Geology Open Night

Contents

"When Push Came to Shove: 
How the Glaciers Formed Long Island"
by
Prof. Gilbert Hanson

Many of the topographic features that we see on Long Island, especially those associated with the moraines, were formed by glacial push and not by glacial deposition. Prof. Hanson will show examples of push moraines in other locations and compare their features to similar features found on Long Island.

This deformation resulting by the pushing action of ice is known as glaciotectonics. The following quotation is from the Bibliography of Glaciotectonic References

"Glaciotectonics refers to deformations in sediment and bedrock of the Earth's
crust brought about by glaciation. All manner of structures may be produced: folds,
faults, fractures, intrusions, etc. Many distinctive landforms may be created by
glaciotectonism; these include: ice-shoved hills, push moraines, hill-hole pairs,
drumlins, cupola hills, etc. Such features are widespread in regions of former
glaciation as well as in proximity to modern glaciers. Glaciotectonic structures and
landforms are especially common in parts of northern North America, western and
central Europe, and northern Asia--both on land and on adjacent continental
shelves."

Descriptions of glaciotectonic structures are given at the web site for the  Ice Age Environments course at the Emporia State University, Kansas

Images of glaciers are shown at the Glacial Geology at University of Cincinatti site.

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7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Friday March 27, 1998

"Shake Rattle and Roll: 
Earthquakes and Long Island"
by
Prof. Daniel Davis

When we think of earthquakes we normally think of places like California or Alaska. However, the earthquakes that have caused damage over the largest areas of the U.S. have been in the eastern half of the country, and it is certain that there will be more of them.

Dr. Klaus Jacob of Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory has described earthquake hazard in New York as follows: (See a more complete description of Dr. Jacob's efforts at Earthquakes in New York?)

"Most regions of New York State are characterized by a moderate level of seismicity and seismic hazard. The highest levels of seismicity are concentrated in the northern Adirondacks, the New York City metropolitan area, and western New York, including Attica and Buffalo. Since 1886, at least four earth quakes with Richter magnitude M>5 have occurred in these areas, and numerous smaller, but widely felt earthquakes have occurred throughout the State. Earthquakes with magnitudes M>6 are possible, although none are documented in the short historic record. These more significant earthquakes are expected to be rare (about once every few hundred years), On the other hand, in highly populated areas like New York City or Buffalo, multi-billion dollar losses can be expected from single earthquakes with magnitudes M>5.5 to 6. He has also said: "Just because you have not been involved, say in the last 20 years, in a fatal car crash, that does not allow you to conclude that you may not b eexposed to such a risk with some finite probability during the next, say, 40 years of your life..... The same holds for earthquakes: just because NY has not had an earthquake in the last 260 years with magnitude larger than5.6 (comparable to a fender bender), this does not mean we can conclude there is no potential for "frontal collisions" like M 6 or 7 earthquakes in the future."

Some web sites with information on Eastern U.S. earthquakes include:

 
• New York and New England Current Earthquake Information
• National Center for Earthquake Engineering Research
• National Seismic Hazard Mapping Project
• Seismicity in New England

Prof. Davis will talk about what we really know about how and why earthquakes occur, and the nature of the risk that they present to Long Island and the Northeast.

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7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Friday April 24, 1998

"Cat-cracking and Kitty Litter: 
Minerals as Inspiration for Technology"
by
Prof. John Parise

Minerals, such as native metals, clays and gems, have provided tools, shelter and decorative arts since prehistory. Prof. Parise will discuss how close modern synthetic "minerals" come to achieving the alchemist’s dream: a philosopher's stone capable of transforming cheap and plentiful materials into valuable products.

Some academic sites
The International Zeolite Association
The British zeolite association
What the Parise group at SUNY Stony Brook is up to


Information on zeolites and how zeolites are used - 
some examples among hundreds of web sites!!

Reducing animal waste
Zeolites in space - planting the planets
Zeolites and soils
Questions about zeolites
Various recipe for making zeolites
Compendium of zeolites
Zeolite database