Roseanne Chambers

About Roseanne Chambers

As a geologist, and an enthusiastic traveler and hiker, I am continuously curious about how landscapes form and how our environment shapes human history.

“Smoking Mountain” Popocatépetl and Sinking Slabs

Popocatépetl, in southern Mexico, is North America’s 2nd-highest volcano. This volcano has been erupting for millennia—and the recent activity beginning in late May 2023 is bringing additional concern about the possibility of a significant eruption. The tectonic setting of this volcano has some interesting and unusual characteristics.

By |2023-06-09T08:05:14-07:00June 8th, 2023|Our Amazing Earth|6 Comments

Sue, Stan, and Selling Significant Fossils

The enormous dinosaurs that once roamed our planet all died out about 66 million years ago. Fossils of these extraordinary animals are rare. Recently, wealthy collectors have expanded into natural history—and are acquiring unique fossil skeletons for private collections. The remains of ancient creatures are an important part of our history; they are irreplaceable and their value for science is priceless.

By |2023-05-30T06:25:23-07:00May 30th, 2023|Fabulous Fossils & More|4 Comments

Food, Fertilizer and the Future

Bright blue ponds looming out of the red desert landscape near Moab, Utah, recently prompted my interest in the potash harvested from the pools. The potassium-bearing contents of the ponds will become a key ingredient of synthetic fertilizers. These are essential to feed the growing population on our planet, but fertilizer components are not in infinite supply, plus are causing many environmental problems.

Batteries and Billions

The global need for lithium-ion batteries is projected to grow by over 500% in the next decade, creating a soaring demand for new battery factories and key components of batteries, especially metals. Establishing sustainable battery-supply chains is an important goal. Fortunately, metals are infinitely reusable, and so billions of dollars are being poured into new battery recycling plants.

By |2023-04-27T06:07:54-07:00April 27th, 2023|Our Amazing Earth|2 Comments

Ancient Red Ochre in Wyoming and Beyond

Around 13,000 years ago, Paleoindian hunters were making red ochre from iron-rich hematite collected from a quarry in the western foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Red ochre had an important role in Paleoindian societies, and is associated with many campsites, kill sites, graves, caches—and notably, found in rock art. Worldwide, the historical record of red ochre mines extends back tens of thousands of years.

By |2023-03-02T07:35:54-07:00March 2nd, 2023|Our Amazing Earth|4 Comments

On Beyond Plastic- Mushrooms and Spider Silk

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch comprises three massive, floating marine debris “islands” within a circular ocean current, or gyre - stark reminders of the major environmental pollutant that plastic has become. Fortunately, scientists and engineers are developing novel alternatives for tasks currently filled by petrochemicals. Two alternative packaging materials that especially intrigue me are the mycelium of fungus like mushrooms and spider silk.

By |2023-02-02T08:37:06-07:00February 2nd, 2023|Our Amazing Earth|2 Comments

Comets and the Christmas Star

The Star of Bethlehem, or the Christmas Star, has an important place in tradition. A mystery surrounds the history of this star, and searches for an explanation have concerned theologians, philosophers, and scientists for nearly 2,000 years. In this post, I focus on whether astronomers have identified a celestial body that could have been a Christmas star.

By |2022-12-15T13:32:42-07:00December 15th, 2022|Our Amazing Earth|8 Comments

Expanding Iceland

Erupting volcanoes are forming new real estate all around our planet. Beneath Iceland and Hawaii, hot lava upwelling from deep underground is hardening into rock. Hotspots create chains of volcanoes on these islands as a tectonic plate slowly crosses a mantle plume. In Iceland, there are also volcanic eruptions occurring from the location astride the spreading center known as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The result: LOTS of lava.

By |2022-12-03T09:55:42-07:00December 1st, 2022|Our Amazing Earth|8 Comments
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