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Geology photo competition 2012

Geology category

Dykes and lava flows give clues to Mt Teide's eruptive past. Tenerife, Canary Islands

G01 Dykes and lava flows give clues to Mt Teide's eruptive past. Tenerife, Canary Islands
Photographer: Andy Cross

Through miner's eyes. A view on the Humboldt Mountains from an old miners' hut near Glenorchy, NZ

G02 Through miner's eyes. A view on the Humboldt Mountains from an old miners' hut near Glenorchy, NZ
Photographer: Asia Druzbicka

Acicular needle-like crystals of bloedite [Na2Mg(SO4)2.4H2O] from one of the saline patches in Central Otago

G03 Acicular needle-like crystals of bloedite [Na2Mg(SO4)2.4H2O] from one of the saline patches in Central Otago
Photographer: Asia Druzbicka

Sleeping Giant! Mt Vesuvius looms over the densely populated and popular tourist destination of the Gulf of Naples

G04 Sleeping Giant! Mt Vesuvius looms over the densely populated and popular tourist destination of the Gulf of Naples
Photographer: Benjamin Moorhouse

Panning for gold at the historic Central Otago mining town of St Bathans!

G05 Panning for gold at the historic Central Otago mining town of St Bathans!
Photographer: Benjamin Moorhouse

An ornate starry fern spore found in sand from the mouth of the Clutha River

G06 An ornate starry fern spore found in sand from the mouth of the Clutha River
Photographer: Betina Fleming

The rugged Catlins coast - islands in the Oligocene?

G07 The rugged Catlins coast - islands in the Oligocene?
Photographer: Betina Fleming

Sutton Salt Lake by night: Looking towards the pink glow of Dunedin's lights. The Southern Cross is visible in the top right and bottom right of the photo

G08 Sutton Salt Lake by night: Looking towards the pink glow of Dunedin's lights. The Southern Cross is visible in the top right and bottom right of the photo
Photographer: Callum Bruce

Tushuk Tash, near Kashgar, in western China is a natural arch made of conglomerate. From the floor of the canyon, its height is about 400m

G09 Tushuk Tash, near Kashgar, in western China is a natural arch made of conglomerate. From the floor of the canyon, its height is about 400m
Photographer: Dushan Jugum

One of eleven 13th century Ethiopian Orthodox churches cut out of basaltic scoria from the East African Rift in Lalibela, Ethiopia

G10 One of eleven 13th century Ethiopian Orthodox churches cut out of basaltic scoria from the East African Rift in Lalibela, Ethiopia
Photographer: Dushan Jugum

Duffers Saddle looking back into the Nevis Valley. The is cut by the Nevis-Cadrona fault system and was worked during the gold rush

G11 Duffers Saddle looking back into the Nevis Valley. The is cut by the Nevis-Cadrona fault system and was worked during the gold rush
Photographer: Glenda Payne

Café Paradiso at Escalade Peak, Antarctica

G12 Café Paradiso at Escalade Peak, Antarctica
Photographer: Jacob Anderson

Looking down the Skelton Glacier from Clinker Bluff

G13 Looking down the Skelton Glacier from Clinker Bluff
Photographer: Jacob Anderson

Structurally-controlled melts have pulsed through this diorite in Fiordland dehydrating and converting patches to spectacular pale pink high-P garnet granulite

G14 Structurally-controlled melts have pulsed through this diorite in Fiordland dehydrating and converting patches to spectacular pale pink high-P garnet granulite
Photographer: James Scott

This basalt (right) has risen directly from the mantle plucking fragments of spinel peridotite (left) under the Auckland Islands. Image is ~ 5 cm wide

G15 This basalt (right) has risen directly from the mantle plucking fragments of spinel peridotite (left) under the Auckland Islands. Image is ~ 5 cm wide
Photographer: James Scott

Pyroxene-crystal anthill can't compete with dike and diatreme in Painted Desert country, Hopi Buttes, Arizona, USA

G16 Pyroxene-crystal anthill can't compete with dike and diatreme in Painted Desert country, Hopi Buttes, Arizona, USA
Photographer: James White

Reflection of west dipping sediments. Blue Lake, St Bathans, Central Otago

G17 Reflection of west dipping sediments. Blue Lake, St Bathans, Central Otago
Photographer: Jason Grieve

Hyperactive fieldwork in the Dunstan Mountains, March 2012

G18 Hyperactive fieldwork in the Dunstan Mountains, March 2012
Photographer: Jason Grieve

Ice covered quartzite peak in NW Greenland, we built a cairn of banded iron formation blocks on the top (carried from a unit at the base) to confuse future geologists!

