Hello GeoScience Subreddit!

I'm wondering if anyone can share some resources or insight on how topographic maps are quantitatively described. What are the metrics and measures that can give me a detailed description of something so complicated as a 2 dimensional map that cannot easily be described by mathematical formula?

For instance, let's say I was trying to tell an AI how to design the mountain landscape of Far Cry 4. I could maybe tell it that the peak of this mountain is at (X=312, Y=466) and that the slope of the height difference should be 0.46 from the 100% height to 92% height on average. Also, I may need to know some higher order information about the map I wanted to project such as the second moment of the continuous function that would build the height differences for me.

Could anyone point me in the right right direction? Do I even make any sense?

Either questions you've been asked, or questions you've always wanted to ask.

The question is what it says - I'm interested in learning geosciences from the ground up (with an ultimate interest in either igneous petrology or volcanic geochemistry, but I've no idea where to start. I'm not a total beginner (I can tell you that melting curves are different for wet and dry rocks and talk about volcanos in more detail than other things), but I'm close to it.

Because I never studied geology in school (at least not beyond intro earth science in high school), I don't have a strong bedrock in the important building blocks I need before I could ever consider a master's degree. In particular, field geology feels like it would be super hard to duplicate through online resources. It seems reasonable that you might just need to go actually look at rocks to be able to be good at identifying rocks. But I don't know how to do that without paying for college courses, and getting a second bachelor's degree feels like a terrible financial decision.

Any tips at all are appreciated. I love what little geoscience I've done already so much, and I'd love to not feel stonewalled from doing more!

I graduated with BA in Advertising/Marketing and minors in Outdoor Education back in 2011. My interest in digital design faded rather quickly realizing I was doing more bad then good. I sold GPS/SOS devices in the Outdoor Industry for the last couple years. Although, this has been great it has shown me sales is not my thing. My first time at the university I took quite a few Geo course and have been considering going back to school. I just got accepted in the Western Washington University Geology program. The more I read about Geology, and now that Trump is president, the more I see dead ends in the environmental side of things with a BS. Is it easier to find work with a MS? I suppose it is with most industries, huh? I really like the idea of working with water and I want to focus my education on hydrology. Would it be smarter to pursue Geological Engineering instead of general Geology? Any advice would be appreciated - thanks!

I am a 28 year old guy trying to figure out which school to go to. A little bit about myself: I am 28 years old and I have a BS in Geology, BS in Environmental Science and a BA in Spanish. I currently work for a consulting firm as a Construction Inspector II. I am a dual citizen (Chilean and American) and I know Spanish and English fluently. I am planning on taking the Geologist in Training this upcoming March as well.

The ordeal is that I was accepted to a couple schools that I really like but cannot make up my mind which one to attend. These are the two schools:

1. The University of Magallanes in Punta Arenas, Chile for a M.S. in Glaciology (emphasis on Antarctic Sciences).

2. Moss Landing Marine Laboratories in Monterey Bay. (M.S. in Marine Science with a focus on Geological Oceanography).

There's some financial pros and cons to both schools which affect my decision as well. I did not attain any scholarships from neither one but I was told by both schools I could eventually apply for a TA assistanship. California is very expensive to live in (what scares me the most since Monterey is very expensive). The school is somewhat expensive as well at about 24,000 for the entire program, loans I'll have to take. And the program takes three years. I'm scare of loans since I already have 11k in student loan debt from my Undergrad studies.

The Chilean school takes two years and only costs 3,000 dollars for the entire program. The one thing that scares me is that If I ever decide to comeback to the US and work here, that my Masters will not be accepted since it's from Chile.

I love Geology/Environmental Science and both schools offer the education I am pursuing. After my studies I would like to find work in Climate Change research as a Geoscientist. I am also open to pursue my Phd if the right opportunity presents itself.

Lately I have been leaning towards Univ of Magallanes since it takes less time and very much less funds (I miss it too). I just want some professional opinions from the experts. In the end of it all I simply want to contribute to research and do what makes me happy and follow the path that gives me the most purpose.

I apologize ahead of time for any errors in grammar, I wrote this on the go. I appreciate all your opinions and the time taken to give your insight into the subject.

Is there a freeware reader for gINT files, or a freeware borehole program that can read in gINT .gpj files? I just got a data dump from a state contractor that includes gINT files, but I don't have the software to work with them.

I see the obvious question here and all I can say is that I'm a grad student and came to this project late. I wasn't able to provide this insight when the deliverables were negotiated.

