sagan died, and that was the first thing he told me then. I couldn't believe it, and I later, alone, I cried with the book of Cosmos in my hands. </i><br />
Jorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03508780804543314029noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675137257145600893.post-48027680817648762312012-11-07T13:30:00.000+00:002012-11-07T12:26:40.428+00:00Festival of Geology 2012, in London<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i8TUB3YU4s4/UJpTVGtwEII/AAAAAAAAAnY/EfEQ3U_Il-o/s1600/iain+stewart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i8TUB3YU4s4/UJpTVGtwEII/AAAAAAAAAnY/EfEQ3U_Il-o/s320/iain+stewart.jpg" width="320" /></a>This <b>Saturday, 10th November 2012</b>, will take place in London the "Festival of Geology", organised by the <a href="http://www.geologistsassociation.org.uk/" target="_blank">Geologist's Association</a>. It will run from 10.30 in the morning to 4.30 in the afternoon, and apart from exhibitors (minerals, fossils, tools, maps, etc), and a "Discovery Room" with activities for kids, it will include four talks:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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11.30-12.15 pm — <b>Professor Paul Bown</b><br />
Investigating the History of Climates and life through deep sea drilling.<br />
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12.30-1.15 pm — <b>Professor Rory Mortimore</b><br />
Using fossils in construction projects: London Tunnels to Stonehenge.<br />
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2.00-2.45 pm — <b>Professor Iain Stewart</b><br />
Seismic Faults and Sacred Sanctuaries.<br />
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3.00-3.35 pm — <b>Professor Jenny Clack</b><br />
Populating Romers’ Gap : rebuilding terrestrial ecosystems after the end-Devonian mass extinction.</blockquote>
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On <b>Sunday 11th November</b>, the Festival will continue in three fieldtrips: <br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Professor Joe Cain</b>: Geological Illustrations at Crystal Palace<br />
<b>Diana Clements & Naomi Stevenson</b>: London Walk: Green Park and Hyde Park Corner<br />
<b>Geoff Downer</b>: The Building of Ramsgate and its harbour</blockquote>
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If that was not enough, there is also an <b>Amateur Photographic Competition</b> on any geological topic, with a £100 1st Prize, a £50 2nd Prize and a £25 3rd Prize.<br />
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Fancy attending, fancy meeting up? Tell me in <a href="https://twitter.com/lithospheric" target="_blank">twitter</a> or through the comments to this article!<br />
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For more information, visit the <a href="http://www.geologistsassociation.org.uk/Festival.html" target="_blank">Geologists' Association</a>. Jorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03508780804543314029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675137257145600893.post-15421652233657727782012-11-07T12:02:00.001+00:002012-11-07T12:08:34.175+00:00Geological heritage, 0 - Developers, 1<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wb8id_m7BwM/UJpOGz6e9sI/AAAAAAAAAnI/v7V_k0GCpEs/s1600/siccar_point_pipeline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wb8id_m7BwM/UJpOGz6e9sI/AAAAAAAAAnI/v7V_k0GCpEs/s1600/siccar_point_pipeline.jpg" /></a>And that is all.<br />
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As it have been communicated in the Facebook page of "<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-Siccar-Point/463995490307088" target="_blank">Save Siccar Point</a>", the planning application for the installation of a waste-water pipeline at <b>Siccar Point</b> has been approved by the local council. If you don't know what is <b>Siccar Point</b>, I know need to say two words: <a href="http://www.savesiccarpoint.co.uk/" target="_blank">Hutton's Unconformity</a>.<br />
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The statement pusblished at "Save Siccar Point" reads as follows:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="userContent">Unfortunately, the planning application has been approved by the Council Planning Committee.<br /> <br />
We called the council last week and were told nothing had been decided
and there was no news and that committee meetings are usually at the end
of the month. Today we found out the council planning committee met
yesterday morning. It all seems a bit suspect and underhand.<br /> <br /> They have added a few constrai</span>nts
to the application, but nothing that will now stop the pipeline being
built and the effluent being pumped out into the sea just 150m from
Siccar Point.<br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
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We can't thank people enough for the time and
effort put into objecting to this planning application, but at the end
of the day the council have ignored all the excellent objections, said
the effluent was none of their concern (it was SEPA's) and have
effectively used SNH's approval of the application as the reason why
they couldn't object. <br />
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We're sorry it hasn't turned out
differently, but with the application approved there's little that can
be done to stop the pipeline being laid.</div>
</blockquote>
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Human stupidity doesn't have limits. When we will learn that we cannot afford to destroy geological heritage, like any other natural heritage. It can't be replicated, duplicated, or emulated. Things happen once and only once in nature <br />
