Learn to Identify Rivers in the Rock Record with a Geologist

[@miniminuteman773]

I have never seen a geological picture painted as easily as seeing that river bed snaking under the mountain. That looks like something out of a textbook. Really really incredible stuff!

[@myroncook]

snaking under the mountain....love it

[@Sara-eg9bc]

I'm glad Milo has also discovered the great stuff Myron makes!

[@zummo61]

Can you share coordinates of that river deposit so I can follow along on google earth?

[@counciousstream]

What's great about the video is that Prof Cook leads you to the understanding of what happened here. It's only after he explains in simple logical steps the processes of erosion, deposition, rock formation, cementation, uplift, erosion, that you say to yourself yeah I see that now. The beauty of Cook's teaching style is that once you know it, it all then seems so obvious.

[@Vicus_of_Utrecht]

@@counciousstream I lived in the area of the Rocky Mountain Great Basin; all the plateaus look similar to these river formations and I conflated the two processes. However I don't let bias hold me back (that is I'm not averse to new information that 80% of people seem to have, fear of cognitive dissonance). It's fascinating that these river channels and oceanic plateaus having wholly different processes by nature of hydrological erosion, they appear to have formed similarly.

[@Gremriel]

It's absolutely amazing that you can still see the course of rivers that have existed 50 million years ago.

[@robdunsdon3491]

Now with LiIDAR, they can really see them. It's amazing.

[@leonebritt4879]

Myron, your passion for geology and the history of the earth is infectious and your love of these ancient rivers and rock formations is so beautiful it almost makes me cry. Thank you. It's so wonderful to watch a video that isn't full of marketing jargon and someone frothing at the mouth to sell something. I could watch your videos all day. You are a great teacher.

[@myroncook]

Wow, thank you

[@Arcae95]

I love paleontology; I love biology, but I never could see myself falling in love with geology. That feeling has been really discouraging as someone who wants to study paleontology. You helped open my world. Starting to study geology has changed how I see everything. What I’m learning adds so much more context to the world around me, and the things I’m passionate about. Thank you, Professor Cook for helping overcome this.

[@toughenupfluffy7294]

The more you learn about geology the more fascinating it becomes. I started back to college when I was 48, intending to get a bachelor's in computer coding. But I took a Geology 101 class and fell in love. Now I have a Master's in it.

[@ArtHistoryProfessor]

Professor Cook, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for this new series highlighting the geological history of the Jurassic period and Eocene epoch!!!!! I am BEYOND THRILLED about the upcoming installments!! All the best from North Carolina!!! 🤝🏼

[@myroncook]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@woodturner1954]

I'm 68 yrs old,a pilot and have flown over most of northern New Mexico up in to Utah and have seen the ranges you talked about. From what little I learned in geology in HS I always assumed those meandering ridges were just just harder core rock formations lifted during tech tonic plate shifting eons ago. realize the erosion of softer materials on either side but never thought of these formations as river or stream bottoms. I also spent a number of years place mining for gold in northern Calif. (paid for 2 years of college with findings) so I am wondering about heavy material, gold, iron, silver, settling to the bottom of the stream that we looked for. Did that happen in these formations? Just took an chance on this you tube video and it just threw out most of what I thought I knew. Learn something new everyday!

[@myroncook]

You have an interesting background! In theory these ancient rivers could have gold in them. However, I am unaware of any significant quantities.

[@cacogenicist]

If one were curious about gold in these channels, I suppose you would look for sections with heavier cemented gravels, eh?

[@markhepworth]

@@cacogenicist The physics of gold was the same in ancient times as now,so yes,if you found an ancient river,that was gold bearing,gold would act 5he same way in it,as it does in gold bearing river now.

[@timhyatt9185]

@@markhepworth I would think if you could identify and locate the same sorts of structures that catch gold in modern rivers, you would likely find gold in the sorts of places. I do wonder if the way these rivers are preserved, they seem more sedate types of rivers but you might be able to backtrace them further upstream to more active regions or find a cataract or natural dam....

[@FullMetalNobody]

Wow. I imagine you've seen amazing things up there. You should get a GoPro

[@securityteam1697]

Thanks Myron. I fell in love with geology far too late in life to do anything meaningful with it, but man do I enjoy getting out in the sticks and looking around. I appreciate all of the lessons you teach.

