{"id":46566,"date":"2026-07-27T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/?p=46566"},"modified":"2026-07-24T07:35:40","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T14:35:40","slug":"geology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/geology\/","title":{"rendered":"Geology"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/101-American-Geo-Sites-Youve-Gotta-See.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/101-American-Geo-Sites-Youve-Gotta-See-953x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46567\" width=\"412\" height=\"442\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/101-American-Geo-Sites-Youve-Gotta-See-953x1024.jpg 953w, https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/101-American-Geo-Sites-Youve-Gotta-See-279x300.jpg 279w, https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/101-American-Geo-Sites-Youve-Gotta-See-768x825.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/101-American-Geo-Sites-Youve-Gotta-See.jpg 1396w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 412px) 100vw, 412px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3><strong>Tourist guide to geological power points<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/substack.com\/redirect\/138ed46a-3fef-4806-8ab5-3871cc7ea08b?j=eyJ1IjoiMXhmZzB6In0.4ieSFe4rvvESx3-YSOApdZUV-VKuM1Arc6QBuHWifaY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">101 American Geo-Sites You\u2019ve Gotta See<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This will change your vacation plans. Visit your home planet! Geology is a force so huge we don\u2019t see it. Yet evenly spread across the US (at least one in each state) are spots where our planetary behavior is made visible, erupting in either grand spectacle or in tiny gems on the ground. I was briefly a geology major in school, so call me geeky: but what bigger vacation can one imagine that inspecting 101 sites where you can see inside the Earth? A surprising number of US national, state, and county parks are dedicated to geologic power points. Other spots may be roadcuts or river beds. Use this guide to find them and interpret their incredible hidden significance. \u2014&nbsp;<em>KK<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/Meteor-Crater-Arizona.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46568\" width=\"345\" height=\"242\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/Meteor-Crater-Arizona.jpg 700w, https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/Meteor-Crater-Arizona-300x211.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 345px) 100vw, 345px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Meteor Crater, Arizona<\/strong>Of the more than 180 impact sites recognized around the world, approximately 25 are in the United States. The recognized godfather of them all, meteor crater is a perfect example of a simple crater \u2014 one without a central uplift. It is the most thoroughly investigated and by far the best preserved of the many astroblemes that scar the face of planet Earth.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/Dinosaur-Sate-Park.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46569\" width=\"412\" height=\"268\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/Dinosaur-Sate-Park.jpg 700w, https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/Dinosaur-Sate-Park-300x195.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 412px) 100vw, 412px\" \/><figcaption><em>At Dinosaur State Park, intersecting sets of pockmarking footprints give evidence of a well-traveled freeway.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/american-geosites5sm.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46570\" width=\"422\" height=\"352\" \/><figcaption><em>The main attractions at Kellyes Island are the first-order, big-boy grooves deeply scoured into the limestone bedrock at Glacial Grooves State Memorial.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/american-geosites3sm.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46571\" width=\"455\" height=\"409\" \/><figcaption><em>Cross-section (not drawn to scale) of the Four Corners roadcut. The coal seems (black lines) formed in a swamp environment.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/american-geosites4sm-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46573\" width=\"315\" height=\"478\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/american-geosites4sm-1.jpg 475w, https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/american-geosites4sm-1-198x300.jpg 198w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 315px) 100vw, 315px\" \/><figcaption><em>This Sandstone cast of a Gilboa Forest stump is believed to be the fossilized root remains of a primitive palmlike tree. The basal diameter is 3.5 feet.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Gilboa Forest, New York<\/strong><br>42\u00b0 23\u2019 52\u201d North, 74\u00b0 26\u2019 50\u201d West<br>Devonian Period FossilizationOnly Sandstone casts of stumps and roots remain of this first forest to shade the American landscape.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/Fossil-Collecting-in-the-Mid-Atlantic-States.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46574\" width=\"320\" height=\"475\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/Fossil-Collecting-in-the-Mid-Atlantic-States.jpg 337w, https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/Fossil-Collecting-in-the-Mid-Atlantic-States-202x300.jpg 202w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3>Where to find fossils<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/substack.com\/redirect\/1a756f4d-e3d5-45b0-a7bb-1aa4776b5ff3?j=eyJ1IjoiMXhmZzB6In0.4ieSFe4rvvESx3-YSOApdZUV-VKuM1Arc6QBuHWifaY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fossil Collecting in the Mid-Atlantic States<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The only thing wrong with this field guide is that it is restricted to the Mid-Atlantic States. It gives very specific driving directions (alas, no GPS coordinates) to easily accessible sites where one can collect small fossils. And each site and its ancient bounty is depicted in lovely sketches. I wish all guides books were like this. \u2014&nbsp;<em>KK<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/fossil-collecting1sm-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46576\" width=\"344\" height=\"434\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/fossil-collecting1sm-1.jpg 475w, https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/fossil-collecting1sm-1-238x300.jpg 238w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 344px) 100vw, 344px\" \/><figcaption><em>Field gear for the well-equipped fossil collector. Hand lenses (top), Elmer&#8217;s Glue-All, various sizes of masonry chisels (or cold chisels), bandaids (and other first-aid supplies), a chisel-end and pick-end rock hammer, a rock bag, an assortment of maps, newspapers for wrapping specimens, paper bags, plastic bags, an old toothbrush, a notebook and pen, some cotton, small containers, gloves, safety goggles, and a little bit of luck.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/unnamed-1-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"506\" src=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/unnamed-1-1-1024x506.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46581\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/unnamed-1-1-1024x506.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/unnamed-1-1-300x148.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/unnamed-1-1-768x380.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2026\/07\/unnamed-1-1.jpg 1456w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>Once a week we\u2019ll send out a page from Cool Tools: A Catalog of Possibilities. The tools might be outdated or obsolete, and the links to them may or may not work. We present these vintage recommendations as is because\u00a0the possibilities they inspire are new.\u00a0<em><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/toolsforpossibilities.substack.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up here<\/a>\u00a0to get Tools for Possibilities a week early in your inbox.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tools for Possibilities: issue no. 200<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":47588,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[2387],"tags":[2388],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46566"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/47588"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46566"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46566\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46583,"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46566\/revisions\/46583"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46566"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46566"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}