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<br />Jorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03508780804543314029noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675137257145600893.post-85588567720456732862012-11-02T08:00:00.000+00:002012-11-02T23:21:47.094+00:00Follow me in Twitter<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iJbHUk7jA-Y/UJO6iQ69l9I/AAAAAAAAAm4/zS0YqyiCCY0/s1600/twitter-bird-callout.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iJbHUk7jA-Y/UJO6iQ69l9I/AAAAAAAAAm4/zS0YqyiCCY0/s1600/twitter-bird-callout.png" /></a>I have been using <b>Twitter </b>for some weeks, and perhaps you would like to follow me.<br />
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<a href="http://www.twitter.com/lithospheric%20" target="_blank">http://www.twitter.com/lithospheric </a><br />
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I am progressively focusing on <b>geology issues</b> and <b>general science</b>, but please be aware that I also write in <b>Spanish </b>and sometimes I write about <b>social and current affairs</b>. My tweet feed is not exclusive for this blog, as I don't see the need of keeping a different account for each website I have! Also, I try to keep a flow of <b>70/100 tweets per week</b>, which I think is a good number. <br />
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If you decide to <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lithospheric%20" target="_blank">follow me</a>, ping me and let me know!Jorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03508780804543314029noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675137257145600893.post-80331926700176885372012-11-02T07:30:00.000+00:002012-11-02T23:19:39.382+00:00Earth literally, a blog by Philip AllenThe first time I learnt about Philip Allen was reading <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0632052074/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0632052074&linkCode=as2&tag=jorgegines-21">Basin Analysis</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=jorgegines-21&l=as2&o=2&a=0632052074" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, which he coathors together with John Allen. This must-have book that any student has used since it appeared some 20 years ago is a solid and strong summary of what we know in terms of basin evolution. I think I consult it twice a week, and we have at home two different editions (first and second editions... I am not aware of a third edition!)<br />
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This morning, I got a recommendation in Twitter to follow him. I checked his profile, and found out that he writes a blog:<br />
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<a href="http://www.earth-literally.blogspot.co.uk/">http://www.earth-literally.blogspot.co.uk/</a><br />
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His blog is a little treasure. Earth literally. The title says all! You will find geology, in the shape of very useful artigles with thoughts from such a great geologist, and you will also find a more literally side of Philip, whose prose is reach, enjoyable and reflect his wide knowledge of many topics.<br />
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Well, go and check it out, <a href="https://twitter.com/earthliterally" target="_blank">follow him</a>! You won't regret it. <br />
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J.Jorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03508780804543314029noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675137257145600893.post-62144732385925409922012-10-31T13:30:00.000+00:002012-11-02T23:20:35.974+00:00Nature on l'AquilaThe echoes of the l'Aquila case, rather disappearing, are becomen louder. Nature has just published a story on the case that may be of your interest<br />
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<a href="http://www.nature.com/news/l-aquila-verdict-row-grows-1.11683">http://www.nature.com/news/l-aquila-verdict-row-grows-1.11683</a><br />
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Many voices have risen asking for joint letters and statements telling the Italian government about their mistake. "GSA should speak" "GeolSoc raise your voice"!.<br />
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They are wrong. Communications should be directed to the Italian population, not to their governors/rulers.Italy, like most of countries in Europe, is a democracy where the government and the justice are separated (thanks!), and primer minister don't have, or shouldn't have, a voice in what a judge decides is best.<br />
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For that reason, is the people who has to realised that something is very wrong when several scientist are sent to prison for doing their work, which is not looking into a glass ball and predict the future. <br />
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<br />Jorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03508780804543314029noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675137257145600893.post-74035428805560024362012-10-25T13:44:00.000+01:002012-11-02T23:20:47.807+00:00EGU short statement on L'Aquila caseThe European Geosciences Union (EGU) has provided a brief statement on the L'Aquila case, as follows
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<blockquote>
<b>Scientists alarmed by verdict of Italian court</b>
The seismological community is deeply concerned about the L'Aquila verdict by an Italian court on 22 October 2012. The manslaughter conviction of six earthquake experts in Italy for failing to give adequate warning of the 2009 earthquake in the city of L'Aquila that killed over 300 people, has occupied the thoughts of large parts of our community.
