geology

Washington fossils are the preserved remains or traces of organisms that lived in the region millions of years ago, ranging from ancient marine shells and fish to early land pla...

Common index fossils are species that lived over wide geographic areas but for relatively short, well-defined spans of geologic time. Because they appear abruptly, are abundant,...

Tools used to measure earthquakes include seismometers, seismographic networks, strong-motion sensors, and digital communication systems that capture, analyze, and archive seism...

The Earth’s crust is made up of solid rock and soil that form the outermost shell of the planet. It is a thin, rocky layer rich in oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, magnesium,...

Arkansas designates an official state stone to represent its natural geology, history, and resource value. The chosen stone reflects the state’s mineral heritage and is used i...

As of the most recent monitoring data, Mauna Loa is not erupting and remains at normal background levels of seismicity and deformation. The volcano continues to be closely track...

The Galápagos Islands are young in geological terms, with the oldest islands forming roughly 4 to 5 million years ago and the youngest centers currently active at the Galápago...

Ice wedging is a physical weathering process in which water seeps into cracks in rock, freezes, and expands, exerting enough force to widen fractures and eventually split the ro...

A significant geological feature known as the big cave in New Mexico has drawn attention from residents, officials, and visitors. This large void formed through natural processe...

Crater Ridge is a prominent landform characterized by a raised crest running along the rim or wall of a volcanic crater or caldera, often composed of resistant beds that have su...