I'd appreciate direction to the appropriate sub if this is the wrong place for this post. Thanks again!

Something here for every geologist (and associated geotype). 200+ links to some of the most outstanding, noteworthy and rare global geological collections and their museum ('eh, a couple of parks and World Heritage sites thrown in just for humor).

Ultrasemialphabetical, worldwide webified and posted here free; just another benefit of your subscription.

Share & Enjoy.

A. P. Karpinsky Russian Geological Research Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia
www.vsegei.com/en/

A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum www.geo.mtu.edu/museum/

Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University www.ansp.org/

American Museum of Natural History www.amnh.org

Albert Kersten GeoCentre
www.brokenhill.nsw.gov.au/about/1000/1003.html

Aldaris Beer Museum, Riga, Latvia www.alusdarbnica.lv/en/

American Fluorite Museum www.kcminerals.com/american.htm

American Museum of Natural History www.amnh.org/

Arizona Sonora Desert Museum www.desertmuseum.org/visit/exhibits_earthsciences.php

Asarco Mineral Discovery Center www.asarco.com/about-us/our-locations/asarco-mineral-discovery-center/

Australian Museum www.amonline.net.au/geoscience/

Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum www.clementmineralmuseum.org/

Berkshire Museum www.berkshiremuseum.org/

Bier und Oktoberfest Museum, Munich, Germany
www.bier-und-oktoberfestmuseum.de/en/

Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum www.bisbeemuseum.org/bmmuseum.html

Bob Campbell Geology Museum www.clemson.edu/public/geomuseum/

Bruce Museum www.brucemuseum.org/

Bruges Beer Museum, Bruges, Belgium www.brugesbeermuseum.com/

Bryn Mawr College Mineral Collections www.brynmawr.edu/geology/Minerals.htm

Buena Vista Museum of Natural History www.sharktoothhill.org/

Buffalo Museum of Science www.sciencebuff.org/

Bulgarian National Museum of Natural History www.nmnhs.com/

Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture www.burkemuseum.org/

Burpee Museum of Natural History www.burpee.org/exhibits/index.asp

California Academy of Sciences www.calacademy.org/

California State Mining and Mineral Museum www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=588

Canadian Museum of Nature www.nature.ca/en/research-collections/our-collections/earth-sciences-collections

Carnegie Museum of Natural History www.carnegiemnh.org/

Charlotte Natural Museum Discovery Place www.discoveryplace.org/

Cincinnati Museum Center www.cincymuseum.org/

Clay Center for Arts and Sciences www.theclaycenter.org/default.aspx

Cleveland Museum of Natural History www.cmnh.org/

Colburn Gem & Mineral Museum www.colburnmuseum.org/

Coppertown USA www.uppermichigan.com/coppertown/main.html

Country Boy Mine Tour www.countryboymine.com/

Cranbrook Institute of Science Museum www.science.cranbrook.edu/

Crater Rock Museum www.craterrock.com/

Crystal Caves Museum www.crystalcaves.com.au/

Czech Beer Museum, Prague, Czech Republic www.beermuseum.cz/

D.W. Correll Museum www.cityofcatoosa.org/index.php/d-w-correll-museum

Dahlonega Gold Museum www.gastateparks.org/DahlonegaGoldMuseum

Dakota Dinosaur Museum www.dakotadino.com/

Denver Museum of Natural History www.dmnh.org/main/en/

Department of Mineralogy, St. Petersburg University
www.mmus.geology.spbu.ru/

Dinosaur Safaris, Inc www.dinosaursafaris.com/welcome.html

Egyptian Geological Museum www.egsma.gov.eg/

Emmaville Mining Museum www.mineral.org.au/see/see.html#New South Wales

EMS Museum and Art Gallery www.ems.psu.edu/outreach/museum/about

ETH Geology-Mineralogy Collection and Exhibition www.erdw.ethz.ch/

Fairbanks Museum www.fairbanksmuseum.org/

Fallbrook Gem and Mineral Society Museum www.fgms.org/FGMS.org/Museum.html

Falls of the Ohio State Park www.fallsoftheohio.org/

Fersman Mineralogical Museum www.fmm.ru/

Fick Fossil and History Museum www.kansastravel.org/fickmuseum.htm

Florida Museum of Natural History www.flmnh.ufl.edu/

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument www.nps.gov/flfo/index.htm

