Geology/Questions Answered by Expert Joe Norris
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Geophysics in Mining/Mineral Exploration | 2/5/2012 |
| Q: Norris, Can someone with a BSc in Geophysics work in mineral exploration/production? If not, could ... A: Yes, I suppose someone with a a BS in Geophysics could work work in mineral exploration; although it ... | |
| Cut and fill | 12/28/2011 |
| Q: Are you familiar with the cut and fill vein mining tech..And if so can you describe to me exactly ... A: I am a geologist not a mining engineer; however, I am somewhat familiar with cut and fill ... | |
| Magnetite and Hematite | 12/27/2011 |
| Q: What exactly is Magnetite and what exactly is Hematite? Also what sort of value do they have? ... A: This question is so vague and has so many answers that it can not be answered with just one ... | |
| Pegmatites | 12/17/2011 |
| Q: Sir, my question is about pegmatites. Can you please elucidate the process of genesis of Pegmatites? ... A: Your question is a good one but much more intricate than I can deal with in this forum. There are ... | |
| Magnetite and Hematite | 12/16/2011 |
| Q: What exactly is Magnetite and what exactly is Hematite? Also what sort of value do they have? ... A: I am a geologist not a mining engineer although I did run a gold mine (underground) for several ... | |
| Economic Geology | 12/12/2011 |
| Q: I have found Banded Magnetite Quartzite very near to ( about 15-20 km. up-stream side)placer gold ... A: Magnetite is not necessarily an indicator or path finder mineral for gold placers but it is almost ... | |
| Magnetite and Hematite | 10/18/2011 |
| Q: What exactly is Magnetite and what exactly is Hematite? Also what sort of value do they have? ... A: Magnetite is a ferrimagnetic mineral with chemical formula Fe3O4, one of several iron oxides and a ... | |
| prehistoric finds(rocks) | 10/10/2011 |
| Q: i have a friend that loves rock hunting and he has found 2 very interesting rocks.. 1 has the form ... A: Sorry it has taken me so long to answer. There are no dinosaur fossils in Ohio. The time frame is ... | |
| Green rock | 9/19/2011 |
| Q: I found what I believe is a rock but it's green and see through and I've never came across something ... A: I will try my best. My email is joe@norcosgo.com. The chances that I can identify the rock will be ... | |
| rock | 9/18/2011 |
| Q: I found this heavy rock digging downtown in savannah ga can you tell me what this is ? its heavy ... A: The rock appears to be a piece of schist or gneiss but whatever the black stuff on the face in the ... | |
| unidentified ore | 9/14/2011 |
| Q: I am the senior geophysicist working for a mining company in east Africa. We explore for iron ore in ... A: This is certainly beyond my expertise but it sure sounds interesting. My first though, which is ... | |
| rock | 9/13/2011 |
| Q: i found a rock with silver flakes in it. the rock is white and the silver is very prominent. i ... A: Yes I need picture and nay meed you do do a couple of things. 1) I need several pictures of the ... | |
| Ref: question | 9/11/2011 |
| Q: Good day Can you tell me what are the basic methods used to estimate how much minerals or resources ... A: Reserve estimation is defined by commodity. Oil, is different than gas, is different than coal, is ... | |
| Books | 9/6/2011 |
| Q: I am a A-level student, I hope to go university next year to study Geology, with the aspiration to ... A: Geology is a very interesting and rewarding field. I have been a geologist for 40 years and am ... | |
| is this a meteor | 8/27/2011 |
| Q: my boy found a rock -a melted rock but not lava or basalt/ image attached. he is very curious to ... A: Mother Nature makes glass each time a large amount of energy is released during a sufficient period ... | |
| Earth's Crust for Water,Oil,Coal, Minerals Extraction | 8/27/2011 |
| Q: Earth's Crust ------------- Earth's Crust - Soil can be used effectively for Extraction of Water ... A: There are many different types of geo-physical devices for determining what is in the ground; ... | |
| Argon-Argon Dating | 8/13/2011 |
| Q: Good Day Mr Norris, I am studying Doctorate on Geological Engineering in Turkey. I have some ... A: I have a Masters Degree from the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) in Golden, Colorado and when I was ... | |
| geology | 7/29/2011 |
| Q: "Mr. Norris- While looking for fossils near the Keyser outcropping in Monterey, Virginia, I found an ... A: I understand how this could be of curiosity since it is even curios to me and I have looked at rocks ... | |
| Geology | 7/27/2011 |
| Q: how we explore coal in field? what are the method to observe in field that we can said in field yes ... A: Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock normally occurring in rock strata in ... | |
| Strange Rock | 7/25/2011 |