[@myroncook]

You and me both!

[@stoutoutandaboutwithanorwe300]

Howdy from Utah and I second visiting Dinosaur National Monument! The wall of fossils is a numinous experience and worth the visit. This blew my mind! I’ve never seen, much less had explained, these ancient river beds from the sky. (Isn’t nice to be living in a time of drones?!) And I had no idea that I could stumble across one of my “notharctus tenebrosus” ancestors in Wyoming!! OK. Maybe I did know that! But still, our ancestors use to live in these lands. But yes! I love learning about the Wyoming geography and it has made me think more about the geology of the places I visit so often. I would love for you to head down towards Rock Springs and Kemmerer to do some videos there some time. I have so many questions, but am not great at research. So it would be great to see a knowledgeable person like yourself visit the area I enjoy. Granted, it’s a bit of a drive, but there’s some amazing places to visit and see.

[@myroncook]

I'm sure I'll be heading that way sometime. Neat geology

[@rubensilva_]

I think that you have the most interesting geological channel on KZbin. This mixture of gorgeous landscape videography and in-the-field teachings in a short compact form is very compelling. I think that if you can keep the videos coming more frequently (even though I can tell that they take some effort to produce so easy for me to say) yours will become the biggest geological channel on KZbin. Thanks again for such outstanding content.

[@myroncook]

Wow, thank you!

[@michaelallison2262]

True. I watch all kinds of geology videos on KZbin. I watch public lectures, college classes, and travel logs. Your videos are the best. Thanks again.

[@TheMilwaukieDan]

I’m a new subscriber here. I also listen to Dr. Nick Zintner of Central Washington Univ. explain t th e Columbia River geology, that I live in. The gift of teaching is awesome.

[@jeremiah_dyess]

I am not a Geologist, just your local Flagger that makes you stop when you get a new road. But I have seen literal tons of rocks, and there's a few I want to know the history of, because they are now part of my rock Garden. Mr. Cook is awesome, and I hope I can learn more.

[@austindiesel]

12 year old me would be so disappointed at how excited 30 year old me gets when hot new geology vids drop. No regrets.

[@ajj4207]

Hi Austin my first name is Austin too and I love geology as well I'm a dork. Smiles

[@myroncook]

😂

[@chrisdooley1184]

Us Dooleys love to watch and study geology Austin. It’s in our blood the physical sciences…

[@noeraldinkabam]

We need more ‘dorks’ and ‘nerds’. Dftba has created a space where anybody can be a proud dork.

[@timh6011]

Thank you for the laugh. That's good stuff.

[@timhansen2577]

I'm so glad I found your channel. I have fallen in love with the bighorn basin after years of exploring Colorado. It makes it so much more interesting traveling and exploring the areas when you know what you're looking at, besides it's natural beauty!

[@Laserblade]

That drone view from altitude and distance with the multicolored sediments and the channel cross-section on display with you for scale there is magnificent! 'Geology is how time writes'.

[@rivmitch7181]

Moving from the mountains of wNC to the foot of the Bighorns here in WY, the geography amazes me and leaves me in awe and wonder. Thanks Myron for your presentations and ability to explain things simply enough to help me understand what I am seeing!

[@davec.1045]

Thanks again, Myron. Another enjoyable video. Brings back memories of my Sedementology Field Camp in 1980 studying the Uinta Basin with Dr. Dane (Duke) Picard. The drone work is amazing. Looking forward to more!

[@ianc9843]

This is really great stuff, Professor. Don't ever stop!

[@dougberrett8094]

I found this interesting. Many decades ago, while on a hike in the Price, Utah area, we found what looked like the footprint of a large cat in the sandstone. That has intrigued me for decades. Being only eight years old at the time, I was unable to pursue it farther. However, I have never forgotten it either.

[@dlyrag755]

So glad I found your channel. I've always like geology and watching you make me want to go out and explore. Thanks for rekindling my interest from back when I was a young hiker.

[@TheMilwaukieDan]

New subscriber… I’m 77 and love geology. I have two degrees in Education and Life Sciences. The curious energies with me have always been drawn to geology. Thank you for teaching new information.

