PlanetGeo: The Geology Podcast
A Geology and Earth Science Podcast. Join Chris, an award-winning geology teacher, and Jesse, a geoscience professor, in discussing the amazing features of our planet and their impact on your everyday life. No prior knowledge required. New episodes coming at you every week. Listen, subscribe, share with someone you know!
Episodes
214 episodes
The Science of Elevation - Hypsometry
In this episode, we delve into the fascinating concept of hypsometry and its applications in understanding Earth's topography. We start with a light-hearted email from a listener, but quickly transition into discussing the principles of hypsome...
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Season 4
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Episode 38
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39:31
Gymnast to Geoscientist - GeoGirl Dr. Rachel Phillips
In this episode we engage in a lively conversation with Dr. Rachel Phillips, popularly known as GeoGirl on YouTube. Rachel shares her journey from resisting geology despite her geologist parents, t...
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Season 4
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Episode 37
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1:12:55
Smash and Grab - How Big of a Sample Do You Need?
In this episode, we delve into the fascinating world of geological sampling. We start with a humorous discussion on episode titles and then transition into the complexities of geological sampling, including personal anecdotes about our own expe...
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Season 4
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Episode 36
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43:39
The Michigan Basin
In this episode of Planet Geo, we delve into the geology of the Michigan Basin, focusing on its formation, sedimentary layers, and economic significance. We discuss the concept of a self-fulfilling prophecy in basin formation, explaining how de...
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Season 4
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Episode 35
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41:30
The Garnets Have Eyes
In this episode, we delve into the fascinating topic of garnet eyes, discussing how these unique geological features form and what they reveal about the history of metamorphic rocks. We explore different types of reaction rims and depletion hal...
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Season 4
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Episode 34
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27:07
The Geology of Eskers
In this episode of PlanetGeo, we delve into the fascinating world of eskers, exploring their formation, significance, and economic importance. We explain how eskers, sinuous ridges formed by pressurized meltwater channels at the base of glacier...
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Season 4
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Episode 33
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39:33
Field Observations - a How-To
Dr. Jesse Reimink and Chris Bolhuis share their firsthand experiences and insights from recent fieldwork. The episode delves into their fascinating observations and discussions about various geological features, including lava inflation structu...
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Season 4
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Episode 32
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48:45
Columnar Jointing - Icelandic Version
Dr. Jesse Reimink and Chris Bolhuis delve into the fascinating geological phenomenon of columnar jointing, sharing insights from Chris's recent trip to Iceland. They discuss the formation, size variations, and unique patterns of these striking ...
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Season 4
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Episode 31
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39:38
The Unknown Early Earth - Jack Hills Zircons Part II
In this episode, Chris Bolhuis and Dr. Jesse Reimink delve into the intricacies of the Jack Hills zircons from Western Australia, discussing their formation, significance, and the ongoing scientific debates surrounding them. They explore topics...
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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33:31
The Big Fill Slide - And Landslides Generally
In this episode of Planet Geo, Dr. Jesse Reimink and Chris Bolhuis delve into the fascinating and sometimes perilous world of landslides, focusing on a recent landslide known as the Big Fill landslide that occurred in the Teton Pass. They discu...
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Season 2
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Episode 29
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42:15
Kickstarting Continents - The Acasta Gneiss Complex Part II
In this podcast episode, Dr. Jesse Reimink and Chris Bolhuis delve into part two of their discussion on Earth's oldest rocks, specifically the Acasta Gneiss. They explore the origin, complex history, and significance of these ancient rocks, inc...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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31:42
Cave Decorations - Mammoth Size
Dive into the fascinating world of Mammoth Cave with Dr. Jesse Reimink and Chris Bolhuis in this episode of Planet Geo. From understanding the types of passageways formed by ancient underground rivers to exploring the intricate and beautiful ca...
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Season 4
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Episode 27
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30:34
Earth's Oldest Fragments - Jack Hills Zircons Part I
In this episode, Chris Bolhuis and Dr. Jesse Reimink dive into the complexities of Zircon grains from the Jack Hills conglomerate in Western Australia—some of the Earth's oldest fragments. They discuss the environmental conditions necessary for...
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Season 4
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Episode 26
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32:30
Home Away From Home - The Grand Tetons
In this episode of Planet Geo, Chris Bolhuis and Dr. Jesse Reimink dive deep into the geology of the Grand Teton National Park. They cover the park's ancient rock formations, from the Archean gneiss to the granites formed around 2.5 billion yea...
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Season 4
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Episode 25
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33:37
Making a Mammoth Cave
This episode is Part 2 of our Mammoth Cave series - where we discuss the geological setup that enabled creation of the longest cave system in the world. The geology of the region, including the Green River, set the stage for the fo...
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Season 4
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Episode 23
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39:34
The Longest Cave System in the World
This is the first episode in a series of 3 on the world's longest cave system - Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. In this episode, Chris and Jesse talk a little about Mammoth and some of its impressive statistics. The focus however, is more...
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Season 4
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Episode 21
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37:05
The Uniqueness of Iceland
In this episode, Jesse and Chris talk about the geology of Iceland - although we keep it at a high level. We're going to come back to this - Iceland - later after Chris returns from his trip. Then, we'll get into some of detail that...
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Season 4
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Episode 20
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31:45
Tough Soil - The Geology of Hardpan
Hardpan! Where did this idea for an episode come from? Chris has been doing a ton of yard work lately and it’s not uncommon come across a layer when digging a hole that is next to impossible to penetrate. He has to bust out...
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Season 4
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Episode 19
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35:45
When Continents Became Stable
Today we really go into the weeds. Jesse and a colleague just published a paper in the journal Nature that proposes a new model for how continents became stable. Stable continents have all the granite at the surface, which contains all ...
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Season 4
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Episode 17
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40:34
Earth's Oldest Stuff
Today, Chris and Jesse get into a discussion about Earth’s oldest material. Earth is 4.568 Billion years old. First of all, that’s amazing the geochronologists have refined this down to 3 decimal places. How do we know this...
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Season 4
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Episode 16
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37:22