| Q: I am strictly looking for help to satisfy my curiosity as I think that I did find unusual specimen. ... A: You are very right this is a very interesting rock. From the analysis and look it appears to be ... | |
| Identifying metal like stones | 7/21/2011 |
| Q: I found about 7 of these stones washed up on a beach and I was wondering if you might know what they ... A: Without a streak color I don't think that I can help you any further; however, you might want to ... | |
| Identifying metal like stones | 7/20/2011 |
| Q: I found about 7 of these stones washed up on a beach and I was wondering if you might know what they ... A: These are very, very interesting specimens. But from what I can see I don't believe that these are ... | |
| Possible vein of ?? | 7/19/2011 |
| Q: and I am grateful I found you. I live in Ct. USA on top of a small mountain, my unpaved driveway ... A: If it were me I would go to the CT geologic survey and get a geologic map of the area first. The ... | |
| rock id and value | 7/18/2011 |
| Q: shiny,and in some spots translucent it looks to me like hardened pitch, any advise i would ... A: Just from the picture this rock could be sphalerite. Sphalerite ((Zn,Fe)S) is a mineral that is the ... | |
| Possible vein of ?? | 7/18/2011 |
| Q: and I am grateful I found you. I live in Ct. USA on top of a small mountain, my unpaved driveway ... A: From the minerals that you are discribing it sounds like the rock is a pegmatite. Pegmatites are ... | |
| varity of rocks | 7/17/2011 |
| Q: I would appreciate any information about these rocks/fossils,also if they have any value. The 1st ... A: From the picture I can only tell that the first rock is either quartz or marble (depending on ... | |
| gold assaying | 6/24/2011 |
| Q: Recently I read a story in the news about testing the gold reserves in Ft. Knox, and the claim that ... A: No there is no other way to insure the purity of gold bars that is why coins are worth a premium ... | |
| Petroleum Geology or Exploration Geophysics? | 6/17/2011 |
| Q: Good day Joe, My name is Ikechukwu Nwigwudu and I am from Nigeria. I am a 2;1 graduate of Geology ... A: It sounds to me like there is not a bad decision here - either would be equally as rewarding and ... | |
| Kenya Gold | 6/15/2011 |
| Q: Last week, June 9, Red Rock Resources updated on the project with its Phase 2 results, indicating an ... A: I am not a metallurgist but to me 65% seems somewhat low, since in my experience the mid 80's is ... | |
| Geology | 6/14/2011 |
| Q: Sir, I have just finished my post graduation from a reputed university in India. I am looking out ... A: This was an unsolicited email that I received last week you might try this one. The language that I ... | |
| Shiny Rock, Precious Metal? | 6/7/2011 |
| Q: My dad found this rock wile he was walking around the woods, and when he picked it he say lots of ... A: I can't tell for sure but it appears that this is a weathered igneous rock, probably a pegnatite, ... | |
| Unidentified rock | 4/27/2011 |
| Q: Found this rock on the bank of my pond. I live in southeastern Oklahoma. (If that helps.) Can you ... A: The picture is so fuzzy that I am not sure whether it is drusy quartz or some type of carbonate; ... | |
| what's this shiny thing? | 4/16/2011 |
| Q: I found this while trekking in Peru. I wonder if you can tell me what it is likely to be. (Picture ... A: Matt, The picture is awful but I believe I can see some perfect cleavage on the [001], parting on ... | |
| rock identification | 4/7/2011 |
| Q: i found a rock walking around town and im trying to figure out what kind it is. It has layers of a ... A: Even though the picture is not in focus I believe that the rock is muscovite Muscovite (also known ... | |
| mineral exploration | 3/24/2011 |
| Q: What responsibilities does a geologist Mineral Exploration Have? A: To some extent what a Mineral Exploration geologists does depends on the commodity and the company ... | |
| Platinum certificate | 2/19/2011 |
| Q: Joe: I have a hands on interest in a native platinum, hard rock, mine in the SW states. We found a ... A: Unfortunately, I have been out of the precious metals work for some years but I still may be able to ... | |
| minerals | 2/15/2011 |
| Q: on them I youtube platinum with peroxide which has the same effect as my rock crushed Is there a ... A: There is no reason to believe that there couldn't be platinum in Indiana glacial till. The second ... | |
| what kind of rock | 2/12/2011 |
| Q: my name is diane and i live in the mojave desert , next to the san andreas fault. lately while ... A: Sure, it is much easier to identify a rock or mineral if I have a sample. It is however very very ... | |
| Development Advice | 1/30/2011 |
| Q: Mr. Norris; Ten years ago I began prospecting an area that has never seen any mining activity. I ... A: The Colorado School of Mines already has a mine in Idaho Springs. The mine is called the Edgar and ... | |