The consequences of this verdict for science in general, and for the exchange of information between scientists and policy-makers in particular, could be drastic. If scientists stop actively engaging with the public to demonstrate the importance of their work, if they refuse to work in hazard-evaluation panels, or if they are afraid of offering scientific advice to the best of their ability, the prime foundations of science – sharing and openly discussing research and increasing knowledge – are no longer met.
There are many subtleties to the L'Aquila case, so that the case itself cannot be judged by most of us. Thus, to rather provide a constructive input on the discussion, the<a href="http://www.egu.eu/inside-egu/divisions-and-present-officers/division-seismology/can-we-predict-earthquakes.html" target="_blank"> current status of earthquake prediction</a> is summarised by scientists of the Seismology Division of EGU.
Hannover, 23 October 2012, Charlotte Krawczyk</blockquote>
<i>Source: <a href="http://www.egu.eu/inside-egu/divisions-and-present-officers/division-seismology/scientists-alarmed-by-verdict-of-italian-court.html">EGU website</a> </i><br />
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Personally, I think this is a very complex issue and I won't discuss anything as I lack the legal and causitic ground about this specific case.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Se43kYLtr0/UIlCEzUnk1I/AAAAAAAAAmk/fwutv4q7AW4/s1600/laquila_scientists.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Se43kYLtr0/UIlCEzUnk1I/AAAAAAAAAmk/fwutv4q7AW4/s320/laquila_scientists.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Jorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03508780804543314029noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675137257145600893.post-2311485516343920332012-10-24T08:30:00.000+01:002012-11-02T23:22:18.309+00:00Fossil Rock AnthemI know, is not structural geology... but it is funny. Enjoy this parody of "Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="413" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ClJ5lwl_wM0" width="550"></iframe>
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Thanks to my friend José Lires who shared it in Facebook!Jorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03508780804543314029noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675137257145600893.post-2035172024806094992012-10-15T23:14:00.001+01:002012-11-02T23:17:00.071+00:00Streetural geology I: Normanton Rd fold beltPerhaps we spend too much time observing <b>structures</b>, and then we extrapolate our observations to every day stuff.<br />
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Perhaps.<br />
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Or simply this is really just a miniature <b>fold belt</b>, made in the asphalt in my street! (...hence the name; "Normanton Road Fold Belt"). I'd happily make a cut in order to study the subsurface structure of this fold belt, but I don't think <b>Croydon Council </b>would like that.<br />
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What can you see? Can you see some pattern in the little folds? I think I can see that the folds have vergency consistent with the flank where they are, but probably I have to come back to check that out. <br />
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(Good news, I have more "Streetural" geology photos already made :) )<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mRLk1IpHGzo/UHyIqMDcpvI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/sGbccTFQ1pc/s1600/streetural-geology1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mRLk1IpHGzo/UHyIqMDcpvI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/sGbccTFQ1pc/s400/streetural-geology1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Jorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03508780804543314029noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675137257145600893.post-74419995078710673692012-09-27T17:35:00.000+01:002012-11-02T22:50:24.671+00:00Thursday video: Boudinage and Milch-Schnitte<b><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FURHW_fb3zI/UGR_007JjsI/AAAAAAAAAk4/835EUDXTlE0/s1600/800px-Milchschnitte_Detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FURHW_fb3zI/UGR_007JjsI/AAAAAAAAAk4/835EUDXTlE0/s320/800px-Milchschnitte_Detail.jpg" width="320" /></a>Boudins </b>are competent rock layers that have been stretched into segments, due to layer-parallel extension. <b>Boudinage </b>is the process that forms boudins. <br />
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<b>Milch-Schnitte</b> is a type of sweet, popular in Germany, made with two soft spongy cake slices sandwiching a white softer filling made with milk.<br />
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What is the relationship between a German sweet and boudins? An experiment made by the guys at the <i><b>Structural Geology, Tectonics and Geodynamics Group</b></i> at the<i><b> RWTH Aachen University</b></i> (www.ged.rwth-aachen.de), where two pieces of Milch Schnitte are compressed vertically to achieve an extension that causes the boudinaging of one of the brown spongy cake slices.<br />
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But, instead of reading me... just watch the video and enjoy!<br />
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Video source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX0lFcVp3bA Jorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03508780804543314029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675137257145600893.post-61289825241599199922012-08-30T21:17:00.004+01:002012-11-02T22:49:59.796+00:00Thursday Video: metamorphic rocks in the Giant's Causeway<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n8snBMzFg-Y/UD_LJ14prQI/AAAAAAAAAjI/qi2Gxkeb8zg/s1600/giants_causeway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Giant's Causeway" border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n8snBMzFg-Y/UD_LJ14prQI/AAAAAAAAAjI/qi2Gxkeb8zg/s320/giants_causeway.jpg" title="Giant's Causeway" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryck/2088481239/in/photostream/" target="_blank">Rick</a>, from <span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Flick</span><span style="color: red;">r</span></td></tr>
