The Dead Zone

Recently, a minor quake occurred out in the Veiðivötn fissure swarm.   A discussion came about from that and mention was made of something that many of us refer to as “The Dead Zone.”  Why that name?  Well, as many have noted, the area is relatively devoid of quakes when compared to the rest of Iceland. …

Merry Christmas

The Old Volcano Lonely stands the ancient mountain born in flames in ages past when fiery flows subsumed the cities a turmoiled world of lives outcast Remembrance fades the days of danger Threats retreat, let peace return Rebuilding life in virgin cities No longer may the mountain burn Fields of plenty for the people which…

Hope diamond

Diamond!

Carbon is amazing. Where would life be without it? It forms short molecules, including the one essential to (previously) intelligent life, ethanol. It forms long linear molecules (aliphatics), round molecules (aromatics) and even spherical molecules (fullerenes) or cylinders (nanotubes). As a solid it forms thin, strong sheets (graphite). If such a sheet is composed of…

Does It Have to Be Big?

As we move inexorably towards the end of yet another year, it is inevitable that we think back on what the old year has brought. One of my favourite memories of 2015 is the visit we; Carl, Shérine and myself, paid to a couple of volcanic monuments in southern Sweden; Rallate and Jällabjär, at the…

Super-eruptions and Hyper-eruptions

Living on a constantly changing and evolving planet, unravelling the past is not an easy task as resurfacing, erosion and continental drift continuously eradicates what has gone before. Even after the last remaining “White Areas” on our maps of the Earth’s land masses had been filled in about a century ago, great discoveries that would…