| What kind of rock is this? | 12/28/2010 |
| Q: this rock was found in southern Oklahoma many years ago. It is very dense and heavy for its 3 inch ... A: At first glance it looks like a piece of a mentor but if it doesn't have enough iron to be picked up ... | |
| World underground silver reserves | 11/15/2010 |
| Q: Norris.Thank you for taking time to answer questions. For many year I have been told that we only ... A: I really don't believe that inflation is a factor in the 20/1 ratio of gold/silver value. In fact ... | |
| World underground silver reserves | 11/14/2010 |
| Q: Norris.Thank you for taking time to answer questions. For many year I have been told that we only ... A: Below is a site on the United States Geologic Survey (USGS)page indicating that in 2002 there was 15 ... | |
| Black Rock | 11/3/2010 |
| Q: I found a black rock broke it open it has gold specks in it and it is heavy its all smoth on the ... A: Black rock is not enough information. Below are the things I need to know to even make an attempt ... | |
| troposphere | 9/18/2010 |
| Q: Why is the troposphere thinner at the poles? A: This is not really a geology question but I will try to give you a very generic answer. There are ... | |
| Mining - Geology. Introduction and Resources | 9/12/2010 |
| Q: As an ex-expert I realize the time and effort in answering these questions so I thank you in ... A: Iron ores are widely distributed and are formed under many conditions. Iron is found in large ... | |
| Mining - Geology. Introduction and Resources | 9/11/2010 |
| Q: As an ex-expert I realize the time and effort in answering these questions so I thank you in ... A: It would be a complete misnomer to give you the name of a book or books that will give you the ... | |
| Garnet | 7/31/2010 |
| Q: could you tell me why garnet is not found in all metamorphic rock. A: The garnet group includes a group of minerals that have been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones ... | |
| Geology | 7/27/2010 |
| Q: Good day sir, Am a student of ajayi crowther university oyo, Nigeria,and would be Pleased if i could ... A: I am an economic geologist and have worked in well over 100 commodities. Your topic should be ... | |
| Career advice question? | 7/27/2010 |
| Q: I currently hold an undergraduate degree in computer information systems and a M.Sc. in Finance. I ... A: You realize that generally speaking your answer to this question is as good as mine; since it is ... | |
| Subsurface geology | 7/25/2010 |
| Q: Are there any method by which we can map subsurface limestone v/s pegmatite/gneiss contacts up to 50 ... A: Without significant research I can not answer this question. I have little doubt that there are ... | |
| silver rock | 7/24/2010 |
| Q: I heard this is galena it but i don't think it is does it have value A: The picture is so dark that I can't tell you anything except that galena is a lead sulfide and in ... | |
| What type of rock is this? | 7/22/2010 |
| Q: My children found this rock. They broke the rock to find out if the silver went all the way thru. It ... A: You might be able to get a few bucks at a rock shop but generally they want flat pieces. You may be ... | |
| What type of rock is this? | 7/21/2010 |
| Q: My children found this rock. They broke the rock to find out if the silver went all the way thru. It ... A: The rock that you are holding is mostly muscovite. Muscovite (also known as common mica, isinglass, ... | |
| fossil identification and stone/drusy/mineral storage | 6/27/2010 |
| Q: i have a potential fossil (see photo) found in south-western Wisconsin along with a large amount of ... A: From the picture I would not venture a guess as weather this is a fossil and I surely can not tell ... | |
| crystal or Diamonds | 6/24/2010 |
| Q: I have found a rock in a house clean out that was in a jewelry box it looks like Diamonds to clear ... A: I'm not sure exactly what the crystals are but I can assure you that they are not diamonds. ... | |
| fossil | 6/17/2010 |
| Q: I have a number of questions.Please answer as many as possible according to your expertise. 1.I have ... A: Most fossils are millions of year old but that doesn't mean that all fossils are that old. If ... | |
| fossil | 6/16/2010 |
| Q: I have a number of questions.Please answer as many as possible according to your expertise. 1.I have ... A: I personally have never seen fossil ginger or garlic but the is absolutely no reason why there ... | |
| Kimberlite?? | 5/28/2010 |
| Q: I purchased this mineral at a Rock/Mineral/Gem show and the seller sold it to me as Kimberlite. ... A: The pictured rock sure looks a lot more like pumice than a kimberlite to me; however, without seeing ... | |
| trying to find out the type of stone that I have | 5/16/2010 |