[@myroncook]

Welcome aboard!

[@ProfedeNaturales]

Thanks for making these videos! They are so clear and didactic. I am a Natural Sciences teacher and I love exploring nature with my family and imagining what the landscapes of my area were like millions of years ago. Your videos make me fall in love with nature again. Thank you! Greetings from Mendoza - Argentina.

[@prototropo]

What a good guy you are, Myron; and your enthusiasm has no doubt inspired who-knows-how-many young folk to pursue geology. You are very widely and very well-loved by the Rocky Earth community!

[@myroncook]

Thank you!

[@John-vn8vw]

Thank you for sharing your passion with us. Your teaching methods make it fun.

[@NoFeeArea]

Wonderful!!! We actually stayed at Dinosaur National Monument near the museum 3 years ago. That wall is amazing! Now we need to go over to the Green River area. It looked liked there wasn't much there passing throw from Moab 2 years ago but now my eyes are opened and I want to camp in that area. The other interesting area was when we came out of Colorado from Telluride into Utah. That Canyon area coming up to the pass on the South east side of those Mountains south east of Moab. So many unique formations to explore. I remember another area near where you live. There was an old air force base or airport and a Park with a storyboard if all the fossils found around that area. So much to see that way and not enough time! Thanks.

[@jerryeliaslaurindo1762]

Mr.Cook, you bring to ligth the untold history from the very deep past of earth... Thankyou!!!

[@CplSkiUSMC]

I'm lucky enough to live here and travel all over Wyoming. I see these things you are talking about and with every video you make Myron, it all starts swimming into focus. Thanks so much for your enlightenment.

[@myroncook]

I'm glad it is helpful! Enjoy your travels!

[@CplSkiUSMC]

@@myroncook Can you give me an idea of where in the basin I can observe this? Maybe a GPS coordinate?

[@brettoxford2846]

I have been taking historical geology this semester. Your videos have been great at turning the concepts we learn in class into tangible pictures and ideas in the field. Thanks for the great videos, it's always nice to learn from someone who clearly loves what they are teaching about.

[@myroncook]

The exhumed channel at 15:10 is in the Cretaceous Cedar Mesa Formation directly overlying the Jurassic Morrison Formation which also has many river channels.

[@lorijudd2151]

At present I live in southeastern Texas, just south of Houston. However, I was raised in Oregon and Washington. I am very familiar with the areas from the coast, through the Coast range, the Cascade range, and all the way to the Wallowas, the Tri-City area, the hills of the Palous, on up to Metalline Falls and the mountains around there. The geology there is fascinating. But of course it is different than what you see in the Wyoming and Utah areas. Your videos are tremendously illuminating. I only really began watching KZbin videos during the Pandemic. My husband died in February of 2020, and then we had the lockdown, so I started watching KZbin in order to fill up the hours. I also Nick Zentner's channel. Your videos and Nick's have turned me into something of a geology 'groupie'. This video really plugs a gap in my curiosity. Thank you for your comprehensive and very understandable content!

[@myroncook]

Thank you for your story Lori, is sounds like you have become quite the geologist!

[@lorijudd2151]

@@myroncook not compared to you, I'm sure. But I'm more informed now!

[@applewoodcourt]

I am always mesmerized by the geology of the Big Horn Basin when I drive the route between Colorado and Montana. Usually I am in a big rush when I am passing through but I am always awestruck. I need to make the trip with the intention of spending some time there. I could wander the area for days and weeks! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and love of geology. Sidebar: Driving north of Casper at night on I25 during the middle of the week has to be one of the least traveled stretches of an interstate in all of the US. No headlights / tail lights in front, and nothing behind for 5 to 10 minutes at a time!

[@myroncook]

Wyoming highways are peaceful!

[@DeanF]

I am 64 and have lived in the SF Bay area mos all of my life. I know much about the local geology and am SO grateful for the knowledge imparted, thank you Myron!

