Why Geology Matters
How is geology important to you?
Chances are likely that you rarely (or maybe never) think about the importance of geology and geologists.
Chances are also likely that you don't realize the effect that geology has on your life. Every single day.
- Depending on who you are and where you live in our State, geology might be important to you for different reasons. You might live somewhere in the mountains or along the coast where geologic hazards tend to occur. You might live near Sparta and have experienced a small earthquake. You might live near a mine or quarry. Knowing the geology beneath your feet and around you is key to staying safe.
- You are reading this webpage on a mobile phone or computer and therefore your day has already been affected by geology. Without minerals and geologic materials, our modern technology would not be possible. Phones, computers, cars, GPS, smart televisions, air travel, A.I. All of these things require geologic resources and geologists who find them.
- There are medications and medical equipment that would not exist without minerals and elements.
- Our bodies must have minerals to survive. Where do these minerals come from? Rocks!
Read on to find out more.
Who Should Know About Geology?
The geology of North Carolina is the result of a long and sometimes violent geologic history that includes erupting volcanoes with lava and ash, the breaking apart and colliding of continents, earthquakes, rock bending and breaking, and the creation of useful minerals and resources. Geology is an important part of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). For North Carolina to remain a leader in STEM careers, the next generation of STEM scientists need to be motivated. Geology is an excellent avenue to foster general interest in the sciences.
Geologic materials (rocks and minerals) are in our everyday lives. You may not remember seeing a rock or mineral today, but rocks and minerals helped you get to school and will help you all day and night. Geologic materials from rocks and minerals are used in so many things of your everyday life:
Toothpaste and toothbrush
Metal and plastic in your car, your school bus, and even your bicycle
The graphite in your pencil and even the rubber on the soles of your shoes
The wiring and batteries in your phone, computer, television, and game console
So much more!
Geology is not just about rocks and minerals. It is about incredible stories that help explain the past and how the world we know today formed. Geology is full of connections of how our geologic past is directly connected to the present and future. Do you want a cool example of how geology can help us tell a very interesting story? Look no further than the State Fossil of North Carolina - the fossilized teeth of Megalodon sharks!
Megalodon sharks grew up to 50 feet long and hunted whales, fish, seals, and other marine life off the coast of North Carolina from about 15 million years ago until 3 million years ago. Many fossilized Megalodon teeth and bones of other marine life have been found in a phosphate mine in Aurora, NC. The ancient marine animals were drawn to the coast of NC due to the upwelling of abundant nutrients in an ancient ocean. These nutrients allowed for abundant biological activity ranging from tiny plankton to giant sharks. The area was so rich in nutrients that some of the elements precipitated out of the water and formed deposits containing the element phosphorus. The phosphorus is present in the sediments as phosphate. The phosphate is mined, processed, and used in a variety of commercial and industrial applications, including: 1) as a fertilizer that helps crops grow, 2) as an additive to feed for animals and livestock, 3) in industrial products like soft drink flavors and preservation and food additives.
So you can tell your friends that the flavor of your favorite soda has a little bit to do with the Megalodon shark! Now that's a cool story.
You can also experience current geology right here in North Carolina by visiting a State Park! North Carolina is fortunate to have an excellent State Park network. Several of the State Parks were established because of exceptional geologic features. These parks serve as a hands-on and an interactive means to the teaching of earth science in which geologic concepts can be taught using real-life examples. Examples of State Parks established because of exceptional geologic features include: Stone Mountain, Raven Rock, Cliffs of the Neuse, Hanging Rock, Pilot Mountain, Medoc Mountain, Morrow Mountain, Gorges, Crowders Mountain, Jockey’s Ridge, Lake Waccamaw, etc…..
The NCGS has a bunch of resources to help you learn about the geology of some of our State's parks:
A Geologic Guide to North Carolina's State Parks
A Geologic Adventure Along the Eno River
A Geologic Adventure Along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina
The geology of where you home is can have an effect on long term maintenance and even safety. A quality home or other structure must be constructed on good solid ground. To ensure the ground is suitable for construction or to ensure appropriate engineering measures have been taken into consideration, the nature of the soil and underlying geologic material should be understood.
You can find the types of rock beneath the ground where you are buying a house by visiting our Interactive Geologic Map of North Carolina.
The NCGS provides a simple review of some of the geologic hazard that might be encountered in North Carolina in our Information Circular 32 When the Ground Moves - A Citizen's Guide to Geologic Hazards in North Carolina.
As changes of land use and urban development encroaches onto less suitable sites, knowledge of the connection between the ground beneath a home site and the home itself becomes increasingly critical to the homebuyer. An informed realtor may want to be aware of the potential hazards listed above for the home buyer. When the Ground Moves – A Citizen’s Guide to Geologic Hazards in North Carolina - NC Geological Survey Informational Circular 32 provides a simple review of some of the geologic hazards that can be encountered in North Carolina.
You can also find information about the geology of your homesite by using our interactive North Carolina Geologic Map.
Land use planners must balance land use with respect to multiple demands: residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, recreational, mineral-resources, energy-resources, and water-resources. Geologic maps can be an important tool in the decision making process. Check out our interactive Geologic Map of North Carolina for more information.
Essential spatial information on geologic hazards guides local and state emergency managers in their efforts to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate hazards. Geological hazards which have impacted North Carolina include earthquakes, landslides, sinkholes, abandoned mines, storm surge, tsunamis, acid producing rock, and shrink/swell clays.
By using geologic and topographic maps, geologist can provide detailed information to emergency managers so that operation plans can be written and exercised to respond to and recover from disasters. In addition these data can be used to reduce the impact of disaster by strengthening buildings and other infrastructure, as well as not locating critical facilities and infrastructure in hazard-prone zones.
Geologic hazard maps show the expected level of ground shaking from earthquakes; the initiation points, paths and runout areas of prior landslides; the locations of existing and expected sinkholes; the locations of abandoned underground mines; the potential run-up areas from tropical storm surge or tsunamis; areas where naturally occurring groundwater contaminants are present in groundwater; areas where acid producing rock can detrimentally impact road infrastructure; and areas where building foundations can be destroyed by the rapid shrinking and swelling of certain clays.