| Q: I am trying to find out what these stones are that I have, some are finished and polished, some are ... A: These rocks, if they are all the same, are either marble or agate, my first guess is marble. If ... | |
| Geology | 5/6/2010 |
| Q: Sir what is the significant importance of Structures as Folds , Faults and joints except oil traps? ... A: Many things in science and geology have no significance other than being a part of the overall ... | |
| Another blue rock picture | 4/30/2010 |
| Q: Here is another angle of the rock I am trying to identify. Again it was found near Ellensburg WA in ... A: Agate and obsidian have the same chemical composition and appear very similar in hand specimen. ... | |
| what is this rock | 1/28/2010 |
| Q: I found this rock in a dried up creek bed. Out of all the rocks i was walking by this rock caught my ... A: For me to even make an attempt at telling you what kind of rock that you have, you need to do a few ... | |
| Rock I.D. | 1/28/2010 |
| Q: i know you get a lot of these questions. i found this rock in south jersey on a farm. the rock has ... A: From your question and the information that you presented, including the picture, the rock appears ... | |
| what is it? | 1/28/2010 |
| Q: Found this bizarre rock in glacial till bed in eastern Washington last summer. My local lab was not ... A: Two things that you didn't tell me the first time is that the analysis is not correct and the rock ... | |
| what is it? | 1/25/2010 |
| Q: Found this bizarre rock in glacial till bed in eastern Washington last summer. My local lab was not ... A: The rock kinda looks like bauxite and with the analysis I would say that is what it probably is; ... | |
| quartzite | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: I have chalcedney mine. what are its industrial uses, aside from gemstones? Can it be used in the ... A: Chalcedony is a cryptocrystalline form of silica, composed of very fine intergrowths of the minerals ... | |
| desert rose | 1/12/2010 |
| Q: I have some pieces of desert rose. I wondered if they are found anywhere in the United States. ... A: Desert rose is the colloquial name given to rosette formations of the minerals gypsum and barite ... | |
| fossillised wood | 12/30/2009 |
| Q: my husband bought me for christmas a slice of fossillised wood . how can i find out where it came ... A: Petrified wood is quite common, particularly in the western US. There are literally thousands of ... | |
| faults | 12/14/2009 |
| Q: How do strike-slip faults differ from transform faults? A: A transform fault or transform boundary, also known as conservative plate boundary, is a fault which ... | |
| crystal inclusion | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: So I have a piece of clear kunzite that clearly has another crystal of some sort growing inside of ... A: Ed, I am somewhat confused since kunzite is a mineral and minerals are pure, generally crystalline, ... | |
| Strange rock | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: I found this while Meteorite hunting and was real curious what this might be. It has Magnetic ... A: The rock is most probably glacial float, which means that it probably came from the Canadian Shield. ... | |
| Strange rock | 12/1/2009 |
| Q: I found this while Meteorite hunting and was real curious what this might be. It has Magnetic ... A: Without actually seeing the rock it will only be a guess to tell you what the rock is. It appears ... | |
| Geology--Earthquakes in Subduction Zones | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: Why do the deepest earthquakes occur on subduction zones? A: Think of the surface of the earth as pieces of flexible foam (continental plates)floating in a ... | |
| Horizontal drilling | 11/8/2009 |
| Q: Norris My question is: In which geologic conditions it is recommended to use horizontal drilling? ... A: Horizontal drilling has little or any geologic concern. Horizontal drilling is mostly if not ... | |
| obsidian | 10/30/2009 |
| Q: I am preparing a homework regarding obsidian rocks.An I would like to know if the obsidian rocks are ... A: Obisidian was used by Aztecs for the sharp points of their weapons, mirrors, masks, and for ear ... | |
| geology | 10/14/2009 |
| Q: what is the relationship that can occur between a body of igneous rock and economic mineralisation. A: This is not a simple question. That is exactly what economic geology is and what I do. To ... | |
| Rock Identification | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: I found this rock nearly a year ago now. I believe it to be some sort of copal but that is as far as ... A: First I apologize, I didn't realize that you had sent another picture of the rock and therefore I ... | |
| Rock Identification | 9/23/2009 |
