Ancient Minerals: Which Gave Rise to Life?

Ancient Minerals: Which Gave Rise to Life? 

Ancient Minerals: Which Gave Rise to Life?
Science Dailey, Nov. 25, 2013
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131125164814.htm

Hazen, R. M., 2013, Paleomineralogy of the
Hadean Eon: A preliminary species list. American
Journal of Science, 313 (9): 807 DOI: 10.2475/09.2013.01
http://www.ajsonline.org/content/313/9/807

Also there is:

Fool's Gold Gives Scientists Priceless Insight
Into Earth's Evolution, Science Daily, July 23, 2011
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110722132823.htm

Guilbaud, R., I. B. Butler, and R. M. Ellam, 2013,
Abiotic Pyrite Formation Produces a Large Fe
Isotope Fractionation. Science. vol. 332, no. 6037
pp. 1548-1551 DOI: 10.1126/science.1202924
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/332/6037/1548

And finally there is:

Darling, J. R., D. E. Moser L. M. Heaman, W. J. Davis,
J. O'Neil and R. Carlson, 2013, Eoarchean to Neoarchean
evolution of the Nuvvuagittuq Supracrustal belt: New
insights from U-Pb zircon geochronology. vol. 313,
no. 9, pp. 844-876 doi: 10.2475/09.2013.02 AJS
http://www.ajsonline.org/content/313/9/844.abstract

Yours,

Paul H.

Montreal-area Fireball Had Bad Timing

Montreal-area Fireball Had Bad Timing

Meteorite expert says Montreal-area fireball had bad timing
by Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen November 28, 2013
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/technology/Meteorites/9220507/story.html

Happy Thanksgiving,

Paul H.

Tule Springs Fossil Beds, Nevada, Could Become National Park

Tule Springs Fossil Beds, Nevada, Could Become National Park

Tule Springs Fossil Beds Could Become National Park
By Brian Brennan and Kash Cashell, Channel 8 News,
November 21, 2013,
http://www.8newsnow.com/story/24039144/tule-springs

Tule Springs protection bill could see Senate vote by
2014 by James DeHaven, Las Vegas Review-Journal,
November 22, 2013, http://www.reviewjournal.com/view/centennial/tule-springs-protection-bill-could-see-senate-vote-2014

Tour offers Air Force close-up look at fossil-rich
flyover country by Henry Brean, Las Vegas
Review-Journal November 19, 2013
http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/tour-offers-air-force-close-look-fossil-rich-flyover-country

S. 974: Las Vegas Valley Public Land and Tule Springs
Fossil Beds National Monument Act of 2013
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/s974/text

Protectors of Tule Springs (Fossil Beds)
http://tulespringslv.com/

Paul H.

Acid rain, Siberian Traps, and Permian Extinction

Acid rain, Siberian Traps, and Permian Extinction

Acid raid, ozone depletion contributed to ancient extinction
Carnegie Institution of Washington News, November 20, 2013
http://carnegiescience.edu/news/acid_raid_ozone_depletion_contributed_ancient_extinction

Base of the Siberian Traps volcanic sequence
https://carnegiescience.edu/kotuy_river and https://carnegiescience.edu/kotuy_river_2

A possible cause of the end-Permian mass extinction: Lemon
juice? MIT researchers find that rain as acidic as lemon juice
may have contributed to massive die-offs on land 252 million
years ago. Massachusetts Institute of Technology News
Nov. 25, 2013, http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2013/permian-acid-rain-extinction-112513.html

The paper is:

Black, B. A., J.-F. Lamarque, C. A. Shields, L. T. Elkins-
Tanton and J. T. Kiehl, 2013, Acid rain and ozone depletion
from pulsed Siberian Traps magmatism. Geology. (advance
online publication) doi: 10.1130/G34875.1http://geology.gsapubs.org/content/early/2013/11/21/G34875.1.abstract

A related article:

The Permian Extinction—When Life Nearly Came to an
End by Hillel J. Hoffman, National Geographic Magazine
http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/prehistoric-world/permian-extinction/

Yours,

Paul H.

