APRIL MEETING Join us Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, 760 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta GA. The meeting social starts at 6:30 pm. This month our speaker will be our own treasures, Shannon S. George, P.G. She will be presenting “Science Underground: The Geology, Hydrogeology and Geochemistry of Caves”. Her bio is on Page 3. Please come and enjoy the social time, talk with our generous sponsors and learn from an interesting presentation on Tuesday, March 27, 2014. _______________________________ On a related topic, we do not have a sponsor this month. I believe there still is an opening for the Hospitality Chairman. If you could find the time, the Society could use a few good volunteers. Next meeting of the Atlanta Geological Society is April 29, 2014 Fernbank Museum of Natural History (Clifton Road) Social begins at 6:30 pm – Meeting begins at 7:00 pm April 2014 Atlanta Geological Society Newsletter ODDS AND ENDS Ben Bentkowski, Newsletter Editor Just as we were having our meeting last month, there was a deadly landslide in Washington State. A month later, all the likely victims have not yet been accounted for. This all seemed so terrifying for those poor folks. Very quickly, the USGS put out an update with all sorts of data, a video, a seismic record. The simplest visual is the LIDAR. The image is on the next page. I’m no geomorphologist but those concave scallops and terraces indicate a long history of mass wasting. Last week I was in Asheville and was talking to another geologist over lunch. The conversation got around to a house he and his wife was considering buying. The house was on a suspiciously flat piece of ground, suspicious for Asheville. And there were the trees; curved right at the trunk and then growing mostly straight up, but not quite. Apparently this is a local sign for creeping soils and general slope instability. He speculated that it was colluvium. The definition is on the next page. The upshot is she’s not happy but they will probably better off in the long run. Don’t want to have your house split in two like that one in the news in Jackson Hole. See you Tuesday. BB
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APRIL MEETING
Join us Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at
the Fernbank Museum of Natural
History, 760 Clifton Road NE,
Atlanta GA. The meeting social
starts at 6:30 pm. This month our
speaker will be our own treasures,
Shannon S. George, P.G. She will be
presenting “Science Underground:
The Geology, Hydrogeology and
Geochemistry of Caves”. Her bio is
on Page 3.
Please come and enjoy the social
time, talk with our generous
sponsors and learn from an
interesting presentation on Tuesday,
March 27, 2014.
_______________________________
On a related topic, we do not have a
sponsor this month. I believe there
still is an opening for the Hospitality
Chairman. If you could find the
time, the Society could use a few
good volunteers.
Next meeting of the Atlanta Geological Society is April 29, 2014
Fernbank Museum of Natural History (Clifton Road) Social begins at 6:30 pm – Meeting begins at 7:00 pm
April 2014
Atlanta Geological Society Newsletter
ODDS AND ENDS Ben Bentkowski, Newsletter Editor
Just as we were having our meeting last
month, there was a deadly landslide in
Washington State. A month later, all the likely
victims have not yet been accounted for. This
all seemed so terrifying for those poor folks.
Very quickly, the USGS put out an update
with all sorts of data, a video, a seismic record.
The simplest visual is the LIDAR. The image is
on the next page. I’m no geomorphologist but
those concave scallops and terraces indicate a
long history of mass wasting.
Last week I was in Asheville and was talking
to another geologist over lunch. The
conversation got around to a house he and his
wife was considering buying. The house was
on a suspiciously flat piece of ground,
suspicious for Asheville. And there were the
trees; curved right at the trunk and then
growing mostly straight up, but not quite.
Apparently this is a local sign for creeping
soils and general slope instability. He
speculated that it was colluvium. The
definition is on the next page. The upshot is
she’s not happy but they will probably better
off in the long run. Don’t want to have your
house split in two like that one in the news in
Jackson Hole.
See you Tuesday.
BB
Page 2 AGS APRIL 2014
Landslide in Washington State USGS is working with partners to provide up-to-date information. http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/landslide-in-washington-state/
USGS: Start with ScienceLandslides occur in all 50 states and U.S. territories, and cause $1-2 billion in damages and more than 25 fatalities on average each year. Falling rocks, mud, and debris flows are one of the most common and sometimes deadly hazards, yet there is still much to learn about how and why they happen. For more information, watch a video about USGS landslide science, and visit the USGS Landslide Hazards Program website.
Colluvium is a general name for loose, unconsolidated sediments that have been deposited at the base of hillslopes by either rainwash, sheetwash, slow continuous downslope creep, or a variable combination of these processes. Colluvium can be composed of often a heterogeneous range of sediments ranging from silt to rock fragments of various sizes. This term is also used to specifically refer to sediment deposited at the base of a hillslope by unconcentrated surface runoff or sheet erosion. Colluviation refers to the build up of colluvium at the base of a hillslope.[1][2]( (Wikipedia)
investigation related to the hydrogeology of limestone mining in Alabama; water
supply well installation in Suriname; geotechnical drilling oversight with soil and
permafrost classification for pipeline installation near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska;
contaminant plume investigations and landfill work for sites in EPA Region IV; and
aquifer, watershed, and geochemical studies for various sites throughout the United
States.
