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Two Earthquakes, 39 Seconds Apart: Inside Venezuela’s 24 June 2026 Doublet

Introduction

The Venezuela earthquake of 24 June 2026 began...

June 25, 2026

  • Geohazards
  • Geophysics

Lake Natron: The Truth About the Lake of Stone Animals

Introduction

Sometime between 2010 and 2012, the British photographer Nick Brandt...

June 22, 2026

  • Geochemistry

The Fires That Never Go Out: Earth’s Underground Coal Fires

Introduction

On Valentine’s Day 1981, twelve-year-old Todd Domboski crossed his grandmother’s...

June 15, 2026

  • Geohazards

The Rocks That Ring: Inside the Bell-Toned Boulder Fields

Introduction

On a June afternoon in 1890, in the wooded uplands...

June 14, 2026

  • Geomorphology

Opalized Fossils of Lightning Ridge

Introduction

In August 2013, an Adelaide opal buyer named Mike Poben...

June 14, 2026

  • Paleontology

Yellowstone Magma Cap Discovered at 3.8 km

Introduction

In the summer of 2020, with the park’s gates shut...

June 14, 2026

  • Volcanology

How Do Gold Nuggets Form? The Earthquake-and-Quartz Theory

Introduction

On the morning of 5 February 1869, in a shallow...

June 13, 2026

  • Geochemistry

Can You Really Drown in Quicksand? The Physics Behind It

Introduction

A man pushes through jungle undergrowth, machete in hand. One...

June 13, 2026

  • Geohazards

How Old Is the Grand Canyon? The 150-Year Scientific Feud

Introduction

In November 2012, Rebecca Flowers of the University of Colorado...

June 13, 2026

  • Geomorphology

Volcanic Lightning: Inside a Dirty Thunderstorm

A storm with no cloud

On the night of 15 January...

June 12, 2026

  • Volcanology

Santorini 2025 Earthquake Swarm Explained

Introduction

By late January 2025, the residents of Santorini had stopped sleeping well....

June 11, 2026

  • Geophysics
  • Volcanology

Kawah Ijen Blue Fire: Burning Sulfur, Not Lava

Introduction

Climb to the rim of Kawah Ijen at two in...

June 10, 2026

  • Volcanology

Vredefort Crater: Earth’s Oldest, Biggest Impact Scar

Introduction

Two billion years ago, a rock between 20 and 25...

June 10, 2026

  • Geophysics

Siberia’s Exploding Craters: The Gas Emission Crater Mystery

A hole that should not exist

In mid-July 2014, helicopter crews...

June 9, 2026

  • Geohazards

Banded Iron Formation: Earth’s Oxygen Record

Introduction

Put your palm flat against the wall of Dales Gorge...

June 9, 2026

  • Geochemistry

Carolina Bays: Mystery of Aligned Coastal Ovals

Introduction

In the spring of 1930, a pilot flying for Fairchild...

June 9, 2026

  • Geomorphology

The Taam Ja’ Blue Hole: The Deepest Blue Hole in the World

Introduction

The deepest blue hole in the world sits under a...

June 8, 2026

  • Geomorphology

Why Are There Seashells on Top of Mount Everest?

Introduction

Sometime between 1504 and 1510, in the Italian Apennines, Leonardo...

June 8, 2026

  • Paleontology

Fulgurite: The Glass That Lightning Leaves Behind

Introduction

In the summer of 1996, on a sandy military reservation...

June 8, 2026

  • Mineralogy

The Geology of Minecraft: How Accurate Is it?

Introduction

You hear it before you see it. A faint crystalline...

June 7, 2026

  • Mineralogy
Sample of apatite mineral crystal

Apatite

Apatite is a calcium phosphate mineral found in various colors, primarily used in fertilizers.

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Close-up of a granite rock sample

Granite

Granite is a durable igneous rock used in construction, monuments, and countertops.

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Brown crystals of feldspar mineral specimen

Feldspar

Feldspar is an aluminum silicate used in ceramics, glass, and construction.

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Brown volcanic rock texture close-up

Rhyolite

Rhyolite, a silica-rich volcanic rock, is used in construction and research.

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White halite rock salt crystal cluster

Halite

Halite, or rock salt, is a sodium chloride mineral used for seasoning, de-icing, and industry.

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Clear quartz crystal cluster on black background

Quartz

Quartz, a silicon dioxide mineral, is used in jewelry and electronics.

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Marble close-up

Marble

Marble, a calcium carbonate metamorphic rock, is used in sculpture, architecture, and countertops.

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Dark black biotite mica mineral specimen

Biotite

Biotite is a dark mica mineral used in insulation and geological studies.

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Large translucent gypsum mineral specimen

Gypsum

Gypsum, a soft calcium sulfate mineral, is primarily used as plaster or in cement production.

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Polished sample of a gneiss rock

Gneiss

Gneiss is a durable, banded metamorphic rock used in construction and decoration.