Trove of Data from Russian 'Dash-cam' Meteorite

Trove of Data from Russian 'Dash-cam' Meteorite

Trove of data from Russian 'dash-cam' meteorite by Simon
Redfern, The Conversation, Phys.Org, November 27, 2013
http://phys.org/news/2013-11-trove-russian-dash-cam-meteorite.html
http://theconversation.com/secrets-revealed-of-dash-cam-meteorite-that-rocked-russia-19923

Related articles:

First study results of Russian Chelyabinsk meteor published
Phys.Org, November 6, 2013
http://phys.org/news/2013-11-results-russian-chelyabinsk-meteor-published.html

Chelyabinsk meteor explosion a 'wake-up call', scientists
warn by Shireen Chan, The Conversation, November 7, 2013
http://phys.org/news/2013-11-chelyabinsk-meteor-explosion-wake-up-scientistswarn.html
http://theconversation.com/chelyabinsk-meteor-explosion-a-wake-up-call-scientists-warn-19874

How Satellites Watched Russian Meteor Explosion from
Space by Charles Q. Choi, SPACE.com, October 21, 2013
http://www.space.com/23273-russia-meteor-chelyabinsk-satellite-photos.html

Happy Thanksgiving,

Paul H.

300 ft Wall in Bolivia has over 5000 Dinosaur Footprints

300 ft Wall in Bolivia has over 5000 Dinosaur Footprints

300 ft Wall in Bolivia has over 5000 Dinosaur
Footprints. Amazing Earth, October 17, 2013
http://www.myamazingearth.com/2013/10/300-ft-wall-in-bolivia-has-over-5000-dinosaur-footprints/
http://twistedsifter.com/2013/10/cal-orko-wall-in-bolivia-covered-in-dinosaur-tracks/
http://www.kuriositas.com/2013/09/the-incredible-dinosaur-wall-of-bolivia.html

Dinosaur tracking in Bolivia: Our writer is awed by more
than 450 dinosaur footprints in the rock faces of Cal Orko,
central Bolivia by Ian Belcher, The Guardian, July 15, 2011
http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/jul/15/dinosaur-tracking-bolivia-cal-orko

El Parque Cretácico (Dinosaur Park) in Sucre, Bolivia
http://www.southamericaliving.com/el-parque-cretacico-dinasaur-park-in-sucre-bolivia/

Lockley, M., A. S. Schuip, C. A. Meyer, G. Leonardi and
D. K. Mamani, 2002, Titanosaurid trackways from the
Upper Cretaceous of Bolivia: evidence for large manus,
wide-gauge locomotion and gregarious behavior.
Cretaceous Research. vol. 23, pp. 383-400.
http://www.nmb.bs.ch/lockley_et_al._2002.pdf

Meyer, C.A., D. Hippler, and M. G. Lockley, 2001, The
Late Cretaceous vertebrate ichnofacies of Bolivia - facts
and implications. In: VII International Symposium on
Mesozoic terrestrial ecosystems. Publicacion Especial no. 7,
pp. 133-138, Asociacion Paleontologica Argentina
http://www.nmb.bs.ch/xs4all/forschung/forschung-geowissenschaften/meyer_et_al._2001.pdf

Yours,
Paul H.

Asteroids Can Get Shaken And Stirred By Mars'

Asteroids Can Get Shaken And Stirred By Mars'

Mars' Effect on Asteroids More Powerful than
Previously Believed, Nature world News
http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/4981/20131119/mars-effect-on-asteroids-more-powerful-than-previously-believed.htm

http://www.natureworldnews.com/home/news/services/print.php?article_id=4981

Asteroids Can Get Shaken And Stirred By Mars'
Gravity, Universe Today, November 20, 2013
http://www.universetoday.com/106591/asteroids-can-get-shaken-and-stirred-by-mars-gravity/

DeMeo, F. E., R. P. Binzel, and M. Lockhart, 2014,
Mars encounters cause fresh surfaces on some
near-Earth asteroids. Icarus. vol. 227, pp. 112–122.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0019103513003941

Preprint at http://arxiv.org/abs/1309.4839

Yours,

Paul H.

