Geology news, features and articles

The far-reaching science of geology covers everything from ancient fossils to the precious minerals beneath our feet. At Live Science, we deliver geology discoveries that absolutely rock and help you to understand the makeup of our planet. Whether you want to know how to tell the difference between geologic ages, why Earth has a new geologic age or facts about an ancient supercontinent, our expert writers and editors have you covered with the latest geology news, features and articles.
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Watch mud volcano erupt beneath a crown of flames in Taiwan
By Patrick Pester published
The Wandan mud volcano has erupted in Taiwan, sending bubbling mud shooting into the air as locals ignite ejected gases with burning rags.

World's oldest rocks could shed light on how life emerged on Earth — and potentially beyond
By Ben Turner published
The rocks could offer insight into Earth's primordial crust and the environment that gave birth to life.

There's a 'ghost' plume lurking beneath the Middle East — and it might explain how India wound up where it is today
By Sascha Pare published
Researchers have discovered an unusual plume of magma beneath Oman that may have changed the course of the Indian tectonic plate between 25 million and 40 million years ago.

Hells Canyon caves reveal unexpected finding about America's deepest gorge
By Olivia Ferrari published
About 2,000 feet deeper than the Grand Canyon, Hells Canyon was rapidly carved when a lake spilled over about 2.1 million years ago, new research estimates.

Taal Lake: The volcanic crater that has 'an island within a lake, within an island within a lake, within an island'
By Sascha Pare published
Taal Lake on Luzon Island in the Philippines is a volcanic crater lake with a rare geology of nested islands and water.

Industrial waste is turning into a new type of rock at 'unprecedented' speed, new study finds
By Sascha Pare published
Samples from slag cliffs in England reveal industrial waste products can turn into rock in less than four decades, challenging assumptions about how rocks form.

How much gold is there in the world?
By Sascha Pare published
How much gold have humans mined to date, and how much is left?

Tectonic plates can spread subduction like a contagion — jumping from one oceanic plate to another
By Evan Howell published
Evidence from Earth's deep past suggests dramatic subduction zones can spread like a contagion.

Scientists discover strong, unexpected link between Earth's magnetic field and oxygen levels
By Sascha Pare published
Earth's magnetic field and oxygen levels have increased more or less in parallel over the past 540 million years, suggesting the two factors are linked in some way, researchers say.

Lake Natron: The caustic, blood-red lake in Tanzania that turns animals to 'stone'
By Sascha Pare published
Lake Natron is a soda lake in northern Tanzania with a volcanic geology that maintains the water's pH around 10.5, which is almost as caustic as ammonia. Some life-forms thrive there nevertheless.
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