Geosciences at FHSU

Geosciences at FHSU The Fort Hays State University Department of Geosciences offers degree programs in Geography, Geolo

The Fort Hays State University Department of Geosciences offers degree programs in Geography, Geology, GIS, Environmental Geosciences, and Geographic Education. Degree options include Bachelors of Sciences, Bachelors of Art, and Masters of Science.

Zabid is a historic town on Yemen’s western coastal plain with an urban population of about 52,590 people. It is conside...
05/27/2026

Zabid is a historic town on Yemen’s western coastal plain with an urban population of about 52,590 people. It is considered one of the oldest towns in the country and was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. However, because of concerns about its condition and preservation, it was placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2000. Over the centuries, Zabid served as the capital for several important ruling dynasties in Yemen.
The present town was established around 820 by Muhammad ibn Abdallah ibn Ziyad, founder of the Ziyadid dynasty, who had been sent by the Abbasid caliph al-Ma'mun to put down a rebellion by the Asha'ir and Akk tribes. Zabid became the capital of the Ziyadid dynasty until 1016 and continued as a political center under the Najahid dynasty from 1022 to 1158 and the Mahdid dynasty from 1158 to 1174. During these periods, the city became increasingly important in both politics and culture.
Zabid also developed into a major center of Islamic scholarship. Its mosques, especially the al-Asha'ir Mosque and the Great Mosque, played a key role in religious learning. In addition, the town’s position along the route connecting Mecca and Aden contributed greatly to its economic growth and regional importance.

Photo Link:
By Julien Harneis from Sana'a, Yemen - From the Imam's guesthouse, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38033299

This uncommon mineral was first identified by American mineral collectors who discovered the earliest specimens. When it...
05/25/2026

This uncommon mineral was first identified by American mineral collectors who discovered the earliest specimens. When it was initially found in the Atacama region of Chile, it was mistakenly believed to be another copper-bearing mineral because of their similar appearance. The occurrence was very limited, occupying an isolated area of roughly one cubic meter.
The mineral formed in cavities within copper-bearing powellite and molybdenite-rich matrix. These cavities were filled with a clay-like material. In the immediate zone where the crystals developed, copper concentrations were relatively high. However, moving outward from this area, copper levels gradually decreased and the mineralization changed to other molybdenum-bearing minerals. Farther away from the central zone, the surrounding ore mainly contained powellite blebs with little copper present.
In terms of physical characteristics, the mineral typically appears dark green in color. It shows good cleavage on the {100} and {010} planes, has brittle tenacity, and a Mohs hardness ranging from about 3.5 to 4.
It forms as a secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of ore deposits. Its recognized type locality is the Jardinera No. 1 Mine in Chile, although earlier reports mistakenly listed a different nearby location.

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Photo Link:
By Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10457867

The Marib Dam is a dam built across Wadi Adhanah in the Balaq Hills of Ma'rib Governorate, Yemen. The modern structure w...
05/20/2026

The Marib Dam is a dam built across Wadi Adhanah in the Balaq Hills of Ma'rib Governorate, Yemen. The modern structure was constructed in the 1980s near the remains of the ancient Marib Dam, which dates back to the 8th century BC. The original dam is widely regarded as one of the great engineering achievements of the ancient world and played a major role in supporting the Sabaean and Himyarite kingdoms centered around Ma'rib.
Yemen is also known for several other ancient dams, including the dams of Jufaynah, Kharid, Adraʾah, Miqran, and Yathʾan. Historically, the country has been recognized for its impressive water engineering systems. Across the landscape, from the Red Sea coast to the edge of the Empty Quarter, there are many remains of both small and large dams built from earth and stone.
The Marib Dam is especially significant for the archaeology of the Arabian Peninsula. In 2023, together with other landmarks of the ancient Kingdom of Saba, three sites associated with the Marib Dam were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Photo Link:
By H. Grobe - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13283317