More About Moon Dust

More About Moon Dust

Rediscovered Apollo data gives first measure of how
fast Moon dust piles up, American Geophysical Union
http://news.agu.org/press-release/rediscovered-apollo-data-gives-first-measure-of-how-fast-moon-dust-piles-up/

Hollick, m., and B. J. O'Brien, 2013, Lunar Weather
Measurements at three Apollo Sites 1969-1976. Space
Weather. Article first published online: 19 NOV 2013
DOI: 10.1002/2013SW000978
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013SW000978/full

Yours,

Paul H.

Chelyabinsk Meteorite Impact Caught on Security Cam

Chelyabinsk Meteorite Impact Caught on Security Cam

Watch Russian meteorite's impact via security cam
(Moments after exploding with the energy of an atomic
bomb in the skies over the city of Chelyabinsk, the space
rock quietly let itself into a lake outside of town, not far
from the watchful eye of a security camera.)
c/net News, November 15, 2013
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57612559-1/watch-russian-meteorites-impact-via-security-cam/

Newly Released Security Cam Video Shows Chelyabinsk
Meteorite Impact in Lake Chebarkul, The Universe Today
http://www.universetoday.com/106226/newly-released-security-cam-video-shows-chelyabinsk-meteorite-impact-in-lake-chebarkul/

Popova, O. P., and many others, 2013, Chelyabinsk Airburst,
Damage Assessment, Meteorite Recovery, and Characterization.
Science, Published Online Nov. 7 2013, DOI: 10.1126/science.1242642
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/early/2013/11/06/science.1242642

Yours,

Paul H.

Evidence of Granite on Mars Found

Evidence of Granite on Mars Found

Evidence of Granite on Mars Discovered in Ancient
Volcano, Science World Report, November 18, 2013
http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/10976/20131118/evidence-granite-mars-discovered-ancient-volcano.htm

Evidence found for granite on Mars, Georgia Institute
of Technology, Eurekalert. November 18, 2013
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-11/giot-eff111713.php

Wray, J. J., S. T. Hansen, J. Dufek, G. A. Swayze,
S. L. Murchie, F. P. Seelos, J. R. Skok, R. P. Irwin, III,
and M. S. Ghiorso, 2013, Prolonged magmatic activity
on Mars inferred from the detection of felsic rocks.
Nature Geoscience. doi:10.1038/ngeo1994
Published online 17 November 2013
http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ngeo1994.html

Carter, J., and F. Poulet, 2013, Ancient plutonic
processes on Mars inferred from the detection of
possible anorthositic terrains. Nature Geoscience.
doi:10.1038/ngeo1995, Published online 17 November 2013
http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ngeo1995.html

Yours,

Paul H.

Refuting "metaphysical" properties of rocks

Refuting "metaphysical" properties of rocks

In “refuting "metaphysical" properties of rocks” at:
http://lists.drizzle.com/pipermail/rockhounds_lists.drizzle.com/2013-November/002098.html
Kitty wrote:

“Can anyone direct me to a good source for refuting
"metaphysical" properties of rocks? I have a friend
who is very intelligent, but not especially well educated,
and he's all excited about something he heard about
"healing" gems. He's recovering from cancer surgery
and I'm afraid he may be thinking about using "treatment"
through crystals instead of further medical care. I don't
want to appear to laugh at him or "talk down" to him,
but I also don't want to just say, "we don't believe in
such stuff," and change the subject.”