She enjoys attending geology field trips, volunteering her time to inspire youth
about science, vacations that include roadside geology and stops to make
observations at locale sites, and being a rock-hound in general. In her spare time,
she enjoys riding bicycle, shopping at her local farmer’s markets, and playing her
ukulele.
Shannon has a Master of Science degree in Geology from the University at Buffalo,
and a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Temple University. She is a very recently
accredited Professional Geologist registered in the State of Georgia. She is also the
Treasurer of the Atlanta Geological Society.
Shannon S. George, P.G. is
Geologist and
Hydrogeologist,
consulting for Golder
Associates in Atlanta,
Georgia and she provides
technical support to offices
throughout the country.
Shannon’s project
experience includes:
Page 4 AGS APRIL 2014
Unique Mineral Discovered In Australia The new substance is called putnisite. By Douglas Main
Posted 04.22.2014 at 5:15 pm A previously unknown mineral has been discovered in a remote location in Western Australia. The mineral, named putnisite, appears purple and translucent, and contains strontium, calcium, chromium, sulphur, carbon, oxygen and hydrogen, a very unusual combination.
While dozens of new minerals are discovered each year, it is rare to find one that is unrelated to already-known substances. "Most minerals belong to a family or small group of related minerals, or if they aren't related to other minerals they often are to a synthetic compound--but putnisite is completely unique and unrelated to anything," said Peter Elliott, co-author of a study describing the new substance and a researcher at the South Australian Museum and the University of Adelaide, in a statement. "Nature seems to be far cleverer at dreaming up new chemicals than any researcher in a laboratory."
It appears as tiny semi-cubic crystals and is often found within quartz. Putnisite is relatively soft, with a Mohs hardness of 1.5 to 2 (out of 10), comparable to gypsum, and brittle. It's unclear yet if the mineral could have any commercial applications.
Putnisite was discovered during prospecting for a mine at Lake Cowan in southwestern Australia, and is named after mineralogists Andrew and Christine Putnis. Mineral names are usually proposed by the discoverer, as in this case, but must be approved by the International Mineralogical Association.
Journey to the South Pacific Showing January 23 – June 5, 2014 Run time: 40 minutes
Take a breathtaking IMAX® adventure to the lush tropical islands of remote West Papua, where life flourishes above and below the sea. Join Jawi, a young island boy, as he takes us on a journey of discovery to this magical place where we encounter whale sharks, sea turtles, manta rays, and other iconic creatures of the sea. Home to more than 2,000 species of sea life, this exotic locale features the most diverse marine ecosystem on earth. Narrated by Academy Award® winner Cate Blanchett, Journey to the South Pacific is an uplifting story of hope and celebration, highlighting the importance of living in balance with the ocean planet we all call home.
Island of Lemurs : Madagascar Now showing through August 14, 2014 Run time: 40 minutes A real place you could never imagine. Strange creatures you will never forget. Experience the incredible true story of nature’s greatest explorers in the NEW giant screen adventure, Island of Lemurs:
Madagascar. The film takes audiences on a spectacular journey to the remote and wondrous world of Madagascar. Lemurs arrived in Madagascar as castaways millions of years ago and evolved into hundreds of diverse species. Now, these charmingly strange creatures are highly endangered. This film features trailblazing scientist Dr. Patricia Wright on her lifelong mission to help lemurs survive in the modern world.
Jerusalem Showing January 3 – April 27, 2014 Run time: 43 minutes Sun @ 5 pm, Fri @ 7 pm
Discover the heart of the world. Jerusalem: sacred to half the people on earth; fought over more than any other place in history; conquered and destroyed, rebuilt and reinvented repeatedly over 5,000 years. Now, for the first-time ever, a new giant screen film adventure immerses audiences in a spectacular cinematic journey—soaring high above the Holy Land and plunging deep into the vibrant Old City—so they can experience the iconic sites cherished by billions as never before.
Membership Dues Payment Status:
Professional Student Corporate* Complimentary 2003 62 22 5 15
2004 81 3 8 15
2005 26 0 3 16
TOTAL 168 22 14 15
* 14 corporate sponsors with329 of 56
individual memberships in active use
Finances:
The AGS account balance is
growing as we receive new 2005
dues payments, advertising, and
sponsors.
Account Balance
as of January 10,
2005 - $ 8,017.69
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Upcoming Public Programs and Events (All programs require reservations, including free programs)
AGS APRIL 2014 Page 13
This page from Parkinson’s Organic Remains of a Former World traces the curiosity about
finding fossilized shells far from the coast. As you can read, people have wondered about
STUDENT $10 PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP $25 CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP $100 (Includes 4 professional members, please list names and emails below)
NAME: EMAIL: NAME: EMAIL: NAME: EMAIL: NAME: EMAIL: For further details, contact the AGS Treasurer: [email protected]
.
Please make checks payable to the “Atlanta Geological Society” and remit with the completed form to: Atlanta Geological Society c/o Golder Associates Attn: Shannon George 3730 Chamblee Tucker Road Atlanta, GA 30341