| Q: I found this rock nearly a year ago now. I believe it to be some sort of copal but that is as far as ... A: That is a very bazaar and beautiful picture. If you would send me another picture taken with the ... | |
| Formation of the Sierras & gold | 9/23/2009 |
| Q: 2 questions of wording for a history programme we are making: Is there a more exciting and easier ... A: I'm not a writer but a geologist. Geology has certain terms that describe formation to geologists. ... | |
| identify this rock | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: i have rock i would like some information on outer layer can only scratch with knife inner rock ... A: I can not see the scratches well but they were probably formed from one of three ways. 1) There ... | |
| i have a second rock | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: i have a second rock similar to first but different outer layer can be scratch with fingernail ... A: If the rock was found loose (not-in-place), particularly in a stream, it probably came from ... | |
| i have a second rock | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: i have a second rock similar to first but different outer layer can be scratch with fingernail ... A: Without actually having the rock in my hand I can not give you a definitive answer but I will try ... | |
| identify this rock | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: i have rock i would like some information on outer layer can only scratch with knife inner rock ... A: Again without actually having the rock in my hand it is very difficult to give you a definitive ... | |
| Question | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: I studied from many resources that continents are continously moving. Now what makes these ... A: In geologic time continental movement as fast as our fingernail grow (1/4/inch a year) is extremely ... | |
| Identification of rocks and minerals | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: I have a few samples of rocks here at my house I've been trying to find out names for. I was hoping ... A: For me to even make an attempt at telling you what kind of rock that you have, you need to do a few ... | |
| five pound agette? | 9/7/2009 |
| Q: we found this around five pound big chunk marbled tan and creams with some clear spots. its smooth ... A: Yes it would be a lot easier if I could see pictures but I will try my best. You could send a ... | |
| obsidian | 9/7/2009 |
| Q: how much are my 10 obsidian 20mm rocks worth A: Obsidian is black. The "rocks" in the picture appear clear and exactly the same size unless the ... | |
| a rock formation? | 9/6/2009 |
| Q: The photo is from the top of a mountain in the Adirondacks (NY). The area is almost all granite, ... A: Without seeing the rock in person it is difficult to tell you for sure what the bluish-gray rock is ... | |
| Anything? | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: Are these of any worth in any market? I found them near my house on farms and across the street ... A: The black coating is pyrolucite (MgO2) and is a secondary mineral of the host rocks. This means ... | |
| What the? | 9/2/2009 |
| Q: I have been going on long walks around my house and area to look for rocks and things I just can't ... A: I am probably not going to be able to answer you question satisfactorily but I will do my best. My ... | |
| us coal | 8/26/2009 |
| Q: what is the biggest mine in us A: The Black Thunder thermal coal mine, located in the Southern Powder River Basin of Wyoming, opened ... | |
| rock my father in law found | 8/8/2009 |
| Q: my father in law found this rock on his property and at first thought it was hematite until it did ... A: For me to even make an attempt at telling you what kind of rock that you have, you need to do a few ... | |
| geology | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: How do geologists in the field find clues about the distribution of rock types? A: As a geologist you should do your homework before going into the field. By homework I mean that you ... | |
| difference between supergene porphyries and associated volcanic rocks | 8/3/2009 |
| Q: I have difficulties on distinguishing supergene porphyries and associated volcanic rocks through ... A: I realize that this question is directly related to your studies and with some effort I might be ... | |
| um, jewlery question.... | 8/3/2009 |
| Q: Sorry this isn't an insightful question and probably not a great use of your time. But I saw this ... A: There are several pink gemstones. I have attached a site that shows some of these: ... | |
| Rock ID | 7/26/2009 |
| Q: I would like to send you some samples of a type rock that I have been finding in michigan. I am ... A: I will attempt to tell you what the rock is; however, I need to know as precicely as possible where ... | |
| what is it? | 7/26/2009 |
