The Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals offers extensive research, training, workshops, classes, and educational material on the science of rocks and minerals. Our mineralogy and geology programs are featured in our Education area. There are special events and festivals annually for rock and mineral enthusiasts to learn even more.
Below is a collection earth science-related news, topics, discussions, and information to help you learn more about the study of rocks and minerals.
OPB Radio reported on the amazing archaeological discover of a knife carved from agate currently estimated from 15,000 years ago in Eastern Oregon, evidence of what could be the oldest human occupation west of the Rocky Mountains, shaking up many theories on North American human history. Carved from clear orange agate, the stone knife has […]
15,000 Year Old Agate Knife Found in Oregon Read More »
A rare diamondiferous peridotite has been found in the Udachny Diamond Mine. The Russian mine is one of the 10 deepest open-pit mines on Earth. A chunk the size of a golf ball has geologists counting the micro-diamonds imbedded within the rock. In addition to diamonds, the 10.5 g rock contains specks of red and
A webcam focused on Mexico’s volcano, Popcatepetl captured ash erupting, erupt ash from the snow covered upper slopes today. This is one of two active volcanoes in Mexico, the other being Colima with two explosions over this past weekend with ash plumes reaching an estimated 10,000 feet/3km into the skies over the volcano. It’s been
Popocatepetl and Colima Volcanoes in Mexico Erupting Read More »
National Geographic answers the question, “Why Iceland’s volcanoes have vexed humans for centuries?” Witze says that Iceland’s volcanoes have affected human communities for more than a thousand years and that BárÄ‘arbunga is responsible for the largest eruption anywhere on Earth in the last 10,000 years. Some of the most famous ones in the last couple
Volcano in Iceland Stops Air Traffic Read More »
On Sunday, August 24, 2014, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Napa Valley of California. According to the National Geographic, the event was centered about 6.7 miles under the earth and was one of the largest in the area since the 1989 Loma Prieta quake that measured 7.0. Today’s quake was reported by the Earthquake
Earthquake Science Read More »
Last year, rare footage of a documentary on Mount St. Helens volcanic eruption from the late 1980s was shared on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zHgwiOK3oU The documentary shows old photographs from before the eruption dating back to the 1950s, exploring the campgrounds, parks, lakes, and forested areas, now changed forever by the destructive forces of the volcano erupting
Rare Film Footage of Mt. St. Helens Volcanic Eruption Read More »
Science Daily reports that planetary scientists from Curtin University found that a unique volcanic meteorite recovered in Western Australia may reveal the violent history of our solar system. Associate Professor Fred Jourdan, along with colleagues Professor Phil Bland and Dr Gretchen Benedix from Curtin’s Department of Applied Geology, believe the meteorite is evidence that a
History of the Solar System Found in Meteorite Read More »
This week it was announced that NASA’s Curiosity Rover has found its first iron meteorite on Mars. The meteorite represents a time capsule for scientists to study and learn more about our universe. Meteorites found on Mars are of special interest as they had little atmosphere to pass through on their way to the planet,
Curiousity Rover Finds Its First Meteorite on Mars Read More »
The Rice Northwest Rock and Mineral Museum is home to many “out of this world” meteorites, most of them prepared and presented by the Cascadia Meteorite Laboratory of Portland State University. On a visit to the museum, you will have a chance to touch our amazing Gibeon Meteorite from Africa. There is so much iron
Among our many Exhibits in the Rice Northwest Rock and Mineral Museum is our popular Rhodochrosite specimens. Rhodochrosite is also known as Inca Rose Stone, Raspberry Spar, and Manganese Spar. Rhodochrosite is a manganese carbonate (MnCO3). The carbonates are a group of minerals that contain the anion group CO32-, and are subdivided into the calcite,
Rhodochrosite – The Inca Rose Stone Read More »
