Geology Photos, Day 2

Evelyn's continuing the geology photos, and I can't think of a reason not to follow suit.

"Hey, since when is Pismo Beach in a cave?"

I blogged about this image before - some critter was doing a little bioturbation. If this burrow fills in with sediment and we were to then view this filled burrow in a soil profile, we might use the term "krotovina," which is a Russian word for a filled-in animal burrow. What a lovely word - perhaps Evelyn could use that for the next time she comes around to K for her geo words.

Howdy!

Judging by the spike in my visitor counts, Brian Romans' post of my braided river image has gone up.

For those of you that are new, welcome. Feel free to poke around. In other news, here's a picture for your entertainment:



Those of us that study the variety of processes that occur at or near Earth's surface, we sometimes have to account for the fact that living organisms often call this thin veneer of fragmented rock, organic debris, air, and water home. As they go about their lives, they often churn up these layers of meticulously deposited material. When viewed from the perspective of a geologist, we call it "bioturbation." When viewed from the perspective of a groundskeeper, it's called a "varmint." Technically speaking, it was probably a ground squirrel or a mole, not a gopher 'round these parts.

"Well, here we are! Pismo Beach and all the clams we can eat!"

"Hey, wait a minute! Since when is Pismo Beach inside a cave?"

I arrived at school one Monday morning to find this lovely tunnel lying exposed in the newly graded front "yard" of our newly renovated science building. I took a few pictures - the whole plot was smoothed over and seeded by the grounds crew before I could find a toy Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck to place in the photo...

...it must have been that left turn near Albuquerque.