[@Anne5440_]

As a teenager my mother and I were exploring much of the west. In my first marriage we traveled a lot around the west. Most of my life has been based in Washington state. Weekends were spent camping, hiking or backpacking. The first 16 years of my second marriage were in KS and CO. We both were from Washington state, so there were a number of trips from CO to WA. That led to taking a number of different routes. I am in mid 70s and fighting but winning against cancer. I can't get out much at all now. I had heard of Nick Zentner. I have started studying geology with him. (My mom and I were fascinated with nature and rocks). Very recently I discovered you and Shawn Willey (sp). Each of you are teaching geology about areas I have spent good amounts of time wondering about the mountains and hills I was traveling. You each have your own style. I am learning a lot from each of you. As you teach about places I have been I remember the sights and smells from being there. As I am physically limited your videos make me feel freer. My c'mas present to myself are 2 books. Plate Tectonics by Frisch, Mercedes, and Blakey. Ancient Landscapes of Western North America by Blakey and Ranney. Thank you for helping me to start learning about the Rockies and Wyoming.

[@myroncook]

Thank you so much for your personal story and I do hope your battle is won! Any book by Blakey is going to be good. I studied under him for my Master's degree. He is an amazing geologist.

[@Anne5440_]

@@myroncook thanks for letting me know that.

[@shellyharry8189]

totally awesome! how wonderful it is to see exposed rock! I live near the Blue Ridge Mountains and there's plenty of huge escarpments, boulders, etc, but being able to see the " big picture" is difficult due to all the trees and such. thanks for sharing! ... also I've visited Dinosaur National Monument and it's terrific! I remember feeling sad for them all having been swept away in some sort of deluge.

[@robertab929]

I am biologist, and I will tell you that dinosaurs are not gone. Several of their lines survived K-Pg extinction and are called birds today. Those dinosaurs which disappeared are called non-avian dinosaurs. So, look outside and listen to great songs made by today dinosaurs.

[@timovilkki5209]

Thanks again. Greeting from Finland.

[@myroncook]

Thank you too!

[@robertemmons2260]

Thank you for producing this video. You had my interest from the beginning. I just added the Bighorn range to my bucket list of places to visit. Im very fortunate to live in dinosaurland of NE I live just west of Dinosaur National Monument in Vernal Utah. I have visited many locations throughout the Uintah basin and the Uintah mountains. One of my most fascinating discoveries was finding a fossilized clamp shell at about 9500 feet ASL in the eastern part of the Uintahs just off of the Red Cloud loop. I have been told that there are fossilized bees in parts just SE of Vernal, but I haven't found anything yet. Thank you for bringing us a great video. I'll definitely be watching more of your videos.

[@b.a.erlebacher1139]

What a wonderful video. The landscape is beautiful. The cinematography is really skillful. Your explanation is clear and so well illustrated by the land features you point out. Those inverted rivers going on for kilometers are amazing. But most of all your love for the rocks and for geology shines through so strongly that it's really uplifting for your viewers to witness. Thank you for sharing all this with the world!

[@myroncook]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@johnkrebs2781]

Great information, enjoyed very much.

[@dadoVRC]

I was born in the Italian Alps and I was used to observing rock formations up in the mountains, now I'm living in central Italy and I see a very different landscape in the appennines. I would love to find someone on KZbin making videos like yours about our formations, in the meantime I try to see them during my motorcycle adventures around this area! Thanks for your work, your way of explaining things is awesomely clear! 😊

[@1mmickk]

The Bob Ross of rocks, very enjoyable and informative once again.

[@lynneperg6853]

I just found your channel. I'm enjoying it very much. Thank you for pointing out ways some of us seniors can explore virtually even if physical disabilities prevent us from going out rock scrambling, or even beach combing. Living in Michigan, fossils introduced me to geology early. Other students thought I was nuts for taking invertebrate paleontology but I enjoyed it immensely.

[@myroncook]

I'm glad to hear you can do some exploring using google earth

[@itsallspent]

I have traveled to Colorado and Utah with the roadside geology books. Your videos help me understand what I saw 30 years ago.

[@beachbum6781]

11:06 "Here I am". That was a great way of showing the true elevation of the river bed. You are truly a great educator on one of my favorite topics. I spent 30 years in Nevada, dragging my kids and others all over Utah finding dinosaur tracks, fossils and teaching them about the different rock layers. I love Dinosaur Natl. Monument and Price Utah and surrounding area as well. Even Flaming Gorge is well worth the trip!! Thank you so much for your work.