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Vanadinite crystal cluster on white background

Vanadinite

Vanadinite is a bright red mineral, primarily sourced from lead deposits.

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Diorite rock close up

Diorite

Diorite is a tough igneous rock used in construction, art, and in research.

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Gray quartzite rock on white background

Quartzite

Quartzite, a durable metamorphic rock made of quartz, is used in construction and countertops.

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Shist rock example

Schist

Schist, a layered metamorphic rock rich in mica and quartz, is often used in construction.

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Descloizite mineral crystal cluster

Descloizite

Descloizite is a lead-zinc vanadate mineral, mainly found in Namibia and Mexico.

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Orange scheelite crystal on gray matrix rock

Scheelite

Scheelite, a calcium tungstate, is the main source of tungsten for tools and alloys.

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Raw red garnet gemstone close-up

Garnet

Garnet is a group of silicate minerals used as gemstones and abrasives.

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Shiny metallic hematite crystal cluster

Hematite

Hematite is an iron oxide mineral used for iron ore, pigments, and radiation shielding.

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Monazite mineral crystal cluster

Monazite

Monazite, a group of rare earth minerals, is a key source of rare earth elements.

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Borax mineral specimen

Borax

Borax is a sodium borate used in cleaning and glassmaking.

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Limestone rock with visible fossil imprint

Limestone

Limestone, mainly calcium carbonate, is used in construction, cement, and water treatment.

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Muscovite mineral

Muscovite

Muscovite, a mica mineral, is used in insulation, fireproofing, and cosmetics.

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Zircon crystal on beige mineral rock

Zircon

Zircon is a durable mineral used in jewelry, geological dating, and ceramics.

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Shiny metallic pyrite mineral cluster

Galena

Galena is the main ore of lead and silver, used in batteries and shielding.

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Green fluorite crystal on yellowish mineral matrix

Fluorite

Fluorite, a colorful calcium fluoride, is used as flux in steelmaking, glass, and as gemstones.

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Talc mineral

Talc

Talc, the softest mineral, is used in baby powder, cosmetics, ceramics, and plastics.

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White dolomite crystal mineral cluster

Dolomite

Dolomite is a calcium magnesium carbonate used in construction and agriculture.

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Amphibole sample on white background

Amphibole

Amphibole is a diverse mineral group used for geological indicators and as insulation.

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Clear barite crystal mineral specimen

Barite

Barite is a barium sulfate mineral used in drilling, shielding, and paints.

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Colorful watermelon tourmaline crystal slice

Tourmaline

Tourmaline is a colorful boron silicate mineral used as a gemstone and in electronics.

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Bright green olivine crystal mineral specimen

Olivine

Olivine, a magnesium iron silicate, is used in gemstones (peridot) and refractory materials.

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Metamorphic rock with dark red garnet crystals

Chlorite

Chlorite, a green phyllosilicate mineral, is used as a geological indicator and industrial filler.

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Shiny black coal

Coal

Coal, mainly carbon, is used for energy and steel production.

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Cluster of shiny brown mica crystals

Mica

Mica is a group of silicate minerals with varying compositions mainly in insulation and electronics.

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Calcite crystals on metallic mineral surface

Calcite

Calcite is a trigonal calcium carbonate mineral used mainly in construction for making cement.

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Beryl crystals with brown mineral base

Beryl

Beryl is a gemstone mineral, including emerald and aquamarine, and a source of beryllium.

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Bright yellow-green adamite specimen close-up

Adamite

Adamite is a rare, colorful orthorhombic mineral prized by collectors for its vibrant crystals.

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Dark gray shale rock sample

Shale

Shale, a fine-grained sedimentary rock, is used for natural gas, cement, and research.

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Wulfenite crystal specimen

Wulfenite

Wulfenite is a bright orange or yellow mineral, prized by collectors.

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Rough beige sandstone rock on white background

Sandstone

Sandstone, composed of quartz and feldspar, is used in construction, paving, landscaping, and glassmaking.

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Dark blue scorodite crystal cluster mineral specimen

Scorodite

Scorodite, a hydrated iron arsenate, is valued for arsenic containment and as a collector’s mineral.

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Green pyroxene crystal mineral specimen

Pyroxene

Pyroxene, a silicate mineral group found in igneous and metamorphic rocks.

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Piece of red and brown bauxite ore

Bauxite

Bauxite is the main aluminum ore, primarily found in Australia.

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Shiny metallic pyrite mineral cluster

Pyrite

Pyrite, or “Fool’s Gold,” is used for sulfur and iron production.

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Large basalt on white background

Basalt

Basalt is a dark, fine-grained igneous rock used in construction, monuments, and geological studies.

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White kernite crystal

Kernite

Kernite is a boron-rich mineral used in glassmaking, detergents, and ceramics.

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Shiny black magnetite crystal mineral specimen

Magnetite

Magnetite, an iron oxide with magnetic properties, is used in steel production and catalysts.

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