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Eddygp
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Geology/Geochemistry forum [POLL]
So after a while and having read a member's signature, I thought that it would surely be interesting to create a Geology or Geochemistry subforum.
It is very interesting for us chemists (or potential chemists) to know, understand and ask ourselves about the chemistry involved in the rocks and
minerals of the planet, about how and why some dendritic minerals appear on certain types of rock or why some iron oxide traces in limestone are
surrounded by a thin layer of transparent crystals.
I would like to learn more about Geology and, who knows, maybe specialise in geochemistry. There is a Biochemistry forum here, so I don't know why a
Geochemistry forum wouldn't be accepted.
Eddygp.
[Edited on 31-8-2013 by Eddygp]
there may be bugs in gfind
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bfesser
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I have lots of ideas for posts and photos that I would like to post in a geology forum. This idea has been <a
href="viewthread.php?tid=24945#pid291174">discussed</a> before, but I doubt it'll happen. I vote yes (obviously).
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Sublimatus
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Being a member of many forums over the years, it's been my experience that adding a subforum for a subject doesn't suddenly generate a bunch of
interest and discussion about the subject.
On the contrary, it seems to me that creating a new subforum most appropriately occurs in response to a healthy amount of discussion centered around a
subject that is already taking place in a subforum where it doesn't quite fit.
That isn't to say that I don't like geology or would be against it having a subforum. Indeed, I often wonder if I should have been a geologist
instead, and I spend an inordinate amount of time bullshitting with one of the geologists at the university about meteorite impacts, meteorites, and
exotic minerals. My point is simply that on a low traffic forum, it's easy to end up with a multitude of abandoned and empty subforums, especially
when I get the feeling that many of us live on the Today's Posts page.
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watson.fawkes
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Quote: Originally posted by Eddygp  | | It is very interesting for us chemists (or potential chemists) to know, understand and ask ourselves about the chemistry involved in the rocks and
minerals of the planet, |
No one's stopping you from having such discussions already. New forum sections
should be created based on existing traffic overwhelming an already-existing section. To date, there's not been adequate volume to justify it.
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plante1999
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My signature?
Hmmm, I guess I will have to check it back...
I'm for a subforum, but I do believe many should be removed.
I never asked for this.
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Eddygp
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| Quote: Originally posted by plante1999 |
My signature?
Hmmm, I guess I will have to check it back...
I'm for a subforum, but I do believe many should be removed. |
Yikes! It wasn't you... I guess it was another member. Sorry hahaha. But someone has that signature.
there may be bugs in gfind
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bfesser
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| Quote: Originally posted by watson.fawkes | | No one's stopping you from having such discussions already. New forum sections should be created based on existing traffic overwhelming an
already-existing section. To date, there's not been adequate volume to justify it. |
Well, I have to say that
for myself, I've refrained from making a lot of posts and topics that I've wanted to, simply because I felt that there was no good place to put them.
I didn't want to flood Miscellaneous with my geology nerd rants. To some extent, yes, previous discussion must be present, but not
having a forum can also stifle potential discussion.
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Eddygp
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| Quote: Originally posted by bfesser | | Quote: Originally posted by watson.fawkes | | No one's stopping you from having such discussions already. New forum sections should be created based on existing traffic overwhelming an
already-existing section. To date, there's not been adequate volume to justify it. |
Well, I have to say that
for myself, I've refrained from making a lot of posts and topics that I've wanted to, simply because I felt that there was no good place to put them.
I didn't want to flood Miscellaneous with my geology nerd rants. To some extent, yes, previous discussion must be present, but not
having a forum can also stifle potential discussion. |
Same for me. Even if Biochemistry was merged with Geochemistry, it would be more useful that posting it in miscellaneous. My point of view.
there may be bugs in gfind
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Sublimatus
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I can't imagine what else the Miscellaneous forum would be for, other than content that has no specific forum space allocated for it. I would be happy
to read and discuss your geology nerd rants, bfesser, Geology forum or not.
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Magpie
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I like geology and minerals. I had a friend with a gold mine and assayed a rock he gave me via fire assay, the classic wet chemistry method. I am
even more interested in metallurgy and the recovery of chemicals from minerals.
But I'm neutral about needing a subforum.
The single most important condition for a successful synthesis is good mixing - Nicodem
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watson.fawkes
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| Quote: Originally posted by bfesser | | I've refrained from making a lot of posts and topics that I've wanted to, simply because I felt that there was no good place to put them.
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Sounds like a personal problem, not a problem with forum organization, for which you are well known for
desiring far more "order" than others.
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elementcollector1
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I used to be a huge rock collector, I'd love to see this forum.
Elements Collected:52/87
Latest Acquired: Cl
Next in Line: Nd
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bfesser
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<strong>Sublimatus</strong>, expect to see a few new geology topics in <strong>Miscellaneous</strong>, in that case. 
<strong>watson.fawkes</strong>: | Quote: Originally posted by watson.fawkes | | Quote: Originally posted by bfesser | | I've refrained from making a lot of posts and topics that I've wanted to, simply because I felt that there was no good place to put them.
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Sounds like a personal problem, not a problem with forum organization, for which you are well known for
desiring far more "order" than others. |
Which is why I worded it from a personal perspective, which was
partly lost when you trimmed the quote. | Quote: Originally posted by bfesser | | Well, <u>I have to say that for myself, I</u>'ve refrained from making a lot of posts and topics that <u>I've wanted</u> to,
simply because <u>I felt</u> that there was no good place to put them. <u>I didn't want</u> to flood
Miscellaneous with my geology nerd rants. To some extent, yes, previous discussion must be present, but not having a forum can also
stifle potential discussion. |
I've also been mulling over starting a blog (for a long time) so that I can share things I find interesting, but have nobody to share with in offline
life. Even if nobody ever reads it, I think it might be useful to <em>organize</em>—sorry,
<strong>watson.fawkes</strong>—my thoughts, research, and various projects. I've been tinkering with WordPress off and on for a
few years, but haven't published anything yet.