I would suggest having him read:

1. Steve Jobs' Cancer Treatment Regrets by Alice
G. Walton, Forbes Magazine, October 24, 2011
http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2011/10/24/steve-jobs-cancer-treatment-regrets/

and 2. Steve Jobs 'regretted trying to beat cancer
with alternative medicine for so long' by Jon Swaine,
The Telegraph, October 21, 2013
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/8841347/Steve-Jobs-regretted-trying-to-beat-cancer-with-alternative-medicine-for-so-long.html

Some web pages specifically

Crystal Healing Considered Dangerous by Jeffrey Shallit
http://recursed.blogspot.ca/2006/05/crystal-healing-considered-dangerous.html

Debunking Crystal Healing by Jeffrey Shallit
http://recursed.blogspot.ca/2006/05/debunking-crystal-healing.html

Quackwatch at http://www.quackwatch.com/

Of course there is nothing the prevents a person from
doing both regular medical treatments and “crystal
therapy” at the same time. That way your friend has
the benefits of medical science and, if nothing else, the
psychological comfort of having either a few pretty rocks,
gemstones, or fossils, to look at, meditate on, and think
about. Just do not get scammed by paying obscene
prices for rocks that are completely lacking in any
medical benefit as touted on the Internet.

Yours,

Paul H.

Asteroid Impact Entombs Ancient Seawater Beneath Chesapeake Bay

Asteroid Impact Entombs Ancient Seawater Beneath Chesapeake Bay

Oldest Large Body of Ancient Seawater Identified under
Chesapeake Bay. United States Geological Survey press
release, November 13, 2013
http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=3725

Ancient Seawater Entombed Beneath Chesapeake Bay
Crater. Nature World News, November 13, 2103
http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/4894/20131113/ancient-seawater-entombed-beneath-chesapeake-bay-crater.htm

Oldest Body Seawater Discovered Under Chesapeake
Bay. Science World Report, November 14, 2013
http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/10896/20131114/oldest-body-of-ancient-seawater-discovered-under-chesapeake-bay.htm

Sanford, W. E., M. W. Doughten, T. B. Coplen, A. G.
Hunt, and T. D. Bullen, 2013, Evidence for high salinity
of Early Cretaceous sea water from the Chesapeake Bay
crater. Nature. vol. 503, pp. 252–256.
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v503/n7475/full/nature12714.html

Yours,

Paul H.

Toxic Ocean Conditions During Cretaceous Extinction - Oceanic Anoxic Event

Toxic Ocean Conditions During Cretaceous Extinction - Oceanic Anoxic Event

Toxic Ocean Conditions During Major Extinction 93.9
Million Years Ago Quantified: Doesn't Take Much
Sulfide to Impact Ocean Life, Science Daily, Oct. 28, 2013
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131028163011.htm

Researchers Quantify Toxic Ocean Conditions During
Major Extinction 93.9 Million Years Ago, University
of California, Oct. 28, 2013, http://ucrtoday.ucr.edu/10927

Owens, J. A., B. C. Gill, H. C. Jenkyns, S. M. Bates,
S. Severmann, M. M. M. Kuypers, R. G. Woodfine, and
T. W. Lyons. 2013, Sulfur isotopes track the global
extent and dynamics of euxinia during Cretaceous
Oceanic Anoxic Event 2. Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences of the United States. Published
online before print October 29, 2013, PNAS October 29,
2013, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1305304110
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2013/10/28/1305304110

Yours,

Paul H.

Did a Huge Impact Lead to the Cambrian Explosion?

Did a Huge Impact Lead to the Cambrian Explosion?

Did a Huge Impact Lead to the Cambrian Explosion?
Astrobiology Magazine, October 14, 2013
http://www.astrobio.net/exclusive/5742/did-a-huge-impact-lead-to-the-cambrian-explosion

Young, G. M, 2013, Evolution of Earth's climatic
system: Evidence from ice ages, isotopes, and impacts
GSA Today. vol. 23, no. 10, pp. 4-10.
http://www.geosociety.org/gsatoday/archive/23/10/abstract/i1052-5173-23-10-4.htm

Text at:
http://www.geosociety.org/gsatoday/archive/23/10/article/i1052-5173-23-10-4.htm
http://www.geosociety.org/gsatoday/archive/23/10/article/i1052-5173-23-10-4.htm#toclink7

PDF file at:
http://www.geosociety.org/gsatoday/archive/23/10/pdf/i1052-5173-23-10-4.pdf

Yours,

Paul H.