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Remember the story a few weeks ago about <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/national-trust-in-giants-causeway-creationism-row-7917687.html" target="_blank">The National Trust including the creationist hypothesis as a plausible explanation for the origin of the Giant's Causeway</a> (Northern Ireland) at their new visitor's centre?<br />
Let's forget the sectarian nonsense and let's focus in science, the marvel of reason that tries to explain our word through our observations and logical deductions.<br />
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Today, for Thursday Video, a film produced by the <b>Open University</b> about <b>metamorphic rocks </b>(and also igneours rocks!)<b> </b>in and around the Giant's Causeway.<br />
Have fun!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="450" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/f3K6WLUFS84" width="600"></iframe>Jorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03508780804543314029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675137257145600893.post-55587073570122755192012-08-28T14:41:00.001+01:002012-11-02T22:49:35.975+00:00Saltash Bells, of John Surman<br />
I have been thinking for a while that this blog could be turned into something -slightly- more personal, and from now on I will write from time to time some posts not directly related with geology. As a geologists who works in an office, in front of two screens, mapping satellite images and doing cross-sections, I listen to a good amount of music. I enjoy very much reading (at home!) and I am also a keen photographer, so why not having some small input from this "other" Jorge?<br />
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I hope you understand this, and I would like to read your thoughts. Please, leave some comments and let me know what do you think about this decision of including some more personal posts (not much... just from time to time) in this highly specialised and technical blog.<br />
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Ground control, here I go.<br />
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<b>Saltash Bells - John Surman</b><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lIDFwE-bB6s/UDusR0xSyKI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/9sRMBlujn8c/s1600/Saltash_Bells_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Saltash Bells, of John Surman" border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lIDFwE-bB6s/UDusR0xSyKI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/9sRMBlujn8c/s320/Saltash_Bells_1.jpg" title="Saltash Bells, of John Surman" width="320" /></a> I have been listening for a few weeks to <i>Saltash Bells</i>, a jazz album of <b>John Surman</b>. I have never been a big fan of jazz, fundamently because of my own ignorance of this genre. But this music, together with other European jazz albums -<b>Garbarek</b>,<b> E.S.T.</b>, <b>Rypdal</b>, etc.- are filling up to 80 or 90% of the music I have listened to during the last two months or so. <br />
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<b>John Surman</b> is an English saxophonist. <i>Saltash Bells</i> is his latest solo work, and he plays all the instruments (soprano, tenor and baritone saxophones, alto bas and contrabass clarinets, harmonica and synthesizer) heard in the album. He has a long list of published albums, but this is the first in a long time that he publishes as soloist. Surman is one of the jewels of the German discographic <a href="http://www.ecmrecords.com/Startseite/startseite.php" target="_blank">ECM</a>. If you don't know <b>ECM</b>, you are missing very good music!<br />
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This recording has an unmissible English flavour, taking inspiration from folk themes and harmonies that can easily make you imagine you travel through the West Country. In fact, the music was tought as companion for a TV series of documentaries about this part of the United Kingdom, but this project never saw light.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P-tDQLen8Xg/UDusTT2f-XI/AAAAAAAAAiY/FFAf-gUIASg/s1600/Saltash_Bells_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Saltash Bells, of John Surman" border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P-tDQLen8Xg/UDusTT2f-XI/AAAAAAAAAiY/FFAf-gUIASg/s320/Saltash_Bells_2.jpg" title="Saltash Bells, of John Surman" width="320" /></a>The music of Surman is clear, crystalline and very melodic. Background canons and cyclic phrases result in a very atmospheric soundtrack. <i>Whistman's Wood</i> opens the album with a very nice musical electronic texture, which perfectly entangles different instruments blending them in a very beautiful song. It is easy with such music to feel the breeze of the the cliffs of Dorset or the water spray from the beaches of Cornwall.<br />
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Some compasses even remind me of my home music, from Asturias, in the north of Spain. I hear <i>The Crooked Inn</i> and <i>Sailing Westward</i>
and I can feel at home. The Atlantic connection of peoples and cultures
is very evident in this music, and I very much like this in European
music. <br />
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A common line in most of the songs is the background sound of bells, which actually give the title to the album -it's the memory as a child of the Sultash Church bells across the waters what he tries to reproduce with a synthesizer-.<br />
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This music is perfect for working. It is calm, not distracting and so atmospheric that you will listen to it serveral times before you even realise it. At least it let me work on <b><i>2DMove</i></b>!<br />
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If you want to buy a very good album (and buy it as a CD, with much better quality than mp3!), just buy <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007CDF7GA/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B007CDF7GA&linkCode=as2&tag=jorgegines-21">Saltash Bells</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=jorgegines-21&l=as2&o=2&a=B007CDF7GA" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />.
