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April 1 2023

5 Places to See Dinosaur Footprints

Geoscience Journeys Explore dinosaurs, tracks 0

Geoscience Journeys

April 1, 2023

Track from Dinosaur Ridge, CO / Photographed by James St. John , CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Earth was very different ~100 million years ago. It was much warmer, and higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere allowed plants to thrive, the continents were splitting apart, and shallow seas covered much of the land. The biggest difference though was that dinosaurs roamed about just like animals do today. You can see dinosaur footprints today at certain places.

It’s hard to imagine these extinct creatures now. They left behind clues to their existence though in their fossilized bones and also their footsteps. Just like when you walk on the beach and leave your footprints, dinosaurs did this too. Sometimes those footsteps were buried and preserved into rock in what are called tracksites. The following are some of the places where you can see real dinosaur footprints today.

Spyway Dinosaur Footprints, Jurassic Coast

Where: Purbeck, UK
Age of tracks: Jurassic, 145 million years ago
Dinosaur types: Sauropods

If you’ve seen the 1993 blockbuster movie ‘Jurassic Park,’ then you’ll know the moment that Drs. Grant and Sattler, both paleontologists, get their first view of a real life walking dinosaur. I still get chills watching that scene to this day. That giant plant-eating dinosaur is a brachiosaurus, part of the sauropod family.

The Spyway Dinosaur Footprints tracksite has the footprints of these giant sauropods from the past. You can get to the tracksite from the Priest’s Way walking trail. It sits next to a working quarry where there are more than 100 fossilized tracks.

Dinosaur Coast, Dampier Peninsula

Where: Kimberley region, Western Australia
Age of tracks: Cretaceous, 130 million years ago
Dinosaur types: Theropods, Sauropods, Ornithopods, Thyreoporans

During low tide, the rocky beaches of Western Australia exhibit the clues to a thriving dinosaur population of the past, fondly known as the “Cretaceous equivalent of the Serengeti.” The sandy rocks along the shore today belonged to the sands of a tidal flat in the past where several species of dinosaurs sometimes emerged from the forest to get a drink of water.

The Dinosaur Coast stretches along the beaches of the Dampier Peninsula. Visitors can hunt for different tracks of different species all along the coast with help from an app. To find the biggest fossilized footprint known, it’s best to head to James Price Point where giant sauropod tracks are abundant at low tide.

Dinosaur tracks in Bolivia / Photographed by Jerry Daykin, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cal Orck’o, Cretaceous Park

Where: Sucre, Bolivia
Age of tracks: Cretaceous, 68 million years ago
Dinosaur types: Theropods, Sauropods, Ornithopods, Ankylosaurs

Most places you’ll find dinosaur tracks are flat. When you’re walking on the ground to find the tracks, the dinosaurs walked just like you on that same ground. However, at Cal Orck’o you will stare up at a vertical wall of rock to see the criss-crossing tracks. This wall used to lie flat, but the formation of the Andes Mountains thrust this rock layer into the sky along with these fossilized footprints.

The longest trackway in the world exists here at 550 meters long, and it belongs to a theropod. Most footprints show regular tracksite patterns like this, but some are quite irregular. Since discovery, paleontologists have lovingly dubbed this wall the “dinosaur dance floor.” Cal Orck’o is part of a museum open to the public with dinosaur exhibits of skeletons and fossils.

Skye Isle Dinosaur Track / Photographed by marsupium photography, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Dinosaur Isle, Skye

Where: Staffin, Scotland
Age of tracks: Jurassic, 170 million years ago
Dinosaur types: Theropods, Sauropods, Ornithopods

The discovery of dinosaur tracks on the Isle of Skye is relatively recent, beginning in 2015 with a huge track array find of sauropod footprints. In 2018, paleontologists found additional prints and discovered that the giant plant-eaters were sharing their spot with meat-eaters.

The tracksites of Dinosaur Isle are important in that they represent a large portion of all known middle Jurassic footprints, and fossil hunters have flocked to the island because of this. The best places to find dinosaur tracks at the Isle of Skye are An Corran Beach, Brothers’ Point, and at the shore by Duntulm Castle.

