Tag Archives: Clay
Clay mineral waters Earth’s mantle from the inside
The first observation of a super-hydrated phase of the clay mineral kaolinite could improve our understanding of processes leading to volcanism and affecting earthquakes. In the lab, scientists created conditions similar to those in subduction zones where an oceanic plate … Continue reading
gorgeousgeology: Talc is a clay mineral composed of hydrated…
gorgeousgeology: Talc is a clay mineral composed of hydrated magnesium silicate with the chemical formula H2Mg3(SiO3)4 or Mg3Si4O10(OH)2. Mohs scale of mineral hardness, based on scratch hardness comparison, defines value 1 as the hardness of talc. In loose form, it, … Continue reading
Seeds from the London Clay
With good luck and perseverance, some beautiful fossils can be collected from the London Clay, which outcrops in the south east of England. The phosphatic remains of crustacea, fish and other, rarer vertebrates are well known, and information and images … Continue reading
Crystals and Minerals of the London Clay
I developed a passion for crystals while collecting fossils. To me, crystals don’t have to be fancy, rare or expensive to be of immense interest. Even a good specimen of the commonly encountered “fools gold” (iron pyrite, more technically referred … Continue reading
Denizens of the Oxford Clay
In many ways, Britain is the birth-place of palaeontology, and the heady years of the 19th century saw the discovery of creatures that have inspired the imagination of small boys ever since – myself included. I’m talking, of course, about … Continue reading
Study finds evidence for more recent clay formation on Mars
Clay minerals in Martian impact craters have often been assumed to have been formed the planet’s earliest epoch, then uncovered by the impact. New research finds numerous clay deposits that appear to have formed after an impact event, suggesting that … Continue reading