G19 Ice covered quartzite peak in NW Greenland, we built a cairn of banded iron formation blocks on the top (carried from a unit at the base) to confuse future geologists!
Photographer: Jess Hillman

Cliff face reflected in the mirror calm water of De Dødes Fjord, NW Greenland

G20 Cliff face reflected in the mirror calm water of De Dødes Fjord, NW Greenland
Photographer: Jess Hillman

The confluence of the Zanskar and Indus Rivers in Ladakh, India. The Zanskar river looks like milky coffee due to its high sediment load, and it creates mixing eddies as it joins the much clearer Indus coming from the bottom left

G21 The confluence of the Zanskar and Indus Rivers in Ladakh, India. The Zanskar river looks like milky coffee due to its high sediment load, and it creates mixing eddies as it joins the much clearer Indus coming from the bottom left
Photographer: Jessica Hinojosa

Gold waits for nobody! As the night shift begins, the endless search for gold continues into the cold winter night. Placer gold mine, Galloway, Central Otago

G22 Gold waits for nobody! As the night shift begins, the endless search for gold continues into the cold winter night. Placer gold mine, Galloway, Central Otago
Photographer: Jimmy Stewart

A 45 tonne excavator feeds the Earnscleugh gold plant in the initial stages of the Earnscleugh placer gold project. Earnscleugh Flat, Central Otago

G23 A 45 tonne excavator feeds the Earnscleugh gold plant in the initial stages of the Earnscleugh placer gold project. Earnscleugh Flat, Central Otago
Photographer: Jimmy Stewart

Storm front rolling in over Sutton Salt lake

G24 Storm front rolling in over Sutton Salt lake
Photographer: Joe Vincent

Leighton stopping for a coffee break in the field

G25 Leighton stopping for a coffee break in the field
Photographer: Joe Vincent

The lone ranger

G26 The lone ranger
Photographer: John Williams

Mt. Cann (1693 m) and the mid Glenroy valley, southeast Nelson, with Victoria Range in the background (March, 2011). The Mt. Cann range consists of mid-Cretaceous Separation Point Suite granitoids

G27 Mt. Cann (1693 m) and the mid Glenroy valley, southeast Nelson, with Victoria Range in the background (March, 2011). The Mt. Cann range consists of mid-Cretaceous Separation Point Suite granitoids
Photographer: Matt Sagar

Orbicular granite, Mt. Cann Creek, southeast Nelson (March, 2011). Sponsored by Estwing

G28 Orbicular granite, Mt. Cann Creek, southeast Nelson (March, 2011). Sponsored by Estwing
Photographer: Matt Sagar

Hakataramea Valley - valley of the fossil whales

G29 Hakataramea Valley - valley of the fossil whales
Photographer: Moyna Muller

An aerial view of the spectacular braids of the Murchison River near Mt Cook. The river's blue hue is typical of glacially-fed rivers

G30 An aerial view of the spectacular braids of the Murchison River near Mt Cook. The river's blue hue is typical of glacially-fed rivers
Photographer: Nic Barth

The first winter snow on an A'a Lava Field on Hekla, once believed to be the gateway to Hell by Europe and now two years overdue for its next eruption

G31 The first winter snow on an A'a Lava Field on Hekla, once believed to be the gateway to Hell by Europe and now two years overdue for its next eruption
Photographer: Nichole Moerhuis

In 1973 a 1.5km long fissure opened up on Heimaey, creating Eldfell cone and a lava flow which covered 360 houses before being stopped by fire hoses

G32 In 1973 a 1.5km long fissure opened up on Heimaey, creating Eldfell cone and a lava flow which covered 360 houses before being stopped by fire hoses
Photographer: Nichole Moerhuis

Putangirua Pinnacles, southern Wairarapa coast. Late Miocene conglomerates exhumed and eroded during late Quaternary uplift. Site of the \

G33 Putangirua Pinnacles, southern Wairarapa coast. Late Miocene conglomerates exhumed and eroded during late Quaternary uplift. Site of the \"Paths of the Dead\" in \"Lord of the Rings\"
Photographer: Richard Norris

Hiking through a meltwater cave, created the previous night during heavy rainfall, inside the temperate Franz Josef Glacier; Fiordland, New Zealand

G34 Hiking through a meltwater cave, created the previous night during heavy rainfall, inside the temperate Franz Josef Glacier; Fiordland, New Zealand
Photographer: Robin Andrews

A man frozen in time by the pyroclastic flows that devastated Pompeii and Herculaneum in AD 79; Campania, Italy

G35 A man frozen in time by the pyroclastic flows that devastated Pompeii and Herculaneum in AD 79; Campania, Italy
Photographer: Robin Andrews

Architecture of an Irish stone wall, Aran Island, Galway

G36 Architecture of an Irish stone wall, Aran Island, Galway
Photographer: Alan Cooper