[@silmarian]

You've become a kind of comfort watch for me. Geology was my first science love, and I really like your presentation style.

[@nickhammersonrocks]

NICE JEEP !!!! GREAT CHANNEL !!!!! SUPER INTERESTING STUFF !!!!!!👍

[@melgillham462]

As a 20 year retired OTR (OVER THE ROAD) truck driver, I've been blessed to observe the amazing geological formations visible from the roads and highways across the country from coast to coast and border to border. It's truly wondrous. Wyoming has some awesome geologic history and some very active geology, especially over around little America over to pocatello Idaho on US 30. Hydrothermal activity is interesting in the area. There are even hot springs that you can soak the old bones in in places. New Mexico has volcanic formations and petrified forests. Arizona the crater and the afore mentioned petrified forests. The painted desert. Amazing colors. Fossiliferous areas abound. I missed a lot, but these old eyes got to see a lot as well. I'm thankful in that respect. An interesting aspect I noticed but haven't delved into is around the Arizona crater, you can see the erosion and sandstone formations that were destroyed when the meteor impacted from the quaking, it fractured the shield like level and is draped down the sides of the hills or semi plateaus in the area. Then over around the Twin falls Idaho area a peculiar volcanic..rift? Is the term that comes to my mind, a big crack that they actually had to build a bridge across to get into the town there. Truly a wonder for me to experience such widely varied geology. Thank you for the journey sir. 👍🇺🇸🤝

[@myroncook]

Thank you, Mel; and safe driving!

[@zworm2]

I live in Maryland and even though it looks like just a bunch of undifferentiated dirt and gravel, it has some marvelous geology. From the Carboniferous in the west to Dinosaur fossils in the East. There is a wonderful website to help guide you and even clubs you can join. I started my geology in Scotland and Wales and now enjoy the East coast of America and of course your wonderful channel. Thanks so much for reaching out to guide us.

[@Ranchpig67]

Having lived in Moab and Grand Junction, i've spent countless hours, weeks at a time walking with my head staring at the ground. Most magical place in the world for picturing the world of the ancients. Took some old timers at the Gem & Mineral club to help me find my first dino bone fragment, but once I understood "how" to follow the clues, I could drive Hwy 24, pull off and within a few minutes find handfuls and then follow it to perhaps where it was eroding from the channel beds. My biggest find was a femur bone with the marrow still intact. Was able to saw it flat and polish. About 7" round. Spectacular find. Not to mention the various agate petrified woods. As a bonus, the area is filled with petroglyphs and indian remains. Thanks for sharing this to new people in such a splendid way. It's a healthy, contemplative, and awe-inspiring way to enjoy nature.

[@anthonywaynegrover]

Myron, your videos are very clear and informative. Thanks for taking the time to share your hard earned knowledge. We knocked around the Hanksville to Bluff Utah area just a couple of months ago. What a amazing place to see geology! Your recommended geology exercise is right on the bullseye.

[@myroncook]

That's good to hear!

[@NerudoP-Clowes]

Hello Myron! I'd like to thank you for a couple of things: For reigniting my long dormant passion for geology, and also for seemingly snapping me out of an illness! I was watching your video on the bentonite deposits, and your demonstration with the bag shocked the illness right out of me, I think! You have a wonderful channel here, and I hope more people continue to find it!

[@myroncook]

Awesome!

[@DK640OBrianYT]

Thanks for this upload Sir. In the ocean of different scientific realms Geology has come late to my personal party and your video serves as an excellent introduction. It's no wonder why you can't keep your enthusiasm and storytelling inside, because the more you know, the more you can imagine. Looking forward to this upcoming series. Cheers mate.

[@dansatMaryland]

I have an MS in Earth Science and you are one fantastic teacher. Really make visualising these landforms easy!

[@nightlightabcd]

I thought I knew a little bit about geology, but never knew of those river channels. I have never actually seen anything like this! I had some geology in collage but we never covered this!! You're such a good geology teacher and take me on field trips I never went on and show me things I had not seen before and didn't know about! Time well spent!

