🙄

I would imagine so, but certain condition have to present, as they don't occur everywhere.

I'm still catching up with my knowledge about the things, but it sure looks like that.

That would be correct. Collected in the Antarctic in 1966, I understand.

:)

Yup!

And we have a winner! The sample was apparently collected by accident in the Antarctic Ocean in 1966. The net the biologists were using to collect pelagic organisms scraped the bottom and the sample was going to be tossed.

Also a decent guess, but no.

🙂

That's a reasonable guess, but not in this case!

Very lumpy looking sample of a dark mineral or rock about 3 inches across.

Some people special to me donated their lifelong collection of rock and fossils to the department. One item stood out... I've never held one and rarely seen one for sale. Can any of my geology friends identify it, and explain why it's important in our science?

Walz: The president said it's a bunch of radicals. You're damn right we've been radicalized. Radicalized by compassion, radicalized by decency, radicalized by due process, radicalized by democracy.

🤣🤣

The House can do what they want tomorrow, but they ain’t getting Cancun Cruz back in the Senate anytime soon.

Modesto proud! No kings!

A Whimbrel in a grassy field

A hooded oriole in a palm tree

With all the disturbing things going on, I want to think of something more positive. Here are some (locally) rare birds I've seen this week; a Hudsonian Whimbrel, and a Hooded Oriole. Both arrived in the region a bit early.

One of California's Rarest Ecosystems: The Serpentine Soils of the Red Hills The Red Hills are blooming right now, so I am posting an abridged version of my post from May 21, 2021 explaining the geological condition...

geotripper.blogspot.com/2026/03/one-... We were out at the Red Hills last weekend, and the flowers were putting on a show, although conditions are drying out quickly. I wrote about the strange geology of the area a few years ago and reposted today, for anyone who wants to see this unique area.

“When the very rich so controlled the means of communication that it would be almost impossible for ordinary people to make informed decisions and so democracy would then be broken…”
- attributed to Albert Einstein

We have been here before, and we know what to do. RESIST!

Let’s put an unhinged malignant narcissist sundowning into dementia in control of the most powerful military force in the history of mankind because what could go wrong.

Bush lupine blooming on steep serpentine hillside with mountains and valleys in background.

Close up of a cluster of new-to-me yellow flowers known as yellow clustered broomrape.

Out looking at southern Motherlode rocks with @geotripper.bsky.social.

Explore the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rocky Mountains with Geotripper! June 18-July 2, 2026 Grand Tetons National Park, Wyoming Be forewarned. This post is a TRAP! It is designed to draw you in, weaken your defenses, and cause y...

geotripper.blogspot.com/2026/03/expl... Want to get away from it all? How about some of the most spectacular geology on the planet? Join us this summer in the Pacific Northwest, along with Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks! Our first informational meeting is on Monday March 23rd.

For those who have forgotten the past 40 years:

Tax cuts for the rich
...don’t trickle down

Boosting military spending
...doesn’t bring peace

Slashing regulations
...doesn’t create jobs

Folks, we’ve seen this all before.

Some nice spring colors breaking out on the CSU Stanislaus campus today.

I Got Up at 3am So You Wouldn't Have To: The Last Lunar Eclipse Before 2029 I didn't really feel like it, but lunar eclipses are dramatic, and this was the last one to take place until 2029, so I got up a few times b...

geotripper.blogspot.com/2026/03/i-go... I got up at 3am so you wouldn't have to! Check out my shots of the last Lunar eclipse before 2029. More shots at the link! #lunareclipse

Even though I and everyone else knew it was probably going to happen, waking up to find out that this country’s leaders have started another needless war is making me so angry and sad

The Tuolumne River is flowing deep and cold right now. They are making room for flooding and snowmelt in Don Pedro Reservoir.

Trees of some kind, and thus likely almonds. They require tons of water (and get in the way of the view of the mountains).

A sparkling clear day in the Central Valley! Half Dome in Yosemite was visible from my Keyes Road viewpoint. #halfdome

No Republican in the history of the United States has personally attacked more of his fellow Republicans than Trump.

No Republican has done it more often or as long.

No Republican has ever actively campaigned against other Republicans as often as Trump.