Geology

Side Trips from Interstate 5: The Deep San Joaquin Valley

Side Trips from Interstate 5: The Deep San Joaquin Valley

The Central Valley has rocks and oil, but its geology also includes water and fossils. See them in this side trip during your next drive south.

 
Black Diamond Regional Mines Preserve Reopens Visitor Center

Black Diamond Regional Mines Preserve Reopens Visitor Center

With the reopening of its underground Greathouse Portal Visitor Center, Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve is ready when you are.

 
Geological Outings Around the Bay: Rodeo Beach

Geological Outings Around the Bay: Rodeo Beach

As the weather warms, our fancy turns to thoughts of the beach. One of the most interesting is actually a bar.

 
Which Are Gassier, Volcanoes or Humans?

Which Are Gassier, Volcanoes or Humans?

Volcanoes release a lot of gas, including carbon dioxide. Can we blame them for climate change instead of us?

 
Side Trips from Interstate 5: Sutter Buttes

Side Trips from Interstate 5: Sutter Buttes

The Sutter Buttes are an oak-studded island of extinct volcanoes in the Sacramento Valley bottomlands. Step off the freeway to see California's nearest thing to Shangri-La.

 
The Switching Outlets of Clear Lake

The Switching Outlets of Clear Lake

Why has Clear Lake drained two different ways in recent geologic time? Volcanoes and landslides made it happen.

 
Fracking in California: Any Cause For Concern?

Fracking in California: Any Cause For Concern?

California oil producers use hydraulic fracturing to goose more oil out of old wells. The benefit is clear, but the costs are too unclear for comfort.

 
Side Trips from Interstate 5: Coalinga Country

Side Trips from Interstate 5: Coalinga Country

No one likes the huge cattle feedlot north of Coalinga. Take this geological side trip and avoid the smell entirely.

 
California's (and the World's) Oldest Rocks

California's (and the World's) Oldest Rocks

California has some pretty ancient rocks, but to experience really old rocks you don't need to look far.

 
Testing a New Drug for Mountain Sickness

Testing a New Drug for Mountain Sickness

Doctors have reported that common ibuprofen helps prevent altitude sickness. Read what it was like to be part of that research.

 
Geological Outings Around the Bay: New Almaden

Geological Outings Around the Bay: New Almaden

The New Almaden area looms large in Gold Rush history. Today it's an open-air museum of California mining practices and quicksilver geology.

 
Side Trips from Interstate 5: Panoche and Tumey Hills

Side Trips from Interstate 5: Panoche and Tumey Hills

Interstate 5 doesn't have to be a dreary drive. Take a geological side trip on the way, for instance to the hidden Coast Range treasures due west of Fresno.

 
The Half-Life of Disaster Awareness

The Half-Life of Disaster Awareness

Moves to trim the federal budget for its tsunami program arouse concern for deep as well as shallow reasons.

 
Gigapans: Panoramas that Bring You All the Way There

Gigapans: Panoramas that Bring You All the Way There

These gigantic, zoomable photographs bring all the glory of great places to your screen. They also bring you geologic lessons of all sizes.

 
Our Corner of Cascadia

Our Corner of Cascadia

A moderate earthquake this week in northwestern California is a reminder that part of our state lies in Cascadia, our tectonic analog of Sumatra and Japan.

 
What Can Lake Vostok Tell Us About Europa?

What Can Lake Vostok Tell Us About Europa?

Does the prospect of life in subglacial Lake Vostok really point to the same on the icy satellite Europa? The answer may surprise you.

 
Explaining Earthquakes

Explaining Earthquakes

Dig into the science of earthquakes! Learn the basics, check out an animation on seismic waves, test your quake knowledge, and hear from a Bay Area geophysicist.

 
Geological Outings Around the Bay: Napa Glass Mountain

Geological Outings Around the Bay: Napa Glass Mountain

A Napa Valley roadcut was once a strategic resource center for the local inhabitants. Today it still draws visitors seeking out that resource: obsidian.

 
Geological Outings Around the Bay: Mount Vaca and the Monticello Dam

Geological Outings Around the Bay: Mount Vaca and the Monticello Dam

Visit two great landmarks of the northeastern Bay Area—one highly visible, the other well hidden—featuring the same body of rock.

 
Treasure from the Sky

Treasure from the Sky

The recently authenticated fall of meteorites from Mars excites fever dreams as well as scientific fervor.