[@myroncook]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Gidgetwaterbear000]

What a fantastic teacher. I was born and raised in Western Colorado, and always wished I had a Geologist with me on my hikes for all my," how'd this happen", questions. I found a chunk of (?) limestone?? With what my best guess said was the backfilled remains of some type of burrow but the tunnels are larger in diameter and smoother, not churned. I found it in the neighborhood when they were digging and leveling for me home construction. Because the land had been built on, and used previously I don't know where the rocks actual origin was... But this video sure gives me new eyes for the next time I get a chance to check it out for clues!

[@dyannejohnson6184]

Thank you Myron…my joy I’m sure is enhanced with your instruction

[@otifeh1]

Dear Myron cook. Let me thank you for your excellent idea of sharing your geological knowledge to other people. I am glad to find you on you tube . It is great to see your clips with the practical and pedagogical explanations, in addition with the videos from above one can see and understand you perfectly. Please keep on passing your valuable knowledge to the rest of the world who shares the same passion as you do . Yet again many thanks for your time and efford .

[@myroncook]

Thank you!

[@jeffstull2534]

I was in Green River back in 1975 with the Army firing Pershing Missiles down to White Sands. We stayed outside the town in an area for a couple months and I had the chance to wander around out there and view all that land but never knew what I was looking at. This brings back some good memories of my time there. Thanks for your videos. One of my favorite classes when I was doing my undergrad was Geology. I got an A in that class.

[@KristineTurner-c7s]

Fascinating! At 69, I just found a new passion in geology. Thank you!

[@bridgertetonoutdoors3051]

Thank you for educating me Myron. As a resident of Meeteetse I have fully immersed myself in the Willwood and other local formations and have been entranced by their beauty and history.

[@B30pt87]

Thank YOU! It's hard for me to believe that I've lived my whole life (so far) on this planet without ever realizing that it was possible to tell so much about what happened in the past that caused the land to be what it is today. I am excited. Thrilled in fact. (And it's due to watching one of your videos a couple of days ago.)

[@kerrychase4839]

This video about fossil river beds is fascinating! I'm a retired nurse (also pilot/A&P mechanic) and worked for several years on native community development projects flying in small aircraft all along the Ucayali River system and tributaries north and south from Pucallpa, Peru. I'm familiar with the way large river systems flow, re-cutting their channels and forming oxbow lakes. Seeing them fossilized like this after millions of years of erosion and "inverted" is simply amazing.

[@myroncook]

It is amazing and you have an interesting background.

[@JJs-ClassC-Adventures]

Thanks so much for explaining these formations. We have visited areas like this, but never understood how they were formed. Amazing.

[@GemBonehead62]

Hello Myron. I am from Moab, Utah. No place I would rather be. I've stomped these hills for the better part of my 62 years. I believe I would need 10 x that to begin to learn this area. Thanks for the videos, you explain well!

[@stevejonsey1318]

Had I been more focused and dissaplined some 40 years ago I would have enjoyed an education and career in the field of geology. Thank you sir for putting out this content and presenting it in a way that us layman can comprehend and appreciate.

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Hello Mr. Cook, I have recently found your channel and have been binge watching your videos. They are absolutely captivating! I've always had a passing interest in Geology, but your videos have really opened my eyes to how amazing our planet is and your methods for explaining things in such simple and easy to understand ways has just been so much fun to soak up all this knowledge. If you are ever in the Salt Lake valley, it would be facinating to get your take and understanding of the great formations found along the Wasatch front. Thank you for your time and passion to this study of science and for sharing with the world. -Brett

[@myroncook]

Thank you for that, Brett. Love to hear feedback like this

[@robertdiehl1281]

Fantastic video. So much fun to learn how the landscape of some of this country is laid down…or eroded away. Very very educational.

[@myroncook]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@michelleagnew2864]

Your enthusiasm is contagious, sir! You’ve shown me so many amazing things in the history in the layers of the earth around us. I’m in love with the drone video footage. It makes the concept real to me. I’m so glad you explain all the ideas in a way that a budding geology enthusiast is able to learn and understand. I look forward to seeing each video you post.