| Q: This material is silver, very hard, metallic, inside is somewhat porous, has a scattered smooth/flat ... A: For me to even make an attempt at telling you what kind of rock that you have, you need to do a few ... | |
| Iron Minerals | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: Does all stones contain iron minerals to some extent? A: No, in fact iron (Fe) is rather far down on the scale at number 4 and composing about 5% of the ... | |
| precious minerals | 6/28/2009 |
| Q: My son lives in a rural part of connecticut. He and my grandsons have found rocks, soil,etc. that ... A: For me to even make an attempt at telling you what kind of rocks that you have, you need to do a few ... | |
| mineral constituent of metamorphic rock | 6/10/2009 |
| Q: please tell me the mineral constituents present (in percentage) in gneiss, ... A: I can not answer your question but I will try to tell you why the question is un-answerable. ... | |
| rock identification | 5/25/2009 |
| Q: I want to know what kind of rock i have. Its very smooth, with different colors of light and dark ... A: I feel even more storngly that your rock is a banded agate, after viewing the picture. I have ... | |
| rock identification | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: I want to know what kind of rock i have. Its very smooth, with different colors of light and dark ... A: For me to even make an attempt at telling you what kind of rock that you have, you need to do a few ... | |
| About the brief of ruby & sapphire | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: Please answer to me about the brief of ruby and sapphire for the entrance exam of Myanmar ... A: There are many books about mineralogy, I personally have several but my favorite is ROCKS & MINERALS ... | |
| geology | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: what is the economic importance of sokoto basin in nigeria A: I have worked in many countries but not Nigeria; however, I will make an attempt to answer you ... | |
| Rock origin - Is it a Kimberlite? | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: Recently, I learned that our 25 acres of land is categorized as a Kame Terrace with many debris flow ... A: This rock is not a kimberlite. I am away from home and do not have my petrology book with me; ... | |
| convergent plate boundaries | 5/7/2009 |
| Q: What are some of the economically important rocks and minerals that form at convergent plate ... A: I could give you an answer but the one found at the inserted site is much better than mine. ... | |
| What is this rock? | 5/6/2009 |
| Q: I have a rock that is silver in color, heavy for it's size (17.5 lbs), and when we chipped a piece ... A: This rock is a sulfide which means that it is a metal combined with sulfur. My first guess is ... | |
| Sedimentary stone, AKA Flagstone. | 5/6/2009 |
| Q: I am from northeastern Pennsylvania, Susquehanna county. I've taken notice to a response that was ... A: Mica minerals are an essential constituents of various igneous rocks, such as granite, metamorphic ... | |
| Sedimentary stone, AKA Flagstone. | 5/5/2009 |
| Q: I am from northeastern Pennsylvania, Susquehanna county. I've taken notice to a response that was ... A: I can not tell, from the picture, exactly what type of rock that you are quarrying but since you ... | |
| Earth Science | 5/4/2009 |
| Q: What are the types of plate boundary interactions? What is the evidence for plate movement? How are ... A: I am an economic geologist not a structural geologist or a geomorphologist. I have tried to answer ... | |
| Earth Science | 5/3/2009 |
| Q: What are the types of plate boundary interactions? What is the evidence for plate movement? How are ... A: PLATE BOUNDARIES Plate boundaries are found at the edge of the lithospheric plates and are of three ... | |
| epicenters | 5/1/2009 |
| Q: what two closest epicenters and the dates of their last earthquake. what is the magnitde of the ... A: The last earthquake to occure in Ohio was on Friday, April 24, 2009 at 09:42:46 AM. The earthquake ... | |
| about my rock | 4/30/2009 |
| Q: can you help me to identify the rock that i found,i try to scratch it using a knife and window glass ... A: It is often difficult to tell much about a rock from a picture but the picture that you sent shows ... | |
| Rock? | 4/29/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering what kind of rock this is. It was found in central California. A: The picture is not very good; therefore, I can't tell much about the rock but just from the general ... | |
| diomond formation | 4/27/2009 |
| Q: can you tell me how the diomonds are formed ,in what kinds of rocks it is formed,about ... A: The conditions for diamond formation, to happen in the lithospheric mantle, occur at considerable ... | |
| regarding the kind of stone i have | 4/25/2009 |
