Tag Archives: Geology

A sample of granite from Victoria, Australia, featuring prominent alkali and plagioclase feldspar minerals (in pinkish-red and gray colors, respectively), along with quartz (shiny) and black mica.
1747: Feldspar – The Backbone of Continental Crust

Feldspar, constituting a major part of the Earth's continental crust, is a framework silicate mineral rich in silicon, oxygen, and elements like calcium, potassium, and sodium. First named by Johan Gottschalk Wallerius in 1747, feldspar's [...]

Main image: Impressive folded and layered rock formations in the Hajar Mountains, Oman. Inset: Cover of "Dissertationis Prodromus" (1669) by Nicolas Steno.
1669: Nicolas Steno – The Father of Stratigraphy

Nicolas Steno, initially trained in anatomy, revolutionized geology by establishing foundational principles of stratigraphy. His work in the 17th century, recognizing fossils embedded in rocks and formulating principles like the Law of Superposition and Principle [...]

The Huaynaputina volcanic crater in southern Peru, marking the remnants of the most significant historical volcanic eruption in South America, albeit relatively unremarkable today.
1600: The Devastating Huaynaputina Eruption

The Huaynaputina volcano in southern Peru witnessed a catastrophic eruption in February 1600, one of the Andes' most severe volcanic events. Preceded by earthquakes and steam eruptions, its explosive Plinian plume significantly impacted the global [...]

An impressive, hand-sized cluster of quartz crystals from Tibet.
c. 300 BCE: Quartz – A Versatile and Abundant Mineral

Quartz, the second most abundant mineral in the Earth's crust, is known for its chemical resilience and diverse forms. Used historically and industrially, it plays a crucial role in various applications, from jewelry to electronics

Salt-encrusted rocks along the shore of the slowly evaporating Dead Sea
c. 3 Million BCE: The Dead Sea – Earth’s Lowest and Saltiest Lake

The Dead Sea, situated in a rift valley created by plate interactions, is the lowest elevation lake on Earth. Hypersaline and with a history shaped by cycles of uplift and subsidence, it has minimal biodiversity [...]

A view from orbit of the Caspian Sea, captured by the MODIS sensor on NASA's Terra satellite in 2003
c. 5.5 Million BCE: The Caspian and Black Seas – Remnants of Ancient Geography

The Caspian and Black Seas, formed from the closure of the Tethys Sea due to the collision of the African and Eurasian plates, are the largest inland lakes with unique characteristics, including salinity and anoxic [...]

An artistic rendering based on geophysical data, depicting the Mediterranean basin just before its separation from the Atlantic Ocean due to the collision between Africa and Southern Europe
c. 6.5 Million BCE: The Evolution of the Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea formed from the closure of the Tethys Sea due to the collision of the African and Eurasian plates. This process led to significant volcanic activity and mountain building, followed by a drying [...]

The view from Yavapai Point over the Grand Canyon showcases nearly 2 billion years of Earth’s geologic history, available for detailed study
c. 6.5 Million BCE: The Grand Canyon – A Geological Masterpiece

The Grand Canyon, one of Earth’s most remarkable geological formations, showcases the powerful erosive force of liquid water over time. It is a prime example of how rivers and streams can shape even the toughest [...]

Spectacular sand dunes in the Sahara Desert, the largest non-polar desert in the world
c. 7 Million BCE: The Sahara Desert – Earth’s Largest Hot Desert

The Sahara, Earth's largest non-polar desert, is characterized by extreme temperatures and low rainfall, formed due to the shifting of continental plates and the closing of the Tethys Sea, resulting in a landscape predominantly shaped [...]

An illustrative depiction showing the Earth's crust being split by plate tectonics in the East African Rift Zone, with the Horn of Africa and Somalia on the right, and the Nile River on the left, predicting the formation of a new ocean basin that will divide Africa into two plates in about 10 million years
c. 30 Million BCE: The East African Rift Zone – Earth’s Dynamic Crust

The East African Rift Zone, a result of continental rifting and mantle plume activity, is actively splitting the African continent, with predictions of forming two new plates and a new ocean basin in about 10 [...]