Cretaceous Dinosaur Ridge / Photographed by James St. John, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Dinosaur Ridge Trail

Where: Morrison, CO, USA
Age of tracks: Cretaceous, 100 million years ago
Dinosaur types: Theropods, Ornithopods

Discovered in 1877, this tracksite is ranked #1 in the United States and is located just outside of Denver. More than 300 different tracks have been discovered, and several different dinosaur species have been identified making this place a prehistoric dinosaur party.

Located just off Highway 470, Dinosaur Ridge can be accessed by walking along a 2-mile long trail. The Dinosaur Ridge tracksite is part of a series of tracksites located along the eastern edge of the Rockies. This area used to be the western shores of the Cretaceous Interior Seaway and has earned the name “Dinosaur Freeway.”

Dinosaurs roamed the Earth for about 165 million years, and they finally went extinct about 65 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous. This specific point in time is referred to as the K-T boundary. It marks an end in the age of reptiles and beginning in the age of mammals. The generally accepted scientific theory is that a large asteroid impacted the Earth and caused the extinction of dinosaurs, but it still remains a mystery and several other hypotheses exist.

Check out this and other geologic theories that still remain a mystery here.

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September 1 2022

Mars is More Similar to Earth Than You Think

Geoscience Journeys Explore earth, mars 0

Geoscience Journeys

September 1, 2022

The Red Planet / Photographed by NASA, via Unsplash

In our exploration of space, we are driven towards finding places that are similar to home where we can live and thrive. Mars, one of our closest neighbors, is within reach of our physical capabilities. However, It seems like quite an inhospitable place. Mars is actually similar to Earth though.

Despite this, we have made it our mission to step foot on our cousin planet. Everything we see and hear about this distant planet seems so different from our own. Is our goal impossible? How similar is Mars to Earth?

A Day on Mars is a Day on Earth

As it turns out, a day on Mars is about as long as a day on Earth, only about 45 minutes longer. The tilt of the Mars axis is also within a couple degrees of Earth’s. This means that Mars has seasons and temperature variations like Earth. If there was a beach on Mars, you could go during the summer and spend as much time there as you would on Earth.

Mars is half the size of Earth though and has a much smaller mass. This overall decrease means the planet has much less surface gravity, only about 37.6% of Earth’s gravity. Going for a run on that beach would feel a little strange.

phobos and deimos — Phobos and Deimos / Photographed by Giuseppe Donatiello, CC BY 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Two Moons Instead of One

When we look up at the night sky here on Earth, we usually see our big bright Moon. It’s one of the biggest moons in our solar system with a diameter one quarter the size of Earth. The Moon is thought to have originated from Earth’s debris after a collision with a large planet-like object.

If you look up at the night sky on Mars, you will see two moons, Phobos and Deimos. These moons are very small, each less than 25 kilometers. They are irregularly shaped compared to Earth’s moon and thought to be captured asteroids.

The Power of a Magnetic Shield

Earth has a fantastic magnetosphere, a layer surrounding the planet with containing its magnetic field. It works to deflect harmful charged particles bombarding the planet through solar wind. Without this protective layer, all life on Earth would be exposed to constant radiation.

In contrast, Mars has relatively weak magnetic fields that do not encompass the entire planet. These magnetic fields could be the remnants of a magnetosphere Mars had in the past. Scientists hypothesize it was blown off during heavy meteorite impact in the past.

The Air We Breathe

Earth’s atmosphere is dense and mainly made of nitrogen at 78% and oxygen at 21%. Mars has a much less dense atmosphere mostly made of carbon dioxide at 96%. Because of its thin atmosphere and longer distance to the Sun, Mars has much colder temperatures than Earth with an average of -51°F but can actually swing up to 95°F at the equator in the summer.

Life is possible on Earth because of a warm and oxygen-rich atmosphere. However, the cold atmosphere on Mars and lack of oxygen make life much more difficult to sustain. Between that and the crazy dust storms, a Mars settlement will be challenging.

mount olympus — Mount Olympus on Mars / Photographed by NASA, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Mountains Here or There

While the surface of Mars is red from dirt rich in iron oxide, Earth’s surface from space looks blue from its vast oceans. Despite this difference, many of the features found on Earth can also be found on Mars like mountains, canyons, and dunes.