| Q: I found a stone while digging a well in tamilnadu [India]. it weighs about 14.5 grams and appears ... A: Naturally occurring colorless rocks are relativly common and are basically what glass is made from. ... | |
| Meteor impacts | 4/22/2009 |
| Q: Driving through the southern end of the Rockie Mountains/Sangre De Christo mountain range there ... A: I have reached the limit of my knowledge about the specific ancestry of the Rockies. I am an ... | |
| Meteor impacts | 4/20/2009 |
| Q: Driving through the southern end of the Rockie Mountains/Sangre De Christo mountain range there ... A: The Laramide orogeny was a period of mountain building in western North America, which started in ... | |
| GOLD ORE | 4/15/2009 |
| Q: IF GOLD ORE IS DETECTED IN ROCK, AND YOU PULVERISE THE ROCK DOES OR CAN GOLD BREAK AND CAN THE GOLD ... A: You have several questions that I will try to answer independently. If gold ore is detected in ... | |
| Akermanite Ca2MgSi2O7 | 4/10/2009 |
| Q: I found these strange looking rocks late last summer and had them analyzed by x-ray diffraction and ... A: Åkermanite (Ca2Mg[Si2O7]) is a melilite mineral of the sorosilicate group, containing calcium, ... | |
| gold in delaware | 4/5/2009 |
| Q: i was just wondering if there is eny gold or gems in delaware?i know that there is in all the states ... A: You are right - to the best of my knowledge Delaware has not known gold; however, this does not mean ... | |
| Rock identification | 4/2/2009 |
| Q: I found this rock in my back yard in SW Washington state. The rock aprox 2x2x1 inches. The rock is ... A: From the picture and your description the rock can only be Hematite Fe2O3 (Fe 70% & O 30%). ... | |
| geology of Thessaly Greece | 3/29/2009 |
| Q: I am curious as to the geology of thessaly in N. Greece. I'm writing a book based in that region. ... A: I am not familiar with Thessaly Province of Northern Greece so I went on-line and found what appears ... | |
| Age of salt deposits | 3/24/2009 |
| Q: "Himalayan salt" - it cures your ills and purifies your air(?). It makes pretty lamps. What is the ... A: which began being sold by various companies in Europe, North America, and Australia in the early ... | |
| volcanoes | 3/24/2009 |
| Q: what causes there to be different kinds of volcanoes? Does the type of magma or type of crust on the ... A: Geologists generally group volcanoes into four main kinds--cinder cones, composite volcanoes, shield ... | |
| Identify a rock/mineral | 3/23/2009 |
| Q: I have this necklace with a large polished translucent stone and am curious as to the type of stone ... A: That is a beautiful necklace but I am afraid that I can not identify the mineral type from the ... | |
| Questions regarding rocks and gemstones | 3/17/2009 |
| Q: my name is Bry and I am working on a school project about rocks, fossils, and gemstones. I was ... A: Yes Bry I can help you out on most of your questions. Your question about "How are rocks formed ... | |
| shiny rock | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: i have a mine in my back yard and it has this flaky rock that can see yourself almost through the ... A: Mica, again, is a very common rock in quartz; particularly pegmatites. If the material in the rock ... | |
| shiny rock | 3/11/2009 |
| Q: i have a mine in my back yard and it has this flaky rock that can see yourself almost through the ... A: It is probably one of the many types of mica. The two most common types are muscovite and biotite. ... | |
| What rock is it??? | 2/27/2009 |
| Q: Hey i just have a quick question. Can you tell me what rock this might be; it is a black metalic ... A: No I can not tell you what the rock is but mica is not metallic looking and neither schist or gniess ... | |
| Geology | 2/24/2009 |
| Q: What radioactive decay involves the release of an electron? A: The three types of nuclear radioactive decay are alpha, beta and gamma emission. An alpha particle ... | |
| Obsidian | 1/24/2009 |
| Q: I have read on obsidian and I found it quite interesting. I will like to know more about obsidian, ... A: I'm sure that you can find many good web site but in general the more technical sites are university ... | |
| rock identification. | 1/23/2009 |
| Q: i have asked a bunch of rock folk near my home in vancouver and where i found the rock in nevada and ... A: I have done some work in Nevada and am somewhat familiar with the general geology there but it ... | |
| Rocks & Mineral | 1/22/2009 |
| Q: I am taking Earth System Engineering Course and I am interested in rocks & minerals. Could you ... A: I suppose this depends on your level of interest. Dana's Manual of Mineralogy is in my opinion the ... | |
| earthquake | 1/8/2009 |
| Q: Q6.How does the distribution of eathquake foci correlate with plate boundaries? Q7.What kinds of ... A: It is very evident that you are extremely knowledgeable about plat tectonics; probably more so that ... | |
