This is encouraging,...thanks to everyone for their honest replies.

SIMONOV,

...Boring unless John McPhee is writing about it,...

My feeling is that the descriptive language of geology is extremely difficult for non-geologists. It's like reading Sanskrit. The challenge is making the subject matter entertaining to climbers,...say, in the style of Jon Krakauer, or,...Greg Child.

My feeling is that the descriptive language of geology is extremely difficult for non-geologists

Yes, a thousand times yes. The amount of vocabulary makes for a ridiculously steep learning curve, worse than organic chemistry. Plus, most of the names are derived from places (sometimes people) - there's no organizing logic to the words themselves, unless you know half the history of geology.

Geologists must be excused for making up names for extinct continents and oceans, and for using names of formations (or of assemblages of fossils, named for formations) as proxies for unknown time periods. I'm talking about the names of rocks and minerals. Biologists faced a similar problem (vast variation, little information about relationships between species) but I don't find writings by biological taxonomists nearly as difficult. Does geology have anything analogous to the KPCOFGS (Kingdom, Phylum, ... ) hierarchy for rocks and minerals?

mountainsandsound wrote:Interesting ...

This is why I tolerate long, "view-less" approach hikes through the forest so well. Especially if I'm moving through some old growth. Lots of ecology going on there.

You know, this is extremely interesting. When I first joined (subscribed?) to Summitpost five years ago, I thought the majority were "Jocks" who were
in it for the glory and personal gain.

But, there's also a "deeper" meaning to the beauty of things and SATISFACTION of knowing such things exist and most often THRIVE. Both flora, fauna and
thirdly the colorful and dynamic backdrop that surrounds them ... the heartbeat of a Natural World.

nartreb wrote:

My feeling is that the descriptive language of geology is extremely difficult for non-geologists

Yes, a thousand times yes. The amount of vocabulary makes for a ridiculously steep learning curve, worse than organic chemistry. Plus, most of the names are derived from places (sometimes people) - there's no organizing logic to the words themselves, unless you know half the history of geology.

Geologists must be excused for making up names for extinct continents and oceans, and for using names of formations (or of assemblages of fossils, named for formations) as proxies for unknown time periods. I'm talking about the names of rocks and minerals. Biologists faced a similar problem (vast variation, little information about relationships between species) but I don't find writings by biological taxonomists nearly as difficult. Does geology have anything analogous to the KPCOFGS (Kingdom, Phylum, ... ) hierarchy for rocks and minerals?

Haha yeah I somewhat agree. As a geotechnical engineer (lets just say a relative, yet not directly related, of a geologist), the geologists do get a bit out of hand with their eon hypothesis, scientific estimates and acronyms. As a more practical form of geologist (ie geotechnical engineer), its great to hit the slopes with a good knowledge of rock structure having done a bucket load of rock slope risk assessments (Ie having a good concept of rock strength and stability of hand holds etc), as well as a general interest in the rocks themselves).

MOUNTAIN BANDIT,
WARNING !!! AUSTRALIA IS TILTING !!!
Long-Wavelength Tilting of the Australian Continent Since the Late Cretaceous

...And,...MoapaPk,...the images that accompany your article: Cleopatra-Hamblin Paleovolcano,...are excellent. Thanks again for the link to that page,...it's actually better, conceptually, than what I had in mind for a Sierra Nevada page.

Does geology have anything analogous to the KPCOFGS (Kingdom, Phylum, ... ) hierarchy for rocks and minerals?

Sort of...there are three types and within each type there is a "hierarchy". Of course, it is much different than KPCOFGS and is more lateral...not so much in any specific order.

Volcanic rocks, called igneous, are divided by intrusive and extrusive. Which means did it ever reach the surface. The difference is usually obvious to the eye or touch. Granite is intrusive, so it never reached the surface where the pressure is released, and course grained. Basalt, which was once flowing lava, is extrusive with fine grains. The rate of cooling also plays a role. The faster a rock cools the finer the grains become. Granite cooled very slowly compared to basalt.

Sedimentary rocks are composed of tiny particles that build up over time and are cemented together. Think of sandstone and tiny sand grains. Or limestone and tiny little skeletons of sea creatures mashed together.