The largest mountain in the Solar System is found on Mars, and it also hosts the deepest and longest canyon. Both Mars and Earth have been bombarded by meteors since they formed. We see some of the craters from these impacts on Earth, but many more craters are preserved on Mars from such a slow erosion process.

red sands — Mars Landscape / Photograph by Malik Shibly, via Unsplash

Finding Water on Mars

Water is necessary for life on Earth, and thankfully 70% of the planet is covered with it. Finding water on Mars is more challenging. Ice is known to exist within the polar ice caps of Mars, and samples have confirmed the presence of water in the shallow subsurface.

It is thought that water used to freely flow on the surface of Mars. Because it has such a thin atmosphere, water vapor might have escaped during a large catastrophic impact event. The geologic features on the surface also suggest similar type erosion as on Earth, supporting the idea of flowing water.

Even though Mars has many similarities to Earth, it is still a very different planet. NASA has a goal of landing humans on Mars by the year 2035. This is a difficult challenge. Mars is not only physically difficult to reach but its environment will be harsh for our fragile human bodies. With enough determination though, we can accomplish anything and will step foot on the red planet.

Find out more about how Earth’s atmosphere protects us from space weather here.

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August 21 2022

The Deadliest of 5 Natural Disasters

Geoscience Journeys Explore deadly, natural disasters 0

Geoscience Journeys

August 21, 2022

Hankow City Hall, 1931 China Flood / Photograph by 新浪博客「武汉一中老校友」（轉載讀者稿件）, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Natural disasters have been plaguing the Earth since the beginning of its existence. The rock record gives us clues to this with mega-storm ripples, impact craters, volcanic debris, and giant fault scarps. Although humans have only been around for a relatively short segment of Earth’s history, we’ve encountered plenty of these natural disasters.

We tend to remember the events that happened in our own lifetimes as the worst. We know this isn’t always the case though as different cultures kept written records and allowed us to compare events of the past to the present. The following are the known deadliest of five different types of natural disasters.

Deadliest Flood: 1931 China Floods

Death toll: 3,700,000

Possibly the worst natural disaster of the 20^th century, the Yangtze River in China reached its highest levels in flooding ever recorded. It negatively affected the population for months afterward. It is estimated that around 150,000 people drowned during the flood, but 2 million people died from starvation.

In the years before the flood, China had experienced a long drought. The preceding winter though was especially harsh and brought much snow and ice to the mountains. As the meltwater ran downstream in the warmer months, a continuous rainy season accompanied and bombarded the flow of the Yangtze River. The floods affected 69,000 square miles, roughly the size of North Dakota.

Deadliest Earthquake: 1556 Shaanxi Earthquake of China

Death toll: 830,000

At a magnitude 8, the Shaanxi earthquake is thought to be the deadliest recorded earthquake in history. The population of the two nearest provinces was reduced by 60 percent from the effects. Many of the people were crushed by fallen buildings.

The records of the time chronicle 26 other earthquakes, but the 1556 earthquake records contain a unique level of detail. The earthquake is said to have lasted only a few seconds. In that time though, it leveled mountains, changed the course of rivers, and caused flooding and fires that lasted for days.

Deadliest Volcano: 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora of Indonesia

Death toll: 71,000+

The largest volcanic eruption ever recorded occurred at Mount Tambora of present-day Indonesia on April 10, 1815. The explosion was rated 7 out of 10 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) and released a volume of approximately 31 cubic miles of ash. At 14,100 feet, the volcano was one of the tallest Indonesian mountains. The pyroclastic event decreased its elevation to under 10,000 feet.

After the event, dust and ash circled the Northern Hemisphere high in the atmosphere. Average temperatures dropped a full degree, and the year of 1816 was known as ‘The Year Without a Summer.’ This caused crop failures, food shortages, and flooding to ensue over the next decade.

Deadliest Blizzard: 1972 Iran Blizzard

Death toll: 4,000

The deadliest blizzard of all time occurred in Iran on February 3, 1972 and lasted until February 9^th. Following a four-year drought, the snowstorm dropped up to 26 feet of snow in some areas and covered a region the size of Wisconsin. It buried entire villages in -13 degree Fahrenheit temperatures, snapping power lines and burying railway escape access.

When rescue workers attempted to find survivors in the white snowdrifts of what used to be villages, they only turned up 18 frozen bodies. As another blizzard moved in directly after the first, the rescuers were forced to evacuate. Many people died trying to wait out the storm in their homes.