Have college $$$ questions? FHSU Webinar on May 20 will help answer your questions about Financial Aid, Changes to finan...
05/20/2026

Have college $$$ questions? FHSU Webinar on May 20 will help answer your questions about Financial Aid, Changes to financial aid for the upcoming year, student payment processes, and MORE!
Registration Link https://www.fhsu.edu/online/events/

This material is a hydrated, amorphous form of silica with the chemical composition SiO₂·nH₂O. Its water content can var...
05/18/2026

This material is a hydrated, amorphous form of silica with the chemical composition SiO₂·nH₂O. Its water content can vary significantly, usually ranging between 6% and 10%, although it may reach as low as 3% or as high as 21% by weight. Because it lacks a crystalline structure, it is classified as a mineraloid rather than a true mineral. It typically forms at relatively low temperatures.
This mineraloid can develop in fissures and cavities within many different types of rocks. It is commonly associated with rocks and materials such as limonite, sandstone, rhyolite, marl, and basalt. It may occur as irregular veins, masses, or nodular formations rather than well-defined crystals.
The material exhibits a wide variety of colors, including colorless, white, yellow, red, orange, green, brown, black, blue, and pink. It does not have cleavage and instead breaks with a conchoidal to uneven fracture. On the Mohs hardness scale, it typically measures about 5.5 to 6.
Globally, the most significant sources of this gemstone are Australia and Ethiopia. However, because production records vary and extraction levels fluctuate, it is difficult to determine the exact proportion of the world’s supply that comes from each country.

What mineral is this? Leave a comment below to guess what this mineral is.

Photo Link:
By Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10135016

The Old City of Sana’a, located in the Amanat Al Asimah Governorate of Yemen, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized...
05/13/2026

The Old City of Sana’a, located in the Amanat Al Asimah Governorate of Yemen, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for its exceptional historical and cultural value. It has been inhabited for more than 2,500 years and, according to 2003 records, had a population of 63,398 people. The city is known for its well preserved fortified setting and its remarkable collection of historic buildings, including the partially standing Ghumdan Palace, which is considered one of its oldest architectural remains. It was officially inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986.
The city is enclosed by ancient clay walls measuring about 9 to 14 meters high and contains more than 100 mosques, 12 bathhouses, and around 6,500 houses. Many of these multi story homes rise several floors high, giving the city a skyline that resembles early skyscrapers. Their facades are often decorated with detailed friezes, carved window frames, and stained glass. Preservation efforts continue to protect some of the city’s oldest landmarks, including the Samsarah and the Great Mosque of Sana’a, both of which are over 1,400 years old.
British writer Jonathan Raban visited in the 1970s, he portrayed Sana’a as a city that felt like a fortress, with an architectural style and street pattern that created the impression of a maze. He described walking through it as though stepping into a large picture book, where the city unfolded into a dense and fascinating network of symbols, forms, and winding spaces.

Photo Link:
By ai@ce - Flickr, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1593056

Hahoe Folk Village is a historic settlement from the Joseon Dynasty located in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, South ...
04/29/2026

Hahoe Folk Village is a historic settlement from the Joseon Dynasty located in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The name “Hahoe” comes from the words “ha,” meaning river, and “hoe,” meaning to turn or return, referring to the Nakdong River that curves around the village.
The village is an important cultural heritage site because it preserves traditional Joseon-era architecture, folk customs, historic documents, and the long-standing tradition of clan-based communities. In 2010, Hahoe Folk Village, along with Yangdong Folk Village, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site by the South Korean government. It attracts approximately one million visitors annually. Established between the 14th and 15th centuries, Hahoe is recognized as one of the most significant historic villages in South Korea, known for its well-preserved homes, pavilions, Confucian academies, and study halls that reflect the aristocratic Confucian lifestyle of the early Joseon period. Among the 124 houses in the village, six have been officially designated as National Treasures.
The village is surrounded by natural landmarks, including Buyongdae Cliff to the north and Mt. Namsan to the south. Its layout follows the traditional geomantic principles of pungsu, the Korean form of feng shui, giving the village a symbolic shape resembling a lotus flower or two interlocking comma forms.

