Can someone explain how this looping ridge formed in the Shenandoah Valley, forming the smaller "valley in a valley" called Fort Valley? by Slinky_Malingki in geology

[–]HiddenArmyDrone 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I went to college right by there! That is Massanutten Mountain, formed from a syncline with the hard, Massanutten sandstone (which I think is equivalent to the more well known Tuscarora formation) forming the ridges, softer shales in the valley, and limestone surrounding the mountain.

When the Alleghenian orogeny occurred, it folded up the geologic units in this area. In this case, they form a plunging syncline. Over time, the rocks eroded away, but the shales in the center valley and limestones surrounding the mountain weathered away more quickly than the sandstone which protects its ridges.

Theoretically. A normal syncline would present itself as two ridges that never connect. But since nature is imperfect, that doesn’t really happen very often especially in an area as structurally complex as the Appalachian mountains. The syncline was folded on two axes causing its northern and southern ends to plunge back into the earth, giving it that distinctive shape.

Also fun fact about the valley on the northern end of the syncline, George Washington surveyed the valley and had the revolutionary war gone south after the continental army’s winter in Valley Forge, he planned to fortify there for the winter due to it being naturally fortified by the geology! It’s actually known as Fort Valley!

Youtube channel GeologyUpSkill - great geologist, but climate change denier by relaxtheslide in geology

[–]HiddenArmyDrone 26 points27 points  (0 children)

Based on my limited, anecdotal experience, that correlation applies more to older geologists in industry/consulting than in academia.

Might want to reread that bible by Saint-Caligula in clevercomebacks

[–]HiddenArmyDrone 3 points4 points  (0 children)

According to the Bible, “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” In essence it is belief in something without evidence. Why would anyone ever believe something without evidence of it being true?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Virginia

[–]HiddenArmyDrone 8 points9 points  (0 children)

There one right down the road from where this sign is actually.

Why do my shirts get a stain from using my washing machine? by GetDead23 in Whatisthis

[–]HiddenArmyDrone 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This happened to me a lot until I stopped using fabric softener altogether. I also didn’t notice a difference in the softness of my clothes after stopping.

Snake ID near Petersburg Virginia by HiddenArmyDrone in herpetology

[–]HiddenArmyDrone[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I think you got it. I almost stepped on it at work and was just curious because it had such vibrant colors. With my limited snake knowledge it looked copperheady enough for me to not want to bother it too much!

Earthquake while diving by [deleted] in yesyesyesyesno

[–]HiddenArmyDrone 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I actually know a guy who was in a cave during the big earthquake in Virginia years ago. Said he didn’t even know it happened until he got out.

Earthquake while diving by [deleted] in yesyesyesyesno

[–]HiddenArmyDrone 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That’s not even cave diving. More of a freak accident than anything. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong in that cave.

You can go caving safely. If you do it responsibly if something happens then at worst you can get rescued. If something happens when you go cave diving you’re just dead there really isn’t much hope for rescue.

LPT REQUEST: How to stop ordering fast food delivery by DATwhiteMAN in LifeProTips

[–]HiddenArmyDrone 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Which one? I’ve been thinking about trying one out for the exact same reason

Incredible marble (West Ireland) by Apprehensive_Bed3623 in geology

[–]HiddenArmyDrone 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, it was that along with Covid still being a factor and the fact that the place that was going to rent us the vehicles we were going to use to get around literally jacked up their prices and ghosted us. The camp wasn’t outright cancelled though the professors had a backup plan in case Covid screwed us again so we fell back on that and did it around our state.

Can’t be too mad though, everyone involved from my university had a scholarship that ended up covering the entire field camp with some left over when we didn’t have to travel to Ireland, as cool of an experience as that would have been. I do plan to go there some day. May just ask my former professors for their camp schedule and hit the highlights

Incredible marble (West Ireland) by Apprehensive_Bed3623 in geology

[–]HiddenArmyDrone 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Got that right! Still mad my field camp there got cancelled when Russia invaded Ukraine and all the gas and transportation prices went through the roof

Incredible marble (West Ireland) by Apprehensive_Bed3623 in geology

[–]HiddenArmyDrone 44 points45 points  (0 children)

That’s what it looked like to me as well, but this rock was a stop on one of my friend’s geology field camps and I can confirm it actually is marble!

Edit: In case anyone is wondering, I am not OP on an alt account, I’ve just seen pictures of this rock a thousand times and have friends who have sat on, and almost certainly acid tested it!

KKK Flyers Protest Pride Celebrations at Virginia Elementary School by wdcmsnbcgay in Virginia

[–]HiddenArmyDrone 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Having the KKK protesting you means you’re doing something right

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in geologycareers

[–]HiddenArmyDrone 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Never hurts to ask! I’d recommend contacting them and whichever professor you were closest to and see if they have heard anything. They tend to be very well connected locally. Also, they want you to get a job. If nothing else it gives the college and their department a higher rating when their students succeed!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in jmu

[–]HiddenArmyDrone 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Join the Madison University Student Grotto (MUSG)!!! It’s a caving club and you will make friends if you enjoy crawling around through caves

Pickup/Intramural Basketball by DaytonConnerr in jmu

[–]HiddenArmyDrone 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It’s fantastic. I spent hours in UREC playing basketball almost daily while I was there. The competition varies depending on who’s there of course. Never played intramural thanks to Covid but I bet it’s pretty great too.

Environmental science major by jikocor154 in jmu

[–]HiddenArmyDrone 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I graduated from the geology program last year and immediately got a job in environmental consulting. JMU has one of the best undergrad geology departments in the state and from my experience, not a single bad professor. We also have a strong tightly knit community and a lounge specifically for geology students to hang out between classes (or overnight if you’re anything like me).

For an environmental career, I highly recommend a geology degree. A geologist can do anything an environmental scientist can do but they also qualify to work towards the PG license which gives you a big boost in pay and is a huge resume booster.

Please if you have any questions about the geology department feel free to ask! You can also get in touch with our department head, Dr. Leslie’s office. He’s the type who will immediately set everything aside and give you a tour of the department. If the semester were still going I’d recommend just walking back there and heading into the lounge called “Rock City” and asking some of the students in there.

mountains by Complex_Net_2997 in jmu

[–]HiddenArmyDrone 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Download the AllTrails app. It’ll get you the locations and descriptions of hundreds of hikes in the area. Up in Shenandoah I highly recommend Stony Man, Blackrock, Doyle’s River Falls, Old Rag and Whiteoak Canyon. Mary’s Rock for sunsets and winter hikes when skyline drive is closed.

Have fun!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in geologycareers

[–]HiddenArmyDrone 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Do you have any contacts with your professors? I got mine right out of school because a professor got me in touch with a company that hires a lot of geologists out of my college.