Jim Safranek
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jimsafranek.bsky.social
Jim Safranek
@jimsafranek.bsky.social
71 followers 78 following 5 posts
Founder California Geology Forum on Facebook now w over 9000 members|I love all Earth & Planetary Sciences|Geography|Climate|Environmental Health|Books|Professional Drummer
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Reposted by Jim Safranek
callanbentley.bsky.social
Some geological features in Mather Gorge (VA/MD), most notably a series of four lamprophyre dikes cutting through metagraywacke of the Mather Gorge Fm (metamorphosed ~460 Ma, depositional age before that) along a joint set that must have existed by 360 Ma, since the dikes exploit it. ⚒️
Photo showing a rocky cliff outcrop on a bright and sunny winter day, dropping down into greenish brown river water with a fast current. At bottom is an annotated copy of the photo with two joint sets delineated, one of which is partially exploited by four 360Ma lamprophyre dikes. The height of the Bear Island Strath, a bedrock terrace, is also noted as the "former bottom of the Potomac River" as well as the position of two rock climbers.
February 24, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Reposted by Jim Safranek
callanbentley.bsky.social
My first sample of eclogite for the lab!
⚒️
A hand holding a dark green and cranberry red rock with coarse grains.
February 26, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Reposted by Jim Safranek
phaneritic.bsky.social
I know I promised *photos*. Instead, here’s a phone-based lidar scan of 1.8 billion yr old folded and faulted gneiss in an alluvial fan emanating from the Black Mtns in Death Valley. These were the roots of a Himalaya-like Mtn range associate with Yavapi Orogeny. Interact with model👇🏼
skfb.ly/pu6T9
February 25, 2025 at 2:18 AM
Reposted by Jim Safranek
planetaryartist.com
Today is Tuesday. Here is some #watercolor art, sunset in the High Sierra Nevada mountains (commission for a dear geologist, mentor and friend.) #geology #sciart
SUNSET AT KING’S CANYON by Danielle Rose Baker. A watercolor painting of a mountain vista in the high Sierra Mountains of California, with an unnamed glacier-covered peak overlooking a chilly mountain lake. The foreground is rocky, with scattered scrub bushes and plants. The sky is seen in pastel sunset tones of pinks, purples and golds.
February 18, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Reposted by Jim Safranek
volcannick.bsky.social
For #thinsectionthursday, an artistic treat:

One of my students, Augusta Weaver, prepared 12 paintings of rocks under microscope for her Studio Art minor project. To say I'm proud is an understatement 🤩

Augusta took my Earth Materials class last Fall, and she fell in love with thin sections
Mars on Earth Inspired by the research of Dr. Karena Gill This is Figure 2E from “A Mars-analog sulfate mineral, mirabilite, preserves biosignature,” a 2023 geoscience paper with Karena K. Gill as the first author. It shows cyanobacteria inside an inclusion in a mineral, which was inside a rock found in a lake. As described in the paper, this figure shows “suspect green algae with carotenoid in helical and ribbon-like structure” and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) light was used to test for fluorescence.(Gill et al.) Abstract “Various sulfate minerals exist on Mars; except for gypsum, they are understudied on Earth. Extremophiles have been documented in modern gypsum and halite and ancient halite, but other chemical sediments have not been evaluated for biosignatures. Here, we present the first observations and analysis of microorganisms and organic compounds in primary fluid inclusions in the Mars-analog mineral mirabilite, Na2SO4·10H2O, from Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA. Microscopy by transmitted light and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) light, and Raman spectroscopy, show abundant bacteria and/or Archaea, algae, fungi, diatoms, protozoa, and organic compounds such as beta-carotene. This discovery expands our current knowledge of biological materials trapped in salt and aids the search for life on Mars, both for sample selection by rover and for analyses of return samples on Earth.” Citation: Karena K. Gill, Elliot A. Jagniecki, Kathleen C. Benison, Martha E. Gibson; A Mars-analog sulfate mineral, mirabilite, preserves biosignatures. Geology 2023;; 51 (9): 818–822. Stretched Quartz Dr. Jeffrey Raul collected this rock in the Blue Ridge, along the Blue Ridge Parkway east of Glasgow. The large white grains are quartz crystals that have been elongated as this rock was squeezed and stretched deep in the Earth. The rock is called a mylonite, meaning that it has been recrystallized during an intense deformation. Dr. Raul says this rock has two distinct features of interest: the elongated shape of the quartz crystals and a planar fabric element. The quartz crystals have their long axes inclined down and to the right. They often show “tails” at their ends that are oriented roughly horizontally. A more subtle feature, but equally as important, is a planar fabric element that is inclined down and to the right. This feature can be seen at a rotation of about 25° south from the horizontal along which there was motion when the rock was deformation. This motion would have been down and to the right along this feature. These two features together, the inclined elongated quartz and the oppositely inclined zones of offset, tell us that this rock experienced shear, such that the top of the sample was moving to the right relative to the bottom. Description written by Dr. Jeffrey Raul, who is the first author of the paper about this rock Citation: Rahl, J.M., McGrew, A.J., Fox, J.A., Latham, J.R., and Gabrielson, T., 2018. Rhomb-dominated crystallographic preferred orientations in incipiently deformed quartz sandstone: A potential paleostress indicator for quartz-rich rocks. Geology, v. 46, p. 195-198. Folded Rock This is an outcrop of the Middle Ordovician Edinburg Fm. The outcrop is composed of interbedded limestone and mudstone that were originally formed in a shallow sea as horizontal layers. The rock was subsequently deformed by tremendous stresses in the Earth into the folded or bent shape that we see today. Description written by Dr. Christopher Connors, who teaches structure geology Snowflake A redrawn rendition of Wilson A. Bentley's iconic "Dendrite Star" captures the intricate beauty and symmetry of snowflakes, a subject Bentley devoted his life to studying. Using a bellows camera outfitted with a microscope, Bentley pioneered photomicrography in 1885, immortalizing more than 5,000 snow crystals over his lifetime. Each snowflake's unique hexagonal structure invites thought-provoking questions, such as whether ice qualifies as a mineral. These fleeting wonders of nature remind us that even the smallest and most transient forms can hold profound lessons, beautifully blending the realms of science and art to inspire curiosity and discovery. This art pays homage to Bentley’s work. Citation: A "Dendrite Star" Snowflakes Photomicrographed by Wilson A. Bentley, by Bentley, W. A (Wilson Alwyn) 1865–1931, c. 1890, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, SIA2008-1395. Description written by Dr. Madhamita Chakraborty, professor of hydrology and water resources
January 16, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Reposted by Jim Safranek
cintylee.bsky.social
I love geologic maps. Here are some old Soviet CCCP era geologic maps. In the global pursuit of natural resources, geology was essential. In the US, we have lost most of our talent in mineral resources due in part to over specialization. Geologic maps are where one begins…
January 23, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Reposted by Jim Safranek
geoethics.bsky.social
This book should not be missing from your library:

