Lite Geology
Lite Geology was started in the fall of 1992 as a quarterly publication geared at Earth-science teachers in New Mexico. We continue to publish Lite Geology on an intermittent basis. New issues will be posted on this site when they become available.
Lite Geology is written in a format that is less technical than other publications of the NMBGMR. Included with the main articles are cartoons, puzzles, poetry, and other features designed to make learning fun. We also include information about teachers' resources, and upcoming geological and scientific events.
Back Issues:
Back issues of Lite Geology are now available as free downloads in PDF format (all files less than 3.7 MB each). Choose from the list below. Featured highlights in each issue are listed. (Adobe Acrobat 6.0 or later is required).
Number 25, 2004
- Earth Briefs—Toys on the Run
- Have you ever wondered—Why geologists study fossils?
- Summer programs for teachers
- Postcard from the field—Studying ice and volcanoes in Antarctica
Number 24, 2002
- Earth Briefs—How can earthquakes be useful?
- New Mexico Earthquakes—Mid-1800's through 1998
- Earthquake excercise at Alamagordo, New Mexico
Number 23, 2001
- Earth Briefs—Gas from garbage
- Have you ever wondered—Who gets rich when an oil well is drilled in New Mexico?
Number 22, 1999
- Earth Briefs—Carrizozo lava still a youngster at 5,000 years old
- Have you ever wondered—What geologists learn from drilling wells?
Number 21, 1998
- Earth Briefs—Canadian prospecting finally pays off
- Have you ever wondered—How much money does New Mexico receive from mining and oil and gas production?
Number 20, Summer 1998
- Earth Briefs—Celebrate the first annual Earth Science Week!
- Natural accumulations of carbon dioxide in the New Mexico region
Number 19, Spring 1998
- Earth Briefs—Beachcombing in the desert
- Born of fire and water: Ancient flooding of the Rio Grande
- LEGO toys lost at sea
Number 18, Winter 1996
- Earth Briefs—-El Niño is brewing in 1997
- Aggregate in the modern stone age
Number 17, Fall 1996
- Earth Briefs—Once was not enough: meteor returns
- Have you ever wondered—What controls summer rainfall in the desert southwest?
- How much do we consume?
Number 16, Summer 1996
- Earth Briefs—Popocatépetl Volcano: past eruptions-future dangers?,
- Have you ever wondered…About oil production in New Mexico?,
- How much do we consume?
Number 15, Spring 1996
- Earth Briefs—Mining is for the birds (Raptors, that is)
- Have you ever wondered…How volcanologists help solve environmental problems?
Number 14, Winter 1995
- Earth Briefs—Concretions, bombs, and ground water
- Have you ever wondered…How our climate has varied in the past?
Number 13, Fall 1995
- Earth Briefs—-Landslide potential in New Mexico
- The iron trail to Fierro
Number 12, Summer 1995
- Earth Briefs—What's bugging the environment?
- Have you ever wondered…About the history of earthquakes in New Mexico?
- How long will US coal reserves last?
Number 11, Spring 1995
- Earth Briefs—Geologist makes heads and talus of rock glaciers
- Have you ever wondered…About coal mining?
Number 10, Winter 1994
- Earth Briefs—Triassic tracks trigger dig on prison grounds
- Have you ever wondered…About coal?
Number 9, Fall, 1994
- Earth Briefs—Bathtub duckies make research fun
- Have you ever wondered…About gold?
- Nonstructural earthquake hazards in schools
Number 8, Summer 1994
- Earth Briefs—Quake shakes thermal lakes
- Have you ever wondered…How earthquakes are measured?
- Ancient lakes: a tool for understanding climatic change
Number 7, Spring 1994
- Earth Briefs—World watches as comet collides with Jupiter this summer
- Have you ever wondered…Why earthquakes occur
Number 6, Winter 1993
- Earth Briefs—Receding floodwaters expose fossils,
- Have you ever wondered…Why New Mexico is so rich in oil and gas?
- High adventure on the Tibetan Plateau: Scientists study uplift rates from continental collision
Number 5, Fall 1993
- Earth Briefs—Old trees on El Malpais reveal climate history back to 180 B.C.
- Have you ever wondered…How big is Avogadro's number?
- Dawson: a town dependent on coal
Number 4, Summer 1993
- Earth Briefs—Cosmic debris makes dramatic entrance
- Have you ever wondered…How old are the Sandia Mountains?
- Questions and answers about stream meanders
- Fireworks and natural resources
Number 3, Spring 1993
- Earth Briefs—Pack rats reveal cosmic secrets
- Have you ever wondered…How old is the Rio Grande?
- Groundwater overdraft and land subsidence
Number 2, Winter 1992
- Earth Briefs—Scientists study clay for cleanup
- Water guardians program; Quiet desert was once site of enormous volcanoes
- Groundwater concepts for understanding New Mexico's water supply
- The economic benefits of the mineral industry in New Mexico
- Nepheline Syenite: toilet bowls and beer bottles
- Natural resources and your Christmas tree
Number 1, Fall 1992
- Earth Briefs—Rising levels of mercury in fish
- Geologists evaluate a dangerous site—Troublesome rockfalls along the Rio Grande gorge
- An intoduction to the science of ancient organisms—Paleontology: fossils and ancientenvironments
From the pages of Lite Geology:
- Where are you? See if you can identify where in New Mexico these photos were taken.
- Like geology cartoons? Check out these gems from past issues.
Other stuff for teachers:
You might want to look at the Bureau's online collection of New Mexico minerals from the Mineral Museum.
Teachers! Visit our teacher info page for information about resources, activities, and seminars.
If you're interested in earthquakes, take a look at the NMBGMR Tremor earthquake education Web site. This link will open a new window, which you can close when you're finished and want to resume your browsing here.
New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources
New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology
801 Leroy Place
Socorro, NM 87801-4796
information: (575) 835-5420
fax: (575) 835-6333
http://geoinfo.nmt.edu
The New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources is a research and service division of:
