Thursday, June 30, 2016

Geosonnet 42


An alpha particle can break the bonds
Of diamond as it crashes to a halt.
Each glowing lattice defect corresponds
To trace uranium ore by default.
Proterozoic water then dissolves
These min’rals when they weather from the ground.
The age of weathering therefore resolves
Why He but no U in these stones are found.
The sediment’ry age is reconciled
With orphan daughter isotopes of lead
Archean atmosphere O2 reviled.
It must have been in groundwater instead.
   So read this study; cite it frequently.
   (Disclaimer: journal article by me.)


Other geosonnets: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64  65 66  67 68 69

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Geosonnet 41


The rock of rocks, zircon is not disturbed
As mountains grow, then wash into the sea.
Its isotopic clock is not perturbed
Providing billion year chronometry.
But like Smaug’s waistcoat, or Achillies’ heel
The Earth’s timekeeper has a fatal strain
A brine containing fluorine is ideal
For mobilizing metals from this grain
Earth’s body’s precious fluids rearrange
The normally immobile REE
And actinides, and other metals strange
To fluid induced rock mobility.
   The thermal history is not innate
   When heat producing elements migrate.


Other geosonnets: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64  65 66  67 68 69



Sunday, June 05, 2016

Geosonnet 40



The muddy bosom sunset turns to gold
Contrary runs to playa, or to sea.
But though the flow of human blood seems old
‘tis but a spray, seen by geology.
The shady banks, by forests overgrown
Are stabilized by roots of growing trees.
Far different are the rivers Langston’s known
To those which ran ere plants emerged from seas.
The math predicts, and Tombador confirms
Meanders become braids without a plant.
The shallow floodplain channels build up berms.
The mud in verdant floodplains now is scant.
   So when at last we cross the Styx, beware:
   Its lifeless banks will split the channels there.


Other geosonnets: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64  65 66  67 68 69