Deadliest Tropical Cyclone: 1970 Bhola Cyclone of Bangladesh

Death toll: 500,000+

The deadliest recorded tropical cyclone remains the 1970 Bhola cyclone that struck Bangladesh and West India. Bhola was the sixth and strongest cyclone of the 1970 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. With wind speeds up to 130 miles per hour, the storm was equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane.

The storm unfortunately made landfall at the same time as high tide. What resulted was a massive storm surge of 35 feet that flooded the low-lying regions of the Ganges Delta. The surge wiped out island villages and destroyed crops and cattle throughout the region. The people living in the region were not warned to evacuate. Many were killed overnight in their sleep when the storm surge hit.

Natural disasters come in many forms of devastation. Early warning systems have helped prevent such extreme loss of life numbers. And yet, there are still events that have not been predicted, prevented, or controlled. Maybe someday in the not so distant future, someone will crack the code on predicting these events with better accuracy. Maybe that someone will be you.

Check out how scientists are predicting space weather and its effects on Earth here.

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August 21 2022

What Is Space Weather and Why Should You Care?

Geoscience Journeys Explore affects, space weather 0

Geoscience Journeys

August 21, 2022

August 2012 CME Event / Photographed by NASA Goddard Space Flight , CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Have you checked the weather forecast for today? No, I don’t mean the temperature, humidity, or storm clouds. I mean the OTHER kind of weather – space weather.

Most weather events we encounter on a day-to-day basis occur nearest Earth in the troposphere. Space weather is what occurs around Earth though in the ionosphere, the uppermost part of our atmosphere. The ionosphere is our boundary to space and acts as a shield to incoming threats and disturbances.

aurora borealis — Northern Lights / Photograph by Henrik Heitmann, via Unsplash

Out of This World Weather

Space weather originates from the Sun. At 93 million miles away, the Sun impacts not only our planet but the entire solar system. It is a very hot place and is constantly spewing gas and electrically charged particles into space. This is what is known as the solar wind.

Our planet is protected from most solar wind electrical danger by our magnetosphere. This is an area around a planet that is controlled by the planet’s magnetic field. Most particles that crash into Earth hit our magnetic shield and flow around us. If the charged particles aren’t stopped though, they crash into the ionosphere. This is what causes the beautiful green dancing lights of the aurora borealis.

There’s a Storm Brewing

Some of the magnetic activity of the Sun causes powerful solar flare eruptions called coronal mass ejections. These solar wind events get classified as solar radiation or geomagnetic solar storms and can be dangerous for life on Earth.

Geomagnetic storms are caused by high speed solar wind and coronal mass ejections. Solar radiation storms are associated with solar flares and bathe the Earth with protons and electrons. Solar storms are ranked from G1 events, showing an increase in aurora activity, to G5 events. In 1859, a huge G5 solar storm dubbed the Carrington Event disrupted telegraph services and caused such bright auroras that the storm was visible from as far south as the Bahamas.

Space satellite / Photograph by NASA, via Unsplash

The Technology Age

Space weather has existed for a very long time, and ejections from the Sun have largely gone unnoticed for most of human history. However, as our dependence on electronic technology has grown, these events have begun to have more drastic effects.

The radiation from these solar storms can damage the increasing number of satellites and GPS systems orbiting our planet, causing disruptions in communication. Just recently in February of 2022, a geomagnetic storm knocked out 40 newly deployed Starlink satellites.

These storms can also affect or shut down our electrical power grids like one did to Quebec in 1989. The radiation is also extremely dangerous for our exposed astronauts working in space and even people aboard high-altitude flights.

Stormy Weather Ahead

Although solar storms happen very suddenly, scientists make predictions on the strength and when these occurrences are likely to happen. These predictions are available just like normal weather predictions.

Several agencies use instruments to monitor sun data much like normal weather agencies. NASA observes coronal mass ejections through the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) detects changes in solar wind.

The Geospace Dynamics Constellation (GDC) project is a new project. With plans to launch satellites into the ionosphere, scientists will measure new data on temperature and density and help predict specific changes that satellites need to maneuver through.

Sunspots and Solar Activity

Scientists are paying more attention to sunspots recently as they have begun to associate them with Earth-related cycles. Sunspots are darker spots on the Sun’s surface that have cooler temperatures than surroundings. They are also areas of intense magnetic fields that are thousands of times stronger than the Earth’s magnetic field.

