Paul Brandes
@captpaulgeo.bsky.social
Geologist, professor, award winning author/photographer, New Mexico Tech/Michigan Tech Alum. Part of the Mindat.org management team.
NW of Houston, TX. Too many lights to see much, but definite aurora to the north.
November 12, 2025 at 2:32 AM
NW of Houston, TX. Too many lights to see much, but definite aurora to the north.
Gonna be an odd GSA Connects with no federal geoscience agencies here...
October 19, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Gonna be an odd GSA Connects with no federal geoscience agencies here...
After years of writing and traveling the state for photos, the 3rd edition of the Roadside Geology of Texas has arrived! If you're attending GSA Connects in San Antonio, stop by the GSA Bookstore, the Mountain Press booth, or just find me to learn more.
October 17, 2025 at 1:02 PM
After years of writing and traveling the state for photos, the 3rd edition of the Roadside Geology of Texas has arrived! If you're attending GSA Connects in San Antonio, stop by the GSA Bookstore, the Mountain Press booth, or just find me to learn more.
Smoke has definitely settled in. This was yesterday over the Brockway Mountains in Upper Michigan. 😒
August 7, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Smoke has definitely settled in. This was yesterday over the Brockway Mountains in Upper Michigan. 😒
Always nice seeing your book in a major bookseller's store! Still hard to believe I wrote that!! 😊
July 27, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Always nice seeing your book in a major bookseller's store! Still hard to believe I wrote that!! 😊
Finally made the trip to Kelleys Island, Ohio to see the HUGE glacial grooves left by the mile thick ice that once covered this region of North America. Closer examination of the grooves, however, suggest water flowing under the ice may have also played a role.
July 27, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Finally made the trip to Kelleys Island, Ohio to see the HUGE glacial grooves left by the mile thick ice that once covered this region of North America. Closer examination of the grooves, however, suggest water flowing under the ice may have also played a role.
Hanging Rock near Lagro, Indiana on the Wabash River is a great example of a rarely exposed Silurian-aged pinnacle reef. These reefs are an important source of petroleum in the Michigan Basin around the Gaylord, Michigan area of the Lower Peninsula.
July 27, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Hanging Rock near Lagro, Indiana on the Wabash River is a great example of a rarely exposed Silurian-aged pinnacle reef. These reefs are an important source of petroleum in the Michigan Basin around the Gaylord, Michigan area of the Lower Peninsula.
The Loggerhead Shrike, also known as the "butcher bird" because of its habit of skewering its kill on barbed wire or small twigs, as seen on Antelope Island, Utah. Right after this photo, it flew off.
Nikon D850, Sigma 150-600mm S Lens, 900mm dx crop, f11, ISO400, 1/800 sec, +0.3 exp.
Nikon D850, Sigma 150-600mm S Lens, 900mm dx crop, f11, ISO400, 1/800 sec, +0.3 exp.
June 12, 2025 at 6:52 PM
The Loggerhead Shrike, also known as the "butcher bird" because of its habit of skewering its kill on barbed wire or small twigs, as seen on Antelope Island, Utah. Right after this photo, it flew off.
Nikon D850, Sigma 150-600mm S Lens, 900mm dx crop, f11, ISO400, 1/800 sec, +0.3 exp.
Nikon D850, Sigma 150-600mm S Lens, 900mm dx crop, f11, ISO400, 1/800 sec, +0.3 exp.
The Western Meadowlark on Antelope Island, Utah. A little shy at first, he finally starting singing after a few minutes.
Nikon D850, Sigma 150-600mm S Lens, 660mm with dx crop, f11, ISO400, 1/640 sec, +0.3 exp.
Nikon D850, Sigma 150-600mm S Lens, 660mm with dx crop, f11, ISO400, 1/640 sec, +0.3 exp.
June 12, 2025 at 6:41 PM
The Western Meadowlark on Antelope Island, Utah. A little shy at first, he finally starting singing after a few minutes.
Nikon D850, Sigma 150-600mm S Lens, 660mm with dx crop, f11, ISO400, 1/640 sec, +0.3 exp.
Nikon D850, Sigma 150-600mm S Lens, 660mm with dx crop, f11, ISO400, 1/640 sec, +0.3 exp.
