Emeritus Prof. John Wasson

Formation of tektites in thermal plumes: no craters required

Location: Geology 3656
Time: 2:30PM

Tektites are glassy samples with interesting shapes (e.g., teardrops) and compositions similar to soils and shales that formed as a result of weathering the continental crust. Since 1960 the consensus view has been that tektites are crater ejecta. However, high concentrations of 10Be (half-life of 1.5 My) show that tektites are made from soils from the upper 50 centimeters of the crust. The best model seems to be thermal plumes resulting from accreting asteroids or comets that disintegrated and deposited their entire energy in the atmosphere, similar to the 1908 Tunguska event. Figure: Thermal plume after Glasstone and Nolan

Emeritus Prof. Bruce Runnegar

The Cryogenian, coldest time in Earth History

Location: Slichter 3853
Time: 2:30PM

We are now in (and probably leaving) one of the coldest periods in Earth history. Previous icehouse intervals occurred about 300, 700 and 2000 million years ago. During one of these periods, the Cryogenian, glacial ice extended to sea level in the tropics. We shall discuss this so-called Snowball Earth event in terms of its origin, and its effects on our planet and its life. Image credit: Chris Butler/SPL

Meteorite Gallery

Gallery Open Again

Location: Geology 3697
Time: 9AM

The Holidays are over and we are open again: Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm. Sundays from 1 pm to 4 pm.

Meteorite Gallery

Holiday Closure

Location: Geology 3697
Time: 9AM

The Meteorite Gallery will be closed from December 23, 2016 to January 2nd, 2017.

Meteorite Gallery

Sunday Closure

Location: Geology 3697
Time: 1PM

The Meteorite Gallery will be closed this Sunday, December 18