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sonogashira
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I'd like to see a homemade diamond anvil cell: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_anvil_cell
Synthetic diamonds are reasonably cheap, and geological research would be within reach of amateurs.
[Edited on 31-8-2013 by sonogashira]
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Eddygp
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Almost 47% of "Go ahead, I want it", 40% of neutral and unsure people and 13% of "Forget it". 18 votes at the moment. Actually, I didn't expect so
many neutrals, but I guess that it is normal, so some debate would be reasonable.
Geochemistry and geology deserve more attention than just "miscellaneous" things. Actually, in miscellaneous there are (sometimes) some very general
subjects or only mildly related to chemistry. It's becoming a bit like the Whimsy of those who do not have access to Whimsy or a
mixture between Chemistry in General, Beginnings and Whimsy. Whimsical examples:
http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=25922
http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=11140
[Edited on 31-8-2013 by Eddygp]
there may be bugs in gfind
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Magpie
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I have a friend (ex colleague chemical engineer) who makes jewelry from the semi-precious stones he collects. He has even made his own synthetic
sapphire using a Lincoln electric arc welder and ultrapure Al2O3. Now that takes some serious heating! 
The single most important condition for a successful synthesis is good mixing - Nicodem
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watson.fawkes
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| Quote: Originally posted by Eddygp | | Geochemistry and geology deserve more attention than just "miscellaneous" things. Actually, in miscellaneous there are (sometimes) some very general
subjects or only mildly related to chemistry. |
If they deserve more attention, then prove it by showing
traffic. This is pretty easy, if you care.
As for relevance, Miscellaneous is labelled "topics pertaining to mad science that do not fit in the other forums." Since geology doesn't fit in the
other forums, it can go just fine there, just like all the other non-chemisty topics.
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watson.fawkes
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| Quote: Originally posted by bfesser | Which is why I worded it from a personal perspective, which was partly lost when you trimmed the quote. | Quote: Originally posted by bfesser | | Well, <u>I have to say that for myself, I</u>'ve refrained from making a lot of posts and topics that <u>I've wanted</u> to,
simply because <u>I felt</u> that there was no good place to put them. <u>I didn't want</u> to flood
Miscellaneous with my geology nerd rants. To some extent, yes, previous discussion must be present, but not having a forum can also
stifle potential discussion. |
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So let me get this right. You're
calling me out because I avoided the opportunity to point out that you'd like to be known as a preening, attention-grubbing narcissist?
Well, umm, OK then.
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bfesser
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Settle down; I wasn't calling you out. I only wanted to be clear that I acknowledged it's a "personal problem." As for the insults, they're untrue
and uncalled for; please stop.
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plante1999
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I do think the arguing is starting to be really annoying.
I never asked for this.
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Sublimatus
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I agree.
I'm amazed by the level of divisiveness for divisiveness-sake and the number of grudges that have played out over the past few months. Argument is
fine, but personal attacks are off limits in any respectable intellectual forum. It is becoming quite distracting from the subject of this board and
is simply off topic (admittedly this post is as well).
This post is not meant to be caustic or negative -- tone is too easily lost in plain text, so I'm being explicit about my intent. I am simply voicing
concern.
[Edited on 9/1/2013 by Sublimatus]
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IrC
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I voted neutral even though determining the various chemicals in rocks is (and has been since young) very interesting to me. The reason is I believe
it should earn it's way in. By that I mean enough threads on the subject being posted in Miscellaneous to warrant it.
[Edited on 9-1-2013 by IrC]
"Science is the belief in the ignorance of the experts" Richard Feynman
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bfesser
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It is my view that enough threads have already been posted to warrant a new forum. I've listed several above, and have seen many others that could be
moved from Miscellaneous into a new Geology forum.
I wonder if it were Energetic Materials that was being considered for a new forum, as Geology now is, whether these same members who
voice disapproval would be in favor, because it it something which interests them personally. As someone who doesn't even like EMs, I would still
agree that it deserves it's own forum. I don't mean to be argumentative or combative with this, so please don't get offended; but please be sure that
you're giving this a fair and objective consideration. If you've already done so, then I appreciate it. In fact, I appreciate even being allowed to
have discussion on this matter, whether or not we get any new forums.
Of course, as I suggested in the other thread on this, I think that we could satisfy any possible future demand by adding only three new forums,
perhaps under a new category "Other Natural Sciences"; "Biology", "Geology", and "Physics". I can't think of any potential topic that wouldn't be
classifiable under one of these three or an existing forum. I think this would really help to alleviate the difficulty of using our search function
or other means to find specific threads.
Some examples:
Biology — botany, dendrology, mycology, microbiology, virology, evolutionary, exobiology, zoology, etc.
Geology — mineralogy, petrology, physical, structural, volcanology, seismology, planetary science, paleontology, etc.
Physics — nuclear, astronomy, quantum, thermodynamics, particle, etc.
We're already stuck with Computational Models and Techniques, and just look how often that gets used... poor
Polverone.
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Dany
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is there any place for math?
Dany.
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bfesser
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Pure Mathematics or Applied Mathematics? Isn't mathematics sort of something outside of Science—like logic—something that all
sciences rely upon? Maybe the Computational Models and Techniques could be transormed into a more general maths-oriented forum.
Thanks for pointing this out.
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