Photo Link:
By Bernard Gagnon - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=145384468

This mineral is a basic hydrous sulfate composed of potassium and ferric iron. It commonly forms in ore deposits through...
04/27/2026

This mineral is a basic hydrous sulfate composed of potassium and ferric iron. It commonly forms in ore deposits through the oxidation of iron sulfide minerals. It may also appear as a byproduct during the purification and refining of zinc. In environmental settings, the mineral is frequently associated with acid mine drainage and acid sulfate soil environments, where chemical weathering processes produce sulfate-rich conditions.
Structurally, the mineral crystallizes in the trigonal crystal system and is considered brittle, with basal cleavage. It has a hardness of about 2.5–3.5 on the Mohs scale and a specific gravity ranging from approximately 3.15 to 3.26. Its appearance ranges from translucent to opaque, with a vitreous to dull luster, and its color typically varies from dark yellow to yellowish-brown.
In natural environments, this mineral can sometimes be mistaken for limonite or goethite, as it often occurs alongside these iron-rich minerals in gossan deposits. It has also attracted attention in condensed matter physics and materials science because its structure contains layers arranged in a kagome lattice, which is important in the study of geometrically frustrated magnetic systems.

What mineral is this? Leave a comment below to guess what this mineral is.

Photo Link:
By Dave Dyet http://www.shutterstone.com http://www.dyet.com - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1956114

A hanok is a traditional Korean house that dates back to the 14th century during the Joseon Dynasty. These homes are car...
04/22/2026

A hanok is a traditional Korean house that dates back to the 14th century during the Joseon Dynasty. These homes are carefully designed with respect to their natural surroundings, taking into account the landscape and seasonal changes. A key principle guiding their layout is baesanimsu, which means the ideal house is positioned with a mountain behind it and a river in front.
Hanok designs vary depending on the region. In the colder northern parts of Korea, they are typically built in a square shape with a central courtyard to help retain heat. In contrast, southern hanok are more open and often L-shaped to allow better airflow.
The construction of hanok relies on natural and eco-friendly materials such as soil, wood, and stone, all of which are recyclable and non-polluting. These houses feature tiled roofs, wooden frameworks, and stone foundations. The curved edge of the roof, known as the cheoma, can be adjusted to regulate how much sunlight enters the home. Additionally, a traditional Korean paper called hanji, treated with bean oil for durability and water resistance, is used for windows and doors, allowing them to remain both breathable and visually appealing.

Photo Link:
By 최광모 - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=43964586

This mineral is a chromium oxide hydroxide with the chemical formula CrO(OH). It commonly forms as an intergrowth with s...
04/20/2026

This mineral is a chromium oxide hydroxide with the chemical formula CrO(OH). It commonly forms as an intergrowth with several other chromium oxide minerals that share a similar composition and structure. These associated minerals include bracewellite and grimaldiite, which also have the formula CrO(OH), as well as eskolaite (Cr₂O₃). Because these minerals often occur closely intergrown with one another, early researchers found them difficult to distinguish. As a result, they were initially misidentified as a single mineral known as merumite.
The mineral is quite rare in nature, and the complex intergrowth of these chromium oxides makes detailed experimental study challenging. Due to this difficulty, scientists often rely on synthetic laboratory samples to better understand the properties and behavior of the mineral and its related forms.
It was first discovered in deposits along the Merume River in what was formerly British Guiana, now known as Guyana. The mineral occurs most abundantly in the upper branches of Director Creek, a small tributary of the Merume River that flows into the Mazaruni River.

What mineral is this? Leave a comment below to guess what this mineral is.

Photo Link:
By James St. John - Merumite (Director Creek, northwestern Guyana, northern South America) 2, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35266376

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