The Bonneville Salt Flats just east of Wendover, NV. The remnants of Lake Bonneville, you can definitely see why it gets its name "flats"!! 😁
June 8, 2025 at 11:08 PM
The Bonneville Salt Flats just east of Wendover, NV. The remnants of Lake Bonneville, you can definitely see why it gets its name "flats"!! 😁
Hells Half Acre west of Casper, Wyoming is composed of Eocene aged sediments of the Wind River Formation. The sediment was shed off the Casper Arch, one of the major uplifts of the Rockies.
June 8, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Hells Half Acre west of Casper, Wyoming is composed of Eocene aged sediments of the Wind River Formation. The sediment was shed off the Casper Arch, one of the major uplifts of the Rockies.
Time to start sharing pics from recent geology trip. Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake is a great place to see 1.7 Ga Farmington Canyon Complex migmatites.
June 8, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Time to start sharing pics from recent geology trip. Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake is a great place to see 1.7 Ga Farmington Canyon Complex migmatites.
On our way to Salt Lake, had to stop by Soda Springs, Idaho to see the (claimed) only captive geyser in the world. The geyser is controlled by valves to erupt every hour on the hour for approximately ten minutes.
May 21, 2025 at 3:40 AM
On our way to Salt Lake, had to stop by Soda Springs, Idaho to see the (claimed) only captive geyser in the world. The geyser is controlled by valves to erupt every hour on the hour for approximately ten minutes.
Quite the day driving around Yellowstone...
May 14, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Quite the day driving around Yellowstone...
Reposted by Paul Brandes
The Geological Society of America invites all undergraduate geoscience students to apply for GSA’s Section Research Grants! These grants support students conducting original research by providing funding to fuel their curiosity and advance their studies: geosociety.co/RG25
#Geology #Geoscience
#Geology #Geoscience
April 2, 2025 at 8:00 PM
The Geological Society of America invites all undergraduate geoscience students to apply for GSA’s Section Research Grants! These grants support students conducting original research by providing funding to fuel their curiosity and advance their studies: geosociety.co/RG25
#Geology #Geoscience
#Geology #Geoscience
If visiting Kodachrome Basin in Utah, take the extra 10 mile trip to visit Grosvenor Arch. A massive double arch in the Henrieville Sandstone, it is named for Gilbert Grosvenor, the first editor and president of National Geographic.
April 2, 2025 at 7:59 PM
If visiting Kodachrome Basin in Utah, take the extra 10 mile trip to visit Grosvenor Arch. A massive double arch in the Henrieville Sandstone, it is named for Gilbert Grosvenor, the first editor and president of National Geographic.
More Utah geology....
March 27, 2025 at 11:32 PM
More Utah geology....
Few fun photos from recent geology trip to Utah.
March 27, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Few fun photos from recent geology trip to Utah.
Crocoite, a lead chromate mineral from Tasmania, forms intricate needles that always amaze onlookers at Tucson. Specimen about 7 in. (18 cm) tall.
February 25, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Crocoite, a lead chromate mineral from Tasmania, forms intricate needles that always amaze onlookers at Tucson. Specimen about 7 in. (18 cm) tall.
Another of the impressive green minerals (this year's theme) on display in Tucson, this malachite is around 18 inches (46ish cm) tall!
February 24, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Another of the impressive green minerals (this year's theme) on display in Tucson, this malachite is around 18 inches (46ish cm) tall!
Who knew sulphur could be so beautiful? This gorgeous specimen was on display at the main show in Tucson.
February 24, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Who knew sulphur could be so beautiful? This gorgeous specimen was on display at the main show in Tucson.
Another of the pretties from Tucson, this beautiful native gold specimen from Brazil was on display at the main show.
February 24, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Another of the pretties from Tucson, this beautiful native gold specimen from Brazil was on display at the main show.
My apologies for not posting sooner (got swamped upon my return to work), but here is a large malachite at the Tucson main show.
February 20, 2025 at 11:27 PM
My apologies for not posting sooner (got swamped upon my return to work), but here is a large malachite at the Tucson main show.
Just returned from Tucson. Will post some pics tomorrow.
February 16, 2025 at 2:48 AM
Just returned from Tucson. Will post some pics tomorrow.