Eclectic rocks influence earthquake types
New Zealand's largest fault is a jumble of mixed-up rocks of all shapes, sizes, compositions and origins.
Study challenges common view of oxygen scarcity on Earth 2 billion years ago
Shungite, a unique carbon-rich sedimentary rock from Russia that deposited 2 billion years ago, holds clues about oxygen concentrations on Earth's surface at that time.
Hidden source of carbon found at the Arctic coast
A previously unknown significant source of carbon just discovered in the Arctic has scientists marveling at a once overlooked contributor to local coastal ecosystems - and concerned about what it may mean in an era of climate change.
Geologists find lost fragment of ancient continent in Canada’s North
Sifting through diamond exploration samples from Baffin Island, Canadian scientists have identified a new remnant of the North Atlantic craton—an ancient part of Earth's continental crust.
How plants shape mountains
Plants may stabilize slopes, yet rainfall often intensifies soil erosion. Until now, just how these two things interact to form mountain topography was only clear for a few small regions on Earth.
Deep geologic structure may have magnified great 2011 Japan tsunami
On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9 earthquake struck under the seabed off Japan--the most powerful quake to hit the country in modern times, and the fourth most powerful in the world since modern record keeping began.
‘Fossil earthquakes’ offer new insight into seismic activity deep below earth’s surface
A major international study has shed new light on the mechanisms through which earthquakes are triggered up to 40km beneath the earth's surface.
Water, carbon and nitrogen were not immediately supplied to Earth
Spearheaded by earth scientists of the University of Cologne, an international team of geologists has found evidence that a large proportion of the elements that are important for the formation of oceans and life, such as water, carbon and nitrogen, were delivered to Earth very late in its history.
Research voyage brings lost continent of Zealandia secrets to the surface
The research both upends the previous theory and establishes a new geological concept.
Early Earth may have been a sunken ‘waterworld’
New research shows that the early Earth, home to some of our planet's first lifeforms, may have been a real-life "waterworld"-- without a continent in sight.
Study reveals the secret of magmatic rocks consisting of only one mineral
Geologists from Wits University in Johannesburg, South Africa, have come up with an original explanation of how nature may produce an intriguing class of magmatic rocks that are made up of only one type of mineral.
Asteroid impact enriches certain elements in seawater
Asteroid strikes upset the environment and provide clues via the elements they leave behind.
South American volcano showing early warning signs of ‘potential collapse,’ research shows
South American volcano showing early warning signs of 'potential collapse', research shows.
Twist in the story of volcanism & mass extinctions
An emerging scientific consensus is that gases--in particular carbon gases--released by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago contributed to some of Earth's greatest mass...
Deformation of Zealandia, Earth’s Hidden continent, linked to forging of the Ring of Fire
Recent seafloor drilling has revealed that the "hidden continent " of Zealandia, a region of continental crust twice the size of India submerged beneath the southwest Pacific Ocean, experienced dramatic elevation changes between about 50 million and 35 million years ago.
