Torrance, CA Quadrangle 2018 USGS 7.5 Minute Topo Map
To download the Torrance, CA Quadrangle 2018 USGS 7.5 Minute Topo Map, please use the link below.
To download the Torrance, CA Quadrangle 2018 USGS 7.5 Minute Topo Map, please use the link below.
Fire Opal Gemstone – Geology & Mineralogy Information Fire Opal is an amorphous mineraloid comprising an accumulation of tiny hydrated silica spheres that produce a dominant reddish-orange spectrum upon light reflection. Although it is commonly misclassified as a “mineral,” fire opal is actually not a mineral because it does not have its own crystalline structure….
Soil pH Test Strips The pH of soil can be measured using a variety of different devices, or pH testers, which can quickly indicate to a user the pH of their soil. Soil ph test strips determine a numerical value indicating the acidity or alkalinity of soil. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14,…
Geology of Needles, California & Hydrogeology This post is a briefing on the geology of Needles, California. Some geological and hydrogeological data may be incomplete or pending review. Nonetheless, students, geologists, and earth scientists are welcome to openly critique, question, or contribute information to this post using the comments function below. All data is subject…
PCBs Contamination in Killer Whales and Orca Pollution PCBs contamination in killer whales and orca pollution is an increasing concern in the environmental science community. Recent studies indicate hazardous levels of industrial chemicals exist in the bodies of orcas and other marine mammals, worldwide. In fact, toxicologists now hypothesize that rising concentrations of carcinogens like…
What is Precious Opal? Precious opal is any type of natural opal gemstone that shows a “play of color,” such as flakes of variable colors reflecting from inside the specimen upon white light exposure. Unlike common opal, a precious stone can reflect multiple colors from a single viewpoint. For an example of an opal stone…
Blue Opal Gemstone The blue opal gemstone, like all other types of opal, is not a mineral. Instead, it is an amorphous mineraloid, which means it is a substance that comprises a specific arrangement of smaller microcrystalline silicas, which result in a blue spectrum of light reflection. Blue opal has an appealing luster and appearance,…