Sunspots usually appear in groups, appear randomly, and can last for just a few days to weeks. The number of sunspots has been linked to an 11-year cycle called the “Solar Cycle.” The Sun goes through a period of minimum activity to maximum activity and back to minimum in this time. At each point of maximum activity, the magnetic poles of the Sun flip.

Earth scientists have been studying astronomical cycles in relation to the rock record for many years. The Milankovitch cycles were first proposed a century ago. These cycles proposed that long-term climate patterns are related to the shape of Earth’s orbit, the tilt of the axis, and the direction of the Earth’s axis in relation to the Sun. These cycles of changing solar radiation have been proven in recent years. We are just now really beginning to understand how important the Sun is to our planet, and there is still much more to learn.

Find out what other mysteries of the Earth scientists have yet to solve here.

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August 14 2022

This Unexpected Place Has Diamonds You Can Keep

Geoscience Journeys Explore arkansas, diamonds 0

Geoscience Journeys

August 14, 2022

Diamonds / Photographed by Bas van den Eijkhof, via Unsplash

Do you love diamonds but hate the cost? Well there’s a place you can actually dig for diamonds and keep what you find. People from across the world come here to try their luck in diamond prospecting.

This magical unexpected place is Crater of Diamonds State Park near Murfreesboro, Arkansas. This 37-acre park is in the top ten diamond reserves of the world and the only producing diamond mine in the United States. Most importantly, it is the only place where anyone can be a miner, so how should you prepare?

Natural Diamonds are Forever

If you’re thinking you’ll find beautifully cut clear diamonds in the park, think again. These are natural diamonds and might be white, yellow, or brown, and they come in all sizes.

You’ll need sharp eyes to find these gems as they’re randomly scattered in a field of dirt and will appear as shiny objects. Most crystals turned up are just quartz though. Other minerals you might find include amethyst, garnet, jasper, and agate – some neat finds, but not quite as impressive as a diamond!

A Diamond Mine in the Rough?

The diamonds in this park actually exist in their original volcanic source, which is rare. About 100 million years ago a volcano erupted and brought deep mantle material to the surface at the mine’s location. Gases within the magma material greatly expanded and created an explosion in the process.

The blast made a crater, and the magma material was ejected over the surrounding area. These rocks known as “xenoliths” contained the diamonds and were eventually buried by soil. As the weathering process of today breaks down the soil, the extremely resistant diamonds are slowly exposed.

Dreaming of South Africa

People began to suspect there might be diamonds in the “peridotite” soil of the park around 1890 after diamonds were found in the same kind of rock outside Kimberly, South Africa. However, it wasn’t until 1906 that John Huddlestone found diamonds on his farm that were confirmed by a jeweler.

John Huddlestone ended up selling his farm for $36,000, and it was bought and sold several times afterward. It was not as productive as the diamond mines in South Africa, and it was finally opened to the public as a pay-to-prospect mine in 1950. In 1972, the State of Arkansas bought the property and began operations for “Crater of Diamonds State Park.”

You Won’t Find Anything… Maybe

Since the park opened in 1972, there have been about 30,000 diamonds found. Most of the stones are too small for cutting or mounting, but there have been many significant finds. The largest North American diamond called the “Uncle Sam Diamond” was found in 1929 at 40.23 carats. The 3.03 carat “Strawn-Wagner Diamond” was found in 1990 by Shirley Strawn and graded at “Triple Zero,” the highest grade a diamond can achieve.

Very recently on April 10, 2022, Adam Hardin found a 2.38-carat coffee-brown colored diamond in the park. This is the largest find of the year so far. On average, visitors find two diamonds per day and 600 per year.

Shovels / Photograph by Hennie Stander, via Unsplash

OK, Are There Any Good Tips?

Like anything, you can increase your chances of finding a diamond by following a few tips. The most important tip is to plan your trip during the spring, summer, or fall when park employees plow the field. Plowing causes more diamonds to rise to the surface.

You also need the right tools for your diamond adventure, and you can rent these from the park. You might want a large shovel, bucket, and screen for sifting. You can also study what the diamonds look like in the park’s visitor center to better train your eyes to spot the gemstones.