The third type, metamorphic rocks, throws a wrench in everything because it can be from any of the types above. Metamorphic rocks are rocks that are changed usually by volcanism or plate tectonics. The intense heat and/or pressure alters them into a new form. Sometimes the form is very similar to the original rock but other times it has changed chemically so much that the previous rock type is a rough guess or unknown.

And then there are the minerals in the rocks...which is endless. Knowing minerals well is key to a geologist. Certain rocks only have certain minerals in them.

I'm downshifting a little here so take the following with a grain of sodium chloride.

What I like about geology and chemistry, is that, in the end, everything comes back around to them. Fossils inspired, and support, the theory of evolution. We owe everything to this hunk of rock we call earth. Two basic gases power the sun and all life as we know it and volcanic activity most likely set the the stuff of life into motion. Everything we feel on our skin is an interaction between sodium and potassium. What IS a thought? Our brains chemically bla bla bla. You get my point.

City people back East where I am from would laugh at my decision to major in Geology and see it as a useless degree, but, I wonder how many minerals and mines were needed to make an iphone. When people say "Save the Earth" they really should say "Save the People" because the Earth WILL be fine. It's the living things that need to worry. The damage we are doing is minor and it's possible that global warming could actually accelerate us to the next ice age. Either way, eventually all the crap we put in the air will end up back in the ground, the planets surface is constantly being recycled as well through plate tectonics, and, the sun will explode and none of this shit will matter. I read the other day that the Andromeda Galaxy is going to collide with the Milky Way before that happens. WTF! These things we cannot truly grasp in our little heads. Castles made of sand fall in the sea, eventually.

I was a Geo major but ended up switching because of the ridiculous amount of other classes required. Calculus and chemistry to the max plus physics and bio. I just wanted to learn about mountains and rocks but to really understand this stuff you have to be a chemist and math major too. I also don't really see joy in working the oil biz. Now it's just a hobby to me and it keeps me my mind grounded. Now I am studying to be a helo pilot, my dream as a kid, and the gi bill is making it happen. A weird switch but I think I just want to work outdoors.

My apologies for this becoming a rant, it's cloudy today and just my .02 cents, and I hope I wasn't offensive. Most will disagree with me I presume. Enjoy what little time we have and do what makes you happy!

obsidian wrote:MOUNTAIN BANDIT,
WARNING !!! AUSTRALIA IS TILTING !!!
Long-Wavelength Tilting of the Australian Continent Since the Late Cretaceous

OH NO!!! I'll make sure my great, great, great, great, ........, great grandkids are aware of this so that their billycart doesn't get out of control if they take it down a north-east facing slope due to the extra 0.0001 degree slope. Also I'll make sure we don't buy any land at current sea level in Cairns or Townsville which will prove fruitless to my great, great, great, great etc etc..........

obsidian wrote:MOUNTAIN BANDIT,
WARNING !!! AUSTRALIA IS TILTING !!!
Long-Wavelength Tilting of the Australian Continent Since the Late Cretaceous

Let's not forget about Manhattan too: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sawing_off ... tan_Island and a fuller version: http://www.uselessinformation.org/manhattan/index.html

poluko
No triangle diagrams?

And you used granite and basalt to describe the difference between intrusive and extrusive. You should have at least used rocks with the same silica content.

And no discussion of schistosity come on now.

And how can you leave out everybodys favorite mineral (Mg,Fe)7Si8O22(OH)2

Anyway back to my strat paper that is due tomorrow.

Ps I was also hoping for a long discussion on plagioclase zoning.

and where is bryan with the cleavage

Coming tonight? I was disappointed when I learned the correct pronunciation for fukuchilite.

I'm studying to teach geology, so there's my answer...

Does geology have anything analogous to the KPCOFGS (Kingdom, Phylum, ... ) hierarchy for rocks and minerals?

This isn't the answer you're looking for, but Paleontology is a Geologic field and it uses the Linnaean classification.

Ammon Hatch wrote:
This isn't the answer you're looking for, but Paleontology is a Geologic field and it uses the Linnaean classification.

Linnaean? Aren't those the extraterrestrial (mystical) beings that reside on Mount Shasta ???

I got a college degree in geology from the Colorado school of Mines. IMO there is no better profession. Doing ANY other source of work is just nonsense to me!

I picked geology for my science lab course in college, and at the time, I wasn't a great fan of the professor or his subject matter. But now I find it very interesting and I wish I had retained more of it. I'll look forward to reading any geology posted here. Science is fun!