This video segment shows how scientists collaborate to collect and chemically analyze samples of molten lava as part of their quest to learn more about how volcanoes work. Working at Kilauea volcano, scientists collect samples of lava before it has a chance to cool so they can study the chemical properties it had when it was deep within Earth's interior. The samples are sent to a laboratory where ... Full description.

This is a complete, fully virtual module that addresses asbestos hazards and their assessment. It includes simulations and introduction to the use of the petrographic microscope, and some introductory mineralogy. It is designed as an active learning exercise. Full description.

This web page contains an index of the elements hydrogen through uranium. The index links to an individual page for each element which describes its detection limits, detection complications, and geochemical applications as a pathfinder or as an aid to geologic mapping. The page was designed to enable explorationists to make the best use of the analyses in a multi-element package like those offered ... Full description.

This is the official website for the Office of Groundwater and Safe Drinking Water (OGWDW) at the Environmental Protection Aagency (EPA). The OGWDW works to ensure safe drinking water and to protect the quality of our nation's drinking water supply. This mission is accomplished using five guiding principles: prevention, risk-based priority setting for new and existing regulations, public and private ... Full description.

This video tracks formation of snowflakes from their origins in bits of dust in clouds that become droplets of water falling to Earth. When the droplets cool, six crystal faces form because water molecules bond in hexagonal networks when they freeze. It explains that ice crystals grow fastest at the corners between the faces, fostering development of the six branches that exist in most snowflakes. ... Full description.

This Why Files short article discusses some new research on Yellowstone Caldera, a giant volcanic hotspot in Wyoming. Rock has been remelted inside the caldera. Using highly sensitive techniques to extract data from almost microscopic zircon crystals, two geologists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that over the past 2 million years, the giant Yellowstone volcano erupted at 700,000-year ... Full description.

This National Park Service (NPS) site provides links to National Parks with hot springs or geothermal activity. Where appropriate, links are provided to geology, visitor information, photographs, park maps, multimedia resources, geologic research, and additional links. Parks at this site include Hot Springs National Park, Lassen Volcano National Park, and more. Full description.

This website provides annotated links to internet resources for mineralogists, petrologists, crystallographers, and geologists. These resources cover petrology, thermobarometry, mineral descriptions and classifications, mineral and ore deposits, geochemistry, gemology, and materials science, and include software, literature, databases and glossaries, drawings, labs, organizations, and teaching documents. ... Full description.

This activity will help students to have a better understanding of the basic principles used to determine the age of rocks and fossils. It consists of several parts: to have students determine relative age of a geologically complex area, to familiarize students with the concept of half-life in radioactive decay, to have students see that individual runs of statistical processes are less predictable ... Full description.

This National Park Service website highlights the nature and features found in this park. It provides information about the geology of park (Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs, Norris, Canyon, West Thumb, Bridge Bay, Tower-Roosevelt), geothermal features (hot springs, mud pots, fumaroles, geysers), wildlife (bison, wolves, mountain lions, elk, birds, bears, coyotes), fish, fire, wetland resources, ... Full description.