Arkansas is known as the ‘The Natural State.’ It is indeed a beautiful place, but this small diamond mine only reinforces the slogan. If you’re looking for something interesting to do in an interesting place, you might consider trying your luck as a diamond miner. You never know, you very well could end up finding the next “Uncle Sam Diamond.”

Find out about other interesting geologic places to visit here.

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August 7 2022

5 Geologic Mysteries Scientists Haven’t Solved

Geoscience Journeys Explore geologic mysteries, scientific mysteries 0

Geoscience Journeys

August 7, 2022

Fossils / Photographed by Gabi Scott, via Unsplash

We can talk to someone on the other side of the world live on our phone screen. We can remove tumors by delivering precise radiation therapy using a robotic arm that never physically touches a patient. Our cars are now able to navigate roadways without us touching the steering wheel. We’ve obviously got it all figured out. Or do we?

Humanity has achieved much and made advancements that have thrust society forward. However, we still haven’t been able to figure out some of the greatest geologic mysteries involving our own planet.

What Caused the Cambrian Explosion?

Early in Earth’s history at the beginning of the Cambrian Period, a great emergence of organisms occurred. The diversity of life was so great that it is described as an ‘explosion.’ During this time, many of the major phyla that make up modern life first appeared.

This period is marked by the evolution of soft-body organisms to hard-body organisms such as shellfish. The reason for this evolution is still unknown. Scientists believe though that the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere might have finally reached levels that allowed for larger more complex life.

What is the Composition of the Earth’s Core?

While we have done a pretty good job of exploring the surface of the Earth, most of the innards of our planet remain practically unknown. It is difficult to reach and an inhospitable place, so this is understandable.

The mantle, which is just below the crust, is made of mostly solid silicate rock, but the makings of the core are not known. For a long time, it was thought that the core was composed of iron and nickel, but scientists calculated that those elements alone were too dense. Recent calculations have lead scientists to hypothesize that the core might actually be in a “superionic” state. It might be behaving in both solid and liquid phases.

What Actually Killed the Dinosaurs?

It is widely accepted that an asteroid slammed into the Earth 65 million years ago and killed most of the dinosaur population. If this theory is correct, dust and debris would have spread into the atmosphere and blocked the planet’s sunlight. This would have damaged the photosynthesis process, increased greenhouse gases, and caused elevated temperatures leading to death.

A separate alternative theory is that cataclysmic volcanic eruptions took place, which would lead to similar effects of an asteroid. A newer independent study could support this theory. It suggests that large amounts of sulfur were also thrown into the atmosphere. Not only would the planet have seen similar sun-blocking effects from a sulfuric atmosphere, but lethal acid rain would have fallen down on all life.

What is Creating the Siberian Craters?

Imagine that you’re a pilot flying your normal route which just so happens to be above the frozen Siberian tundra. You would probably know this route like the back of your hand. On this particular day though, you notice a giant gaping hole in the ground. It sounds crazy, but that’s exactly how the Siberian Craters were discovered.

These 65-foot craters appear very quickly. Gas from below the ground bubbles up through the frozen tundra until it breaks and leaves behind a depression. The cause for this frozen landscape ‘burp’ is still unknown, but scientists think the warming of the tundra has something to do with it.

How Did the Moon Form?

We see it so often at night that most of the time we forget it’s even there. The moon just kind of goes with the Earth like peanut butter and jelly, but why is it there? This question has plagued the minds of scientists for a long time, and they still can’t definitively give an answer.

The most widely accepted theory of the moon’s creation is that when early Earth was forming a large body crashed into it. The impact formed a secondary body made mostly of lighter elements that coalesced into the moon. Another theory suggests that the moon formed separately but at the same time as early Earth. There is even another theory that the Earth’s gravity field captured a smaller body just passing by.

As you can see, there are many theories and leading hypotheses for some of the biggest scientific mysteries out there. Scientists have yet to prove them though, and some have only increasingly confusing with more data. Are you interested in these mysteries? Perhaps you will help solve them.

You can find out more information on the wonders of our planet here.

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August 7 2022

5 Natural Wonders Sharing Earth’s History

Geoscience Journeys Explore earth history, natural wonders 0

Geoscience Journeys

August 7, 2022

Arizona Meteor Crater / Photographed by Jimmy Conover, via Unsplash

Gaping canyons, giant crystals, prehistoric fossils… These are just a few examples of the natural world that cause us to stop and stare in awe. The sight of these natural features is usually so beautiful or odd that we simply forget to ask a simple question – Why is this here?