Silvia Peppoloni and Giuseppe Di Capua, eds. (2024). Geoethics for the Future: Facing Global Challenges. Elsevier, XXXI+401 pp. doi.org/10.1016/C202...

More:
www.geoethics.org/geoethics-fo...
#geoethics #geoetica #globalchallenges #anthropocene
January 4, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Reposted by Jim Safranek
plutokiller.com
Just had a sample of the Eaton Fire ash that is in my driveway run on the department XRF. Is there titanium (new house paint)? Yup. Lead (old house paint)? You betcha. Heavy metals? Check. Treat that ash like it's toxic folks (because it is)
A computer screen with a display showing output from an xray diffraction spectrometer. Close up view showing fraction of metals. Fun stuff.
January 17, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Reposted by Jim Safranek
anjanakhatwa.bsky.social
Hi Everyone! 👋🏾 I am an award winning Earth Scientist, writer & presenter. The #WhispersOfRock is my debut book abt how rocks have shaped our world & our lives. Out 4.9.25 in US & UK. Thanks for all the follows! Pre-Order links in Bio 🤗 #naturewriting #geology #geography #science #nature
A grey layered rock face with letters emerging. Anjana Khatwa author of The Whispers of Rock: Stories from the Earth. This is a temporary cover.
November 17, 2024 at 1:19 PM
Reposted by Jim Safranek
trigonotarbida.bsky.social
I also draw rocks... this is Wilkawillina gorge in the Ikara Flinders Ranges, it has some really cool things like fossil Archaeocyaths and huge fossil stromatolites