Trace fossils in the Liscannor slate, Cliffs of Moher, Galway

G37 Trace fossils in the Liscannor slate, Cliffs of Moher, Galway
Photographer: Alan Cooper

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G38 \"Eyeocene\" sandstone at Petra, Jordan
Photographer: Chris McLachlan

Ridin' with the locals, Petra, Jordan

G39 Ridin' with the locals, Petra, Jordan
Photographer: Chris McLachlan

Feeling hungry? This might quench your apatite. Electron backscatter image of a euhedral apatite grain in Cr-diopside. The apatite contains minute fluid inclusions and has two spinel grains on its right

G40 Feeling hungry? This might quench your apatite. Electron backscatter image of a euhedral apatite grain in Cr-diopside. The apatite contains minute fluid inclusions and has two spinel grains on its right
Photographer: Alice Hodgkinson

Electron backscatter image of a spinel xenocryst infiltrated by magma causing recrystallisation of clinopyroxene, spinel and glass

G41 Electron backscatter image of a spinel xenocryst infiltrated by magma causing recrystallisation of clinopyroxene, spinel and glass
Photographer: Alice Hodgkinson

In the search for ancient whales in the desert. Trelew, Patagonia Argentina

G42 In the search for ancient whales in the desert. Trelew, Patagonia Argentina
Photographer: Carolina Loch Silva

The interface between dentine and hydroxyapatite crystallites in the enamel of common dolphin tooth

G43 The interface between dentine and hydroxyapatite crystallites in the enamel of common dolphin tooth
Photographer: Carolina Loch Silva

Looking over Mt Donald into the Large Burn Wapiti block from the Mary Peaks

G44 Looking over Mt Donald into the Large Burn Wapiti block from the Mary Peaks
Photographer: Jesse Loughnan

Entering the 302 field area via helicopter on a cold snowy morning near Reefton

G45 Entering the 302 field area via helicopter on a cold snowy morning near Reefton
Photographer: Jesse Loughnan

Stratovolcan Payún Liso (3824m) located in the 4500m2 Payunia Provincial Reserve; part of The Payún Matrú Volcanic Field, the largest Quaternary basaltic province present in the Andes back-arc of S-America

G46 Stratovolcan Payún Liso (3824m) located in the 4500m2 Payunia Provincial Reserve; part of The Payún Matrú Volcanic Field, the largest Quaternary basaltic province present in the Andes back-arc of S-America
Photographer: Simone Hicks

Erosion at work! Artful patterns in beach sand created by a fresh water stream cutting a channel into the sand and forming meandering stream patterns running seawards

G47 Erosion at work! Artful patterns in beach sand created by a fresh water stream cutting a channel into the sand and forming meandering stream patterns running seawards
Photographer: Simone Hicks

Crater formed during the 2011 Grímsvötn eruption along the northern margin of the Grímsvötn caldera, Vatnajökull, Iceland

G48 Crater formed during the 2011 Grímsvötn eruption along the northern margin of the Grímsvötn caldera, Vatnajökull, Iceland
Photographer: Carolyn Gorny

Active dewatering along the 2011 Grímsvötn eruption crater margins coupled with weak geothermal activity gives rise to a myriad of orange hues as tephra undergoes palagonitization and clay alteration, Vatnajökull, Iceland.

G49 Active dewatering along the 2011 Grímsvötn eruption crater margins coupled with weak geothermal activity gives rise to a myriad of orange hues as tephra undergoes palagonitization and clay alteration, Vatnajökull, Iceland.
Photographer: Carolyn Gorny

Comedy category

Swinburn in the rain: Civilised 300 level mapping in the rain at Swinburn, Maniototo

C01 Swinburn in the rain: Civilised 300 level mapping in the rain at Swinburn, Maniototo
Photographer: Callum Bruce

Yet another break down of one of the geology department vans, during the Whataroa geophysics field school. Southern Alps in the background

C02 Yet another break down of one of the geology department vans, during the Whataroa geophysics field school. Southern Alps in the background
Photographer: Glenda Payne

Two chipmunks battle for bread during a lunch break on a field trip to the Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada

C03 Two chipmunks battle for bread during a lunch break on a field trip to the Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada
Photographer: Jessica Hinojosa

24 hour vigilance

C04 24 hour vigilance
Photographer: John Williams

Whale Hunters - geology style

C05 Whale Hunters - geology style
Photographer: Moyna Muller

Illustration category

What Time Looks Like

I01 What Time Looks Like
Photographer: Nic Barth

Recumbent folds of the Morcles Nappe are exposed in a dramatic cliff section at Lac de Salanfe, Switzerland, Western Alps

I02 Recumbent folds of the Morcles Nappe are exposed in a dramatic cliff section at Lac de Salanfe, Switzerland, Western Alps
Photographer: Andy Cross

Note: Photos are for non-commercial use only. Please acknowledge photographer