Winning a modern war is much about sedimentology
Figure 1. The Salt Wash Formation has been interpreted as the preserved deposits from a distributary fluvial system. Some of its sandstone beds bear relatively high uranium concentrations (read more about the fluvial interpretations here: https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/sepm/jsedres/article-abstract/85/5/544/145482/Quantification-of-a-Distributive-Fluvial-System). Russia has invaded Ukraine. We have been reading and watching in the news how some pieces of high-tech equipment […]
Deep-ocean sediments. Part 2: Thermohaline currents that shape the seafloor
In Part 1, we differentiate between (1) tidal-related currents in shallow marine waters and (2) purely gravitational sedimentary currents. We could add that the former are periodic, as they are controlled by the gravitational fields of the Moon and the Sun on ocean water as the Earth rotates, whereas the latter are ‘spontaneous’ currents driven […]
Deep ocean sediments, Part 1: Flows that shape the seafloor.
Most of us are aware of the existence of waves and tides. We can see them along our coastlines, and although we may not pay much attention to them, we also know that waves and tides move the sediment resting on the seabed: sand, mud, shells, and… plastics. We can all observe ripples and small […]
Psychology in outcrop studies: Heuristic biases: our “best” enemies?
There are not many scientific publications addressing the issue of subjectivity in geological studies and its impact. In one of them, Baddeley et al. (2004) clearly express it in a few phrases: “expert judgments may be biased by their use of heuristics to guide the formation of their opinions” or “the accepted or prior opinions […]
Digitization of sedimentary outcrops
From Sketches to Early Photographs The knowledge of geology, particularly sedimentology, has been successfully transferred and shared for hundreds of years through sketches. Just like a botanist or a zoologist, a geologist can record field data using only paper and pencil in the form of drawings (see one of the oldest published geological sketches in […]
When huge masses of salt move underground: Lessons from outcrops that go beyond table salt
Aerial view of the El Gordo Anticline (in the foreground) and La Popa Mountain (in the background). Credit: Ramon Lopez There is a place in northeastern Mexico where anyone can learn a lot about the dynamics of the ground beneath our feet while enjoying the wonders of the desert. Geologists call this area the ‘La […]
Studying sedimentary architecture and topography to reduce earthquake damage: a sedimentological perspective on the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes
The area where most of the collapses occurred is an ancient alluvial drain for the drainage of water and sediment from the upper parts of Mount Ahir. When it comes to earthquakes, the nature of the geology of the Earth’s surface and its geometry are critical for understanding the intensity and type of ground movement […]