The Endurance

Shackleton’s Lost Volcano

During his Antarctic expeditions, Shackleton left a volcanic legacy by overseeing the first exploration of Mount Erebus. But in his reports he notes an indication of another volcano, one which has never been identified. In this post I propose the first identification of this mystery volcano. Each their own. The three most famous explorers of…

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…

Australian volcanoes

Of all continents, Australia is the least geologically active. The landscape is ancient, including some of the oldest rocks in the world. The only mountains are on the eastern edge of the continent. The B59 road across the Blue Mountains from Windsor to Lithgow is one of my favourite drives, with spectacular views (a head…

The Toba Supereruption

Lake Toba is a beautiful place. The largest and deepest lake in Southeast Asia, it contains an island (Samosir) almost the size of Singapore – the fifth largest lake island in the world, and the largest island-within-an-island. Samosir contains two smaller lakes, Lake Sidihoni and Lake Aek Natonang – the former even contains its own…

Millennium Volcanoes

As we labour to rescue what can be saved, we shall continue from where we last were. Here again is that fabulous post by Albert, alas, without the original reader comments: Volcanic eruptions have become major attractions, and even rather minor eruptions can make front page news. In modern days, any volcano deciding to erupt…