#geology #landscapesketch
December 31, 2024 at 6:39 AM
Reposted by Jim Safranek
flanaganbio.bsky.social
Asphalt flows and cools at Tar Pits park. Oozing constantly, for eons; geology at work #nature #wonder
December 30, 2024 at 5:41 PM
Reposted by Jim Safranek
eos.org
Did you hear a fireball boom in the skies over California earlier this year? So did seismometers. #AGU24
Seismometers Track Atmospheric Shock Waves from Incoming Space Debris - Eos
A Chinese spacecraft that burned up high over Los Angeles created a sonic trail detected by ground-based sensors.
eos.org
December 10, 2024 at 5:55 PM
Reposted by Jim Safranek
ianjames.bsky.social
For decades, a costly problem has been worsening beneath California’s San Joaquin Valley: the land has been sinking, driven by the overpumping of groundwater. New research now shows that large portions of the valley have sunk at a record pace since 2006. www.latimes.com/environment/...
Groundwater pumping is causing land to sink at record rate in San Joaquin Valley
Groundwater pumping has been causing the land to sink at a record pace in California's San Joaquin Valley. New research suggests ways of addressing the problem.
www.latimes.com
November 26, 2024 at 5:48 PM
Reposted by Jim Safranek
diegosismologo.bsky.social
Earthquake hazards of the PNW. Damage to buildings is likely at MMI>6 – that's every major city, yikes. Note the discontinuity at the CAN/US border due to different methodologies used by each countries agencies. The tsunami estimates are for a scenario used by OR for evacuation maps, scary stuff!
November 26, 2024 at 10:23 PM
Reposted by Jim Safranek
fikgm.bsky.social
Not far from Tokyo, we have a convenient island for a round-day geological trip - Jogashima. We can see the uplifted deposits of a not-so-ancient submarine volcano. #FaultFriday
November 29, 2024 at 4:28 PM
Reposted by Jim Safranek
andrejpaleo.bsky.social
Yes, they found exciting fossil tracks of two distinct hominids in close sympatry. But you know what is even more exciting? The traces of giant scavenger/predator storks (Leptoptilos cf. falconeri) found nearby.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
🧪 #Paleobio ⚒️ #Geology #EvoBio
Trace fossils of hominids and giant storks
November 29, 2024 at 8:33 PM
Reposted by Jim Safranek
phaneritic.bsky.social
Here's a great new short video from the California Geologic Survey discussing seismic hazard mapping in California. The maps help to reduce the hazards that earthquakes pose to humans and our built environment. Narrated by @drwendyrocks.bsky.social ⚒️
youtu.be/yjjmU5JVDmY?...
Earthquake Zones of Required Investigation Mapping by the California Geological Survey
YouTube video by California Department of Conservation
youtu.be
November 7, 2024 at 6:22 PM
Reposted by Jim Safranek
jascha.bsky.social
'Spielzeug' #FotoVorschlag
My little UAV, a professional toy, carrying out a survey of Panum crater in Central California 🧪⚒️
White drone hovering above the ground, on the rim of a volcanic crater with dark colored rocks
November 18, 2024 at 8:33 AM
Reposted by Jim Safranek
hypocentre.bsky.social
Archive photo for #FoldFriday #FridayFold from a Keele field course to Norway ~1990. An image I still use to demonstrate fold classification by inter-limb angle, going from gentle on the left, through open, closed and tight, to isoclinal on the right as a shear zone is approached.
Outcrop of white, dark and light grey folded banded gneiss, about 2m high with tufts of grass at top. Shows variation of fold inter-limb angle, going from gentle on the left, through open, closed and tight, to isoclinal on the right as a shear zone is approached. Norway somewhere.
November 15, 2024 at 1:20 PM
Reposted by Jim Safranek
londongeology.bsky.social
The @geolassoc.bsky.social’s guide to The Geology of London (no. 68 - a new edition 2023), written by one of our members Di Clements, is available to order from the GA website geologistsassociation.org.uk/ga_shop/#!/6... #londongeology
November 16, 2024 at 12:14 PM
Reposted by Jim Safranek
metageologist.bsky.social
Highly recommend this if you want to invest in a detailed book on the #Geology of Scotland. ⚒️🧪
Much changed since previous editions and now fully up to date.
New chapters on the history of geology, geoconversation, & energy transition.
Picture of a book cover: The Geology of Scotland, 5th Edition. Published by The Geological Society
November 17, 2024 at 2:28 PM
Reposted by Jim Safranek
allochthonous.bsky.social
🧪⚒️ Very cool! Interesting that the two events implicated (San Andreas in 1906 and Cascadia in 10th century CE) do not include the 1700 Cascadia rupture.
waterloggedscience.bsky.social Jessie K. Pearl @waterloggedscience.bsky.social · Nov 18
To get a sense of some of the work I do, my most recent paper uses 'witness' and 'victim' trees of two large debris avalanches in Northern California to date the events to be coeval with San Andres and Cascadian Subduction earthquakes.

pubs.geoscienceworld.org/ssa/bssa/art...
November 19, 2024 at 11:46 PM
Reposted by Jim Safranek
geotripper.bsky.social
geotripper.blogspot.com/2024/11/in-h... Our wonderful local canyon is threatened with yet another useless reservoir. We explored Del Puerto Cyn last weekend, and I wrote a blog post of the incredible geology of the cyn. It's the equivalent of driving into the Earth's mantle! #geology #California
In the Heart of the Devil: The Damning of Del Puerto Canyon
This beautiful canyon is under serious threat California geology is complicated. Unlike any other state, it is affected by the interactions...
geotripper.blogspot.com
November 12, 2024 at 7:24 AM
Reposted by Jim Safranek
angellacanfora.bsky.social
Here's one for my fellow #geology lovers - this gorgeous outcrop of Pinto gneiss located in Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is about 1.8 billion yrs old! I like to lay my hand on it, feel its jagged heft and imagine all it's seen in its long, long life. Blows my mind to touch something so ancient!
Large outcropping of banded Pinto gneiss located at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve in California.
November 13, 2024 at 8:27 PM