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You can hear to a sample here: <a href="http://player.ecmrecords.com/surman-saltash_bells" target="_blank">ECM Player</a>.<br />
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<b>Album</b>: Saltash Bells<br />
<b>Artist</b>: John Surman<br />
<b>Date</b>:2012<br />
<b>Publisher</b>: ECM Records GmbH (Munich). Catalogue number 2266<br />
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<b>Track list </b><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lhu8e6TRZsU/UDusbMPDsfI/AAAAAAAAAig/0Z2BfPRmNHU/s1600/Saltash_Bells_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="track list Saltash Bells" border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lhu8e6TRZsU/UDusbMPDsfI/AAAAAAAAAig/0Z2BfPRmNHU/s320/Saltash_Bells_3.jpg" title="track list Saltash Bells" width="320" /></a>1 Whistman's Wood<br />
2 Glass Flower<br />
3 On Staddon Heights<br />
4 Triadichorum<br />
5 Winter Elegy<br />
6 Ælfwin<br />
7 Saltash Bells<br />
8 Dark Reflections<br />
9 The Crooked Inn<br />
10 Sailing Westwards <br />
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Jorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03508780804543314029noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675137257145600893.post-91830372827552607682012-08-26T10:10:00.000+01:002012-11-02T22:49:11.438+00:00Bye, Mr. Armstrong<div style="text-align: center;">
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Jorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03508780804543314029noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675137257145600893.post-51738088083497729672012-08-23T10:28:00.001+01:002012-11-02T22:48:59.743+00:00Thursday video: structural geology IISecond part of the last "Thursday video". Sorry for the delay; I have been pretty busy with other stuff!<br />
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<br />Jorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03508780804543314029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675137257145600893.post-55285439462949001102012-05-31T19:43:00.000+01:002012-11-02T22:48:28.937+00:00Thursday video: structural geology IToday's video introduces <b>structural geology </b>(part I). It is presented by <b>Jonathan</b> <b>Bergmann </b>and includes an interview with <b>Dr. Randall Marrett</b>. It is a good introduction to our little corner of the geological room, and it may be useful if you are deciding now what do you want to have as a profession later on. Be aware: structural geology is cool!!<br />
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If you are studying geology in school, or in college, this video is also useful for introducing the basic concepts of structural geology. If you have any questions... well, just ask, that is why there are comments in this blog! <br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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(yep, I know... I forgot to upload the video yesterday... ahem...)Jorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03508780804543314029noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675137257145600893.post-18574776395314074852012-05-24T22:26:00.001+01:002012-11-02T22:47:50.653+00:00Thursday video: Difference between crust and lithosphere<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b6567G51XYk/T76ljNU1adI/AAAAAAAAAhc/Ap8scI9pgSI/s1600/350px-Earth_internal_structure.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b6567G51XYk/T76ljNU1adI/AAAAAAAAAhc/Ap8scI9pgSI/s320/350px-Earth_internal_structure.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mechanical and chemical division of Earth.</td></tr>
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Today's video deals with a topic of <b>tectonics</b>: the <b>difference </b>between <b>crust </b>and <b>lithosphere</b>. Many people mix these two things, and hopefully this video will help you to know when to talk about crust, and when to talk about lithosphere. It is very easy, but many people just don't pay enough atttention!<br />
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This video has been produced by <b>Khan Academy</b>, a non-profit organisation which aims "to provide a high education to anyone, anywhere". A really good initiative. Visit their site here, where you will find many resources of virtually anything!: <a href="http://www.khanacademy.org/">www.khanacademy.org</a> <br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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Source: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2BWsPVN7c4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2BWsPVN7c4</a>Jorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03508780804543314029noreply@blogger.com4