[@myroncook]

Wow, thank you!

[@DumitruCoretchiD]

Amazing videos! Thank you Myron! I love your passion in bringing to our attention the beauty fo geology.

[@BeverlyTaylor060913]

I am so grateful for the better understanding of some of the formations I've seen and been fascinated with for years. I thoroughly enjoy learning from you - your love of this fascinating subject matter is a delight. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and joy!

[@trentondowling1842]

Please do more on Utah!! It's the state I fell in love with Geology and Minerology.

[@oldgeezerproductions]

Before I had to go into the Service during the Vietnam War and while in uniform, I had a strong background in electricity and electronics and that's what I "should" have gone back to when I got out, but geology and the transcendental feeling it gave me (which you so well transmit to us) seduced me and I majored in geology in both undergrad and graduate school. When I finished up at the U, I simply couldn't find a job beyond temporary work and so I had to leave the field and fall back on my electronics. I made a career in aerospace "not exactly a rocket scientist" but a rocket electronics engineer. I have no regrets that I spent so much time studying geology because it has greatly enriched my life. When I pick up a trilobite that has been buried all throughout the history of life from the development of early chordates into mammals, through all of human history until the very moment I discovered it is a rather magical feeling. Your videos exactly match the enthusiasm and beauty I too feel knowing something about earth processes.

[@myroncook]

I love the way your imagination works!

[@marlenehuston7380]

Thank you so much Myron for sharing this fabulous information in such an easily digestible way. I think you are wonderful. Bless you for what you do.

[@myroncook]

Wow, thank you

[@frankedgar6694]

Just discovered your channel today. And I’m one of those who no longer gets out much. I look forward to watching and learning from you.

[@ralphfrasier2079]

Really been enjoying your various videos of late. Thanks for posting. Regards from the Mojave desert!

[@garychynne1377]

me and my cousin are both 80. we are big fans. great show sir. thank you so much.

[@myroncook]

So nice of you

[@jamieblanche3963]

I just thought i'd add a note of concordance; it was through my father that I was introduced to geology. Certain places are like pilgrimages to me. Lyme Regis being king of them all. I do miss my father. I really must go back there soon. Thank you so much for your videos. They are truly excellent. I'm fairly new to finding your channel so i've a lot of episodes to catch up on. :)

[@mikehartman5326]

The way you teach makes it easier to understand. Thank you for teaching us.

[@johannesels5288]

What an interesting channel, I just love your explanations of how these landscapes came in to being and will be watching the few remaining videos soon. Weird thing is today a channel popped up with heaps of old photos of buildings in cities that appear to have several stories buried below ground level, complete with windows and main doorways. It’s like it all got covered and people just later adapted the buildings to the new ground level and made new doorways and windows like it never happened. These photos are from many cities around the world apparently and left me amazed. I immediately thought of you as someone who could verify if it’s true and what could possibly explain such an anomaly.

[@myroncook]

Thank you for watching! I'll be doing a video on an ancient city next summer or fall.

[@hollasouwerkerk4951]

Thank you for this! This is exactly the kind of video I've been wanting. I have been wanting to improve my ability to read the rocks for when I visit Drumheller next time

[@donaldolin7219]

Hi Professor Cook. Just wanted to tell you how helpful your presentations are. From 1973 to 1983 I took many courses in earth science but very few field trips. Your field trip presentations are the most helpful regarding learning of basic geological processes. Look forward to seeing all of them. Don in Empire Colorado.

[@myroncook]

Wow, thanks

[@donaldolin7219]

The two geologists that taught most of the courses I took over the ten year period (on and off due to military service) I was at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs would occasionally comment something like “Haven’t you graduated yet?” I had to explain that I was a Psych major and that I only was a part time student. One was a soft rock guy and the other a hard rock guy. They were fantastic teachers. So I know a good one when I see one!

[@addish5022]

I live in north Alabama and I’ve seen river deposits from the Pennsylvanian or upper Carboniferous near where I live. They are much more complicated than the linear channels shown in the video as these represent braided rivers, so there were probably many different channels of different river systems stacked on top of each other. I’ve also found fossils of plants in them like the roots of lycopsid trees.

