Happy Geoscience for Everyone Day – Earth Science Week 2023

It’s Geoscience for Everyone Day! Today, we focus on encouraging everyone, including minorities, people of all gender orientations, and those with a range of abilities to study geosciences!

Over the past few years, multiple publications and scientific websites have examined the issue of physical accessibility in the geoscience profession. Multiple disciplines under the geoscience umbrella require people to conduct field work in rough terrain, which is not always easy for those with limited mobility. Additionally, many undergraduate courses in geology have a field trip component that requires students to travel to remote exposures and hike over rough terrain.

Although much work still needs to be done, paved trails and technology have allowed students and geoscientists with limited physical mobility to participate in data collection and field observation. For those interested in designing accessible field experiences in Arkansas, the Office of the State Geologist has three State Park Series publications available: Crater of Diamonds State Park, Hobbs State Park, and Petit Jean State Park. All three parks offer accessible facilities and/or trails. This includes the Little Missouri River trail in Crater of Diamonds, the Cedar Falls Overlook trail in Petit Jean, and the Ozark Plateau and Historic Van Winkle Trails in Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area. The Hobbs State Park publication even has geologic trail maps available. These publications can be accessed on our website: https://www.geology.arkansas.gov/publication/state-park-series.html

For additional information, please see the following resources regarding physical accessibility in geoscience:

Creating Spaces for Geoscientists with Disabilities to Thrive

https://theiagd.org/ – The International Association for Geoscience Diversity

Field Tested: A groundbreaking field camp opens Earth sciences to students with disabilities

https://sites.google.com/ufl.edu/geospace-field-program – An accessible field course for students at the University of Florida

https://rock.geosociety.org/net/gsatoday/science/G462A/GSATG462A.pdf – Using Mobile Technologies to Enhance Accessibility and Inclusion in Field-Based Learning

https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geosphere/article/15/6/1809/574966/Making-geoscience-fieldwork-inclusive-and – Making geoscience fieldwork inclusive and accessible for students with disabilities

Earth Science Week – Minerals Day – Wavellite

Wavellite – Al₃(PO₄)₂(OH,F)₃ ^. 5H₂O, Crystal System: Orthorhombic, Hardness: 3.25-4

Arkansas is well known to collectors as a wonderful place to hunt for mineral specimens. One of the most desirable is the mineral wavellite.

Wavellite is found in many locations along the central portion of the state from Polk County to Pulaski County and as far north as Independence County.

This attractive mineral forms in the fractures in harder rocks. Wavellite crystals are needle-like and grow in radiating clusters that form grape-like structures. This crystal habit is known to geologists as botryoidal (BAH-tree-oy-dal). These grape-like spheres display a beautiful radiating “cat eye” pattern inside when they are broken.

Green grape-like clusters of wavellite

Cat eye pattern of radiating needle-like crystals

In addition to the stunning crystal shape of wavellite, the variety of colors it exhibits make it even more desirable to collectors. Wavellite in Arkansas can be found in a wide range of colors from dark emerald green to lime, blue to blue-green, yellow, white, and colorless.

Light blue wavellite forming on yellow-green wavellite

Gray wavellite forming on yellow wavellite

So what makes all these different colors in the same mineral? We think we know who the culprit is! Trace amounts of the element vanadium are present in Arkansas wavellite. Vanadium displays different colors depending on how much oxygen it has been exposed to. These include green, yellow, and blue. Analysis of the vanadium found in samples of Arkansas wavellite has shown a corresponding relationship to the different colors of the mineral. The white to colorless varieties of wavellite have no vanadium present.

A beautiful sample of dark green Arkansas wavellite is on display in the Smithsonian, so stop by to visit if you are ever in the area!

Blue-gray wavellite

Blue-green wavellite

Yellow wavellite

White to clear wavellite