The Earth has undergone quite a bit of activity in its 4.5 billion year history, and many natural wonders exist to tell us about it. Five of the world’s most well-known natural wonders are mentioned here and are sure to make you feel very small in a big world.

Explosion of Arizona Meteor Crater

A low ridge feature exists in central Arizona that seems obscure from a distance. However, from the top of the ridge, a giant circular mile-long chasm reveals itself. This giant crater was formed during the last ice age by a meteor impact.

As large as the impact site appears, it is actually small in comparison to other known craters in our solar system. The asteroid that caused the crater was only 150 feet across. It collided with the Earth at a speed of around eight miles per second, causing an explosion equivalent to 10 megatons of TNT. That’s equivalent to more than 600 times the energy of the Hiroshima bomb.

Many asteroids have impacted the Earth over time. However, the Arizona Meteor Crater is one of the best preserved craters. This is due to its relatively young age and protective dry climate.

Strange Columns of Giant’s Causeway

On the north shores of Ireland, an accumulation of manmade looking columnar rocks step into the sea. Each of the 40 thousand rock columns has either five or six sides to form pentagonal or hexagonal shapes. They pack together so tightly that they form a kind of pavement, or a causeway like their name suggests.

These rocks are not manmade though. They are natural and formed from a deep lava flow 100 million years ago. During the Cretaceous period, great tectonic change was taking place within the planet. The supercontinents of Gondwana and Laurasia were breaking apart to form the opening for the present-day Atlantic Ocean.

Fissures in the crust allowed basalt lava to pour onto the surface from deep within the Earth. As the lava cooled, it contracted uniformly and cracked into the pentagonal and hexagonal columns we see today.

Burgess Shale Rare Fossil Site

The Canadian Rocky Mountains host the site of a thick layered rock formation called the Burgess Shale. This rock contains fossils from organisms that lived 500 million years ago. This period of time is known as the ‘Cambrian Explosion’ and marks when most major animal groups appeared in the fossil record.

The mountainous area of today is the site of an ancient sea where these organisms lived. As the organisms died and fell to the seafloor, surrounding sediment accumulated and compressed the organisms into fossils.

Many sites exist around the world containing Cambrian fossils. The Burgess Shale is special because it contains much more rarely preserved soft-bodied organisms where other sites contain only hard-bodied organisms. The wider variety of organisms provides a much clearer marine life record.

Harsh Environment of Giant Crystal Cave

About 1,000 feet below the ground near Chihuahua, Mexico is a cave with numerous giant crystals large enough to walk across. Some of the crystals have grown to 36 feet long! These huge crystals have been growing uninterrupted for at least 500 thousand years.

The crystals formed when underground water pushed into the cave from deep magma. This water was a scalding 136 degrees Fahrenheit and contained a mineral called anhydrite. When the water temperature cooled only very slightly, the anhydrite mineral began breaking down to form selenite crystals. These grew larger through time to their present size.

The cave was only discovered in the year 2000 during mining operations when water inside the cave had finally receded. With such high temperatures and 99 percent humidity, cavers had to be properly protected or they would only live for 10 minutes with such inhospitable conditions. In 2015, the cave flooded with water again and is no longer accessible.

Grand Time Scales of Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is perhaps the most well-known natural wonder. It attracts more than 5 million visitors per year. Spanning 277 miles long, 18 miles wide, and having a depth of more than a mile, northern Arizona contains one of the largest canyons in the world.

The igneous and metamorphic rocks of the canyon’s inner gorge began forming almost two billion years ago, and younger layers of sedimentary rocks deposited on top. Later, the entire area was uplifted from tectonic plate movement to form the Colorado Plateau.

Finally around five million years ago, the Colorado River began to cut down into the plateau of rock. The river kept cutting down and widening the canyon into what it is today. In total, around 1.7 billion years of Earth’s history is exposed in the canyon walls.

These are some of the most well-known natural wonders of our world. Each one has a distinctly different story to tell about Earth’s history. What are the geologic stories behind other natural wonders? Do you have a natural wonder in your own backyard?

Find out some of Earth’s biggest unsolved mysteries here.