[@sophierobinson2738]

I live just Northeast of Birmingham. I’ve always been interested in geology and topography. I learned how to read a topographic map before I learned to read the Sunday comics. I’ve been looking online for topographic maps of my area. However, all I’ve found are color coded, and don’t have the lines I grew up with.

[@windwhipped5]

My mother lived in Riverton and spent alot of time in the bighorns camping. Such great examples of these processes all over. I was able to get some great views of the erosion from the air.. good stuff..

[@bhhdh658]

I am very amazed by the way of thinking of geologists, very observant, thorough and structured, collecting pieces of information to organize them into an explanation or model that is able to explain the big picture of a natural phenomenon, thank you Professor, you are a very great teacher

[@myroncook]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@oscarmedina1303]

The aerial views really helped me understand how to spot these old river channels. Love your presentations.

[@spincube5734]

I'm LOOKING at the the same geology, but SEEING it in a whole new way. Thanks Myron !!

[@garryperrin2408]

This is fascinating, you’re explaining this so clearly.

[@dianespears6057]

Another excellent and interesting video. I love these. The white board illustrations are always helpful, especially when you show it in situ in a drone view. Love it love it love it. The river was fantastic to see. Thank you, Prof. Cook.

[@jojomillward675]

I adore yours videos. I’ve learned so much about rocks and have fun translating the knowledge for UK landscapes. It’s fascinating how the lands are formed. Lots of love from a Yorkshire amateur rock nerd ✌🏽💚

[@wireman4029]

What an eye opening video. I would have never guessed that some of those 'mountain ridges' are infact ancient river channels. You do a great job at explaining geology to me, in a way that helps me visualize what has/is occurring to our Earth.

[@counciousstream]

How do you give two thumbs up on a video? This the second Cook video that I have watched (thank you for suggesting it Zuk) and I am delighted at what I just learned as well as what a remarkable teacher that Myron Cook is. I'm subscribed.

[@myroncook]

I appreciate that!

[@deanstackhouse8775]

You've got to be quick, real quick...

[@steveshort7694]

I love watching you and learning how the Earth has been changing over millions of years and like a book turning the pages to uncover what happened seeing the layers of history before us, it's amazing to me. We are just a blink in time to be added to the layers of history, sometime in the future WE will be a layer too. Amazing to think about it.

[@srf2112]

I find the story that the rocks tell to be fascinating. It's like reading a book one random letter, word or sentence at a time. It makes you continuously think and I like that.

[@pappyodaniel4480]

I watched this video yesterday and went to the desert in Nevada today, first thing I see? sandstone river bottoms are everywhere! tnx mr. Cook!

[@parnelpospahala6087]

I've been to dinosaur natl park. Late spring, getting hot midday so didn't stay very long & didn't get to explore as much as I hoped. Would've been much more fun had I seen this video. Glad I saw it now. At first I was wondering how these river beds got up into the sides - tops of hills. Then, of course, you explained that. I enjoy listening to your voice as you impart knowledge. Thank You!

[@gregjones2217]

Thank you. Your very much appreciated. I've been wandering the Morrison and willwood for about 60 years now. I always find something new. Hello to the jeepers

[@canadiangemstones7636]

Drone shot of that fossil river was just superb. Thanks!

[@steveflor9942]

I never would have imagined.... exposed ancient riverbeds. That you can hike on!! Great video. Thanks

[@cherm-k9b]

Thank You Myron Cook!!!!!!!!!...Here I am watching again and trying to absorb (just like the absorbent Sandstone deposits) all the knowledge YOU so very well explain... TM

[@SusanLynn656]

Myron Cook, you sir, are a national treasure! ⛰️🌋🪨🌎

[@boodalboushi]

Your Thinking and your Experiences are polished Gems Sir. Modern Civilization needs so many of such Gems, to continue advancing, and to further Better our Understanding to our Planet.

[@seniorelzappo9919]

That was a superb presentation . thank you ,, looking forward to learning much more..

[@halfnelsonchoke]

You and Nick Zentner are amazing teachers and really spark the passion for geology in people. I love your videos and can't thank you enough for providing the material for us to watch and allow us to learn from your experience and wisdom.

[@myroncook]

Glad you like them!