| earthquake | 1/7/2009 |
| Q: Q6.How does the distribution of eathquake foci correlate with plate boundaries? Q7.What kinds of ... A: I am not a volcanologist however I will make an attempt at answering your questions with my limited ... | |
| Trying to id rock | 12/21/2008 |
| Q: I am trying to find out what this rock is that I found. Agate, Mineral, fossil? Any information ... A: In order to make an attempt at identifying the rock I need to know a few things about the rock. 1) ... | |
| vanessa | 12/17/2008 |
| Q: what occurs at a deep-ocean trench?what type of plate boundary is a deep-ocean trench?describe what ... A: The Earth's rocky outer crust solidified billions of years ago, soon after the Earth formed. This ... | |
| Question | 12/13/2008 |
| Q: I want to ask a question that do mountains really prevdnt earth from shaking (Not earth quake a ... A: I'm not real sure that I understand the question but I will attempt to answer it as I understand it. ... | |
| science | 12/9/2008 |
| Q: what was the earliest form of life? A: This is an excellent question and one that we, as geologists, know that we can not answer correctly; ... | |
| coal formation | 12/3/2008 |
| Q: Is Charcoal a type of real coal? Did it form from the processes that made coal or is it wood that ... A: Charcoal is the blackish residue consisting of impure carbon obtained by removing water and other ... | |
| radiometric dating | 11/23/2008 |
| Q: I'm just a lay person, no expertise at all. I'm just curious about radiometric dating. I've read a ... A: I'm not exactly sure about your question relative to what "original state" means but I will tell ... | |
| structure in New Mexico, near mexican border | 11/23/2008 |
| Q: Sitting between Cloverdale, N.M. to the northwest and El Valle, Mexico to the southeast there ... A: Even though I have done some work in NM it has been many years and have only worked in a few ... | |
| science | 11/13/2008 |
| Q: i would like to know some information about the Charleston Earthquake? 2. i would also like to know ... A: This earthquake occurred August 31, 1886 and was a magnitude of 7.3. It was the most damaging ... | |
| rocks | 11/2/2008 |
| Q: During vacation time I picket up rocks on the floor at the following sites from Etna Volcano(Italy), ... A: As a general rule most rocks are not affected by short exposures to soap and water; however, there ... | |
| Metallic rock | 10/31/2008 |
| Q: A relative has found a metallic rock/stone underground in the mountains in volcanic soil in the ... A: I need for you to answer a few questions concerning the rock. Hardness: can you scratch it with ... | |
| what is it | 10/11/2008 |
| Q: i found a rock and its outside is silver gray and its heavy for its size the inside is crystalline ... A: Randy, From your information, which by the way is very good, I can narrow the mineral (rock) down ... | |
| help me!!!!!!! | 10/8/2008 |
| Q: What is the Earth's mantle. outer core, and inner core made of. [composition] A: Briana, The planet Earth is made up of three main shells: the very thin, brittle crust, the mantle, ... | |
| minerals | 9/22/2008 |
| Q: can you tell me what is solidification of a melt? what is precipitation from solution? what is ... A: What is solidification of a melt. The word solidification means becoming solid. The best way to ... | |
| What Type of Rock Is It? | 9/19/2008 |
| Q: Can you shed some light as to what type of rock I have. It looks like it may have been exposed to ... A: It is very difficult to determine, from a picture, a rock type but I will do my best. In ... | |
Geology
Answers by Expert:
Joe Norris
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I am an economic geologist. An economic geologist does mineral evaluations and appraisals of mineral or mining properties. I can tell you if your deposit has value - remember that a mineral deposit, no matter how good, only has value when mined. Any value assigned to a mineral deposit, in the ground, is only the speculative value that deposit.
Experience
I have been a economic geologist for most of my 35 year career. Although I have done work in perhaps 45 states and numerious countries much of my work has been in Appalachian coal, intermountain west gold and silver, and Arizona uranium.
Organizations
Past President of the Virginia Section of the American Institute of Professional Geologists and a certified geologist in twelve states.
Education/Credentials
BS Degree from Eastern Kentucky University. Work on MS Degree @ Eastern Kentucky University, Colorad School of Mines & Marshall University
Numerious short courses on the value of mineral deposits and how to value same. Also several short courses dealing with the different types of geologic processes; sedimentary, igneous, metamorphic along with the mineral associated with each.
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