Obsidian: Not just a valuable Minecraft resource (Yellowstone Monthly Update - November 2024)

[@YeOldeTraveller]

I appreciate the little nuggets that are included with the monthly updates. Thanks.

[@jameswalters8755]

Greetings from south Texas! I'm a retired geophysicist and always much more enjoyed listening to the geologists. All the best!

[@fbiagentmiyakohoshino8223]

as someone who has played minecraft for 12 years, you are absolutely right! also its nice to see an agency like you acknowledge that minecraft exists. makes me wonder if any usgs employees plays minecraft

[@llamalover02]

USGS scientists are people just like us! I'm sure they enjoy a variety of video games and hobbies. 😊

[@allenra530]

I worked for a Department of Energy contractor at the Idaho National Lab and retired nearly 2 years ago. Many of my coworkers played and still play minecraft. I prefer Zelda.

[@fbiagentmiyakohoshino8223]

@@allenra530 nice. im a meteorologist (and solo software/game programmer), and i have been playing minecraft for 12 years. (only the java edition)

[@RicoSuave007-z5i]

I understand there are even references to minecraft also found lurking in the bible, old testament edition I believe 🙀

[@just_kos99]

I always love the beginning of the month, for Mike's update of the previous month!

[@AndromedaVideos]

You should do a series in minecraft where you discuss all the different rocks in the game.

[@gregalbert4033]

There is a cave just north of Columbus, OH, in Delaware County that has a black obsidian spear point. I think that they thought that it might have come from there, or near there.

[@usgs]

Yes, exactly right! There was Obsidian Cliff material found in Hopewell Culture sites.

[@gus473]

Always one of the better days in my month, thanks!

[@ragnapodewski4694]

10000years ago it was the founding of flowering industry. The wealth of Lipary for instance.

[@RicoSuave007-z5i]

Also the fledgling Lithic School for Young Men at Twisted Fork, and of course don't forget Knapperary College in Flint, Michigan 🙀

[@swatchgirl2]

Thanks Mike! We love your monthly updates on Yellowstone and the interesting tidbits thrown in!

[@timroot4207]

Thank you !!!

[@eledatowle8767]

I never expected a Minecraft / Mike Poland crossover, but I'm here for it!

[@Acceleronics]

As a long-time Minecrafter, I approve this message. :-)

[@RedwingInNH]

In Neopets, they don't give it the proper respect. 🤨

[@allenra530]

There is still a little bit of time to go to Yellowstone before the roads are closed and snowmobile and snowcoach tours begin. The park is covered with a light coating of snow already and it is really beautiful. Go and see it now or wait until mid-December and take one of the tours. They are well worth the cost.

[@SpecialSP]

Does anyone at USGS remember David Hastings from Boulder?

[@obsidianwing]

Also used in european stone age cutures

[@SandyQueue]

Yay, 1st of the month and a new and very informative video. Thanks!!!

[@ShlanGaming]

No way

[@susansmart8086]

Does the new infrasound instrument pick up anything from Steamboat minor eruptions?

[@usgs]

Not really. The major eruptions come in loud and clear, but the minor eruptions are just too small to have much of an acoustic signature over that distance (about 2400 feet).

[@Pottery4Life]

Thank you, Mike.

[@MichaelMcCausland-pg6qs]

It’s all over clear Lake County. You can even find it in Contra Costa county

[@kymkauffman5000]

I found an arrowhead of obsidian in Ohio.

[@bevinbrush4822]

Craters of the Moon has obsidian also. East Camas creek has a large quantity, Close to Yellowstone.

[@usgs]

Absolutely! The Bear Gulch obsidian was an especially important source for indigenous people.

[@kwvtxiajlubneejtwmzeej9012]

Nice ♥️💜💙💚♥️💜💙💚

[@hanger1800]

What causes pitchstone to become more filled with H2O and end up so different from obsidian? I live next to a huge amount of volcanic pitchstone but very little of any of it could be used for blades

[@usgs]

The hydration occurs after the lava flow has been emplaced -- water is incorporated from the environment. That causes it to perlitize and form pitchstone, which can have different physical characteristics from obsidian, and thus doesn't fracture in a way that gives you sharp edges. All volcanic glass is unstable at the temperatures and pressures that exist at Earth's surface, so over time will change based on the conditions in which it is emplaced. This is why you don't really find "old" obsidian -- it alters/hydrates into other materials!

[@Oyguuyuy]

can you guys update shakemap of 7.8 earthquake in turkey? its been over 1.5 years and it still didnt get updated

[@usgs]

There's not actually anything to update. The Shakemap takes "Did you feel it" (DYFI) and seismic station shaking intensities into consideration. If those data don't change, then the Shakemap isn't updated further. The seismic data obviously don't change at all. And the DYFI reports typically stop coming in within a few days after the earthquake.

[@HeatherMerrell]

Mining a volcano is never a good idea.

[@ChanKyoJung]

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