For more information about GeoPicture check the Wikipedia article here
This is a Cast of an original fossil of a Meganeuridae. If you’re scared of dragonflies, brace yourself for this: these extinct insects from the Carboniferous period measured up to 70 cm. They are the largest known species of flying insect. Controversy has prevailed as to how insects of the Carboniferous period were able to [...]
Mon, Feb 11, 2013
Believe it or not, this is actually titanium, though not natural. It was obtained through a process called iodide process (or crystal bar process), unlike natural titanium, which is usually found chemically bonded in various ways found in rock ores. For more information, you should really check out this video (it’s actually a series with [...]
Fri, Nov 23, 2012
Elbaite is a type of tourmaline, a sodium, lithium, aluminium boro-silicate. Cleavelandite is a type of albite feldspar.
Tue, Nov 6, 2012
This week, there’s not going to be a picture, but rather a series of picture, because you just can’t sum up the beauty of columnar basalts in a single picture. Basalt is one of the more common extrusive igneous (volcanic) rocks. But how can these hexagonal columns take form? There’s no photoshop, no cutting, so [...]
Wed, Oct 17, 2012
This is “just” a view of Mount Fuji - the highest mountain in Japan, actually a stratovolcano
Wed, Oct 10, 2012
In geology, folds are formed when originally horizontal layers of sedimentary rocks are bent and/or curved as result of acting temperatures and pressures. This is an absolutely stunning example of fold formation – click the pic for full size.
Wed, Oct 3, 2012
Crocoite is a fairly rare mineral in many parts of the world, consisting of lead chromate, PbCrO4. The relative rareness comes from the way it forms: it requires an oxidation zone of lead ore bed and presence of what are called ultramafic rocks, which act as a source of chromium. Ultramafic rocks are 90% mafic minerals (dark colored, [...]
Fri, Oct 28, 2011
What you are looking at is a picture of a baryte crystal growing on fluorite; the two minerals have not been cut or polished in any way, it is just the way they naturally are. Fluorite (or fluorspar) is a mineral made out of Calcium and Fluorine while Baryte is literally barium sulfate. It has [...]
Mon, May 23, 2011
This week’s picture shows the Eurasian and the American tectonic plates, as seen from underwater. In a way, you could say this is the edge of the Earth
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Fri, Apr 5, 2013
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