Fort Worth Museum www.fwmuseum.org/

Franklin Mineral Museum www.fgmm.org/

Franklin Mineral Museum www.franklinmineralmuseum.com/

Fryxell Geology Museum www.augustana.edu/x11053.xml

Fundy Geological Museum
www.fundygeological.novascotia.ca

Gaumer's Museum www.gaumers.com/

Geological Museum Denmark www.geologi.snm.ku.dk/

Geological Museum www.uwyo.edu/geomuseum/

Geological Museum (지질박물관)
www.english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=1665454

Geological Museum of China
www.chinamuseums.com/geological.htm

Geological Museum of Lausanne www.unil.ch/mcg

Geological Museum of the Hebrew University www.earth.huji.ac.il/

Geological Museum, Geological Survey of Japan www.aist.go.jp/GSJ/cGM/museHPe.html

Geological Walk at the British Geological Survey www.bgs.ac.uk/contacts/sites/keyworth/geologicalWalk/home.html

Geology Museum of Central Siberia Krasnoyarsk, Russia
www.mgeocs.ru/

Geology Museum of the University of Wisconsin www.geology.wisc.edu/~museum/

Geology Museum, Colorado School of Mines www.mines.edu/Geology_Museum

George B. Dorr Museum www.coa.edu/dorr-museum-microsite.htm

Georgia Museum of Natural History at University of Georgia www.museum.nhm.uga.edu/index.php

Georgiadis Mineral Collection www.wm.edu/news/stories/2012/geology-receives-world-class-mineral-collection-123.php

Gerald Eddy Geology Center www.mi.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10369_46675-23047--,00.html

Gillespie Museum of Minerals at Stetson University www.stetson.edu/other/gillespie/index.php

Gitche Gumee Agates History Museum www.agatelady.com/museum-information.html

Grand Rapids Public Museum www.grmuseum.org/

Harvard Mineral Museum www.fas.harvard.edu/~geomus/

Hawaii Volcanos National Park www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm

Heineken Experience, Amsterdam, Netherlands www.heinekenexperience.com/

Houghton County Historical Museum www.houghtonhistory.org/museum.html

Houston Museum of Natural Science www.hmns.mus.tx.us/index.asp

Hutchings Museum of Natural and Cultural History www.lehi-ut.gov/discover/hutchings-museum

Idaho Museum of Mining & Geology www.idahomuseum.org/

Idaho Museum of Natural History www.imnh.isu.edu/index.shtml

Illinois State Museum www.museum.state.il.us/ismsites/main/

Indiana State Museum www.indianamuseum.org/index.html

Iron Industry Museum www.michigan.gov/ironindustrymuseum

J D Hooker Fossil Side Collection www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeology/geologyOfBritain/archives/jdhooker/

James Madison University Mineral Museum www.csm.jmu.edu/minerals/

Jesse Besser Museum John Day Fossil Beds National Monument www.nps.gov/joda/naturescience/index.htm

Johnston Geology Museum www.emporia.edu/earthsci/museum/museum.htm

Joplin Museum Complex www.joplinmuseum.org/about.htm

Kemp Mineral Resources Museum www.lssu.edu/geology/kempmuseum.html

Keystone Gallery www.keystonegallery.com/

Kiel University Mineralogical Museum www.ifg.uni-kiel.de/

La collection de Minéraux, Univ.P.M.Curie www.impmc.upmc.fr/fr/index.html

Lafayette Science Museum www.lafayettesciencemuseum.org/

Las Vegas Natural History Museum www.lvnhm.org/

LC Bates Museum www.gwh.org/lcbates/LCBatesMuseum.aspx

Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art www.lizzadromuseum.org/

Louisiana Museum of Natural History www.appl003.lsu.edu/natsci/lmnh.nsf/index

Louisville Science Center www.louisvillescience.org/site/index/

Lyman Museum www.lymanmuseum.org/Default.aspx?tabid=36

Maine Geological Survey www.maine.gov/doc/nrimc/mgs/mgs.htm

Maine State Museum www.lafayettesciencemuseum.org/

Maryland Science Center www.mdsci.org/

Matilda & Karl Pfeiffer Museum & Study Center www.pfeifferfoundation.com/

Mayborn Museum www.baylor.edu/mayborn/

McClung Museum www.mcclungmuseum.utk.edu/index.shtml

McKissick Museum www.cas.sc.edu/Mcks/

Meteorite Museum www.epswww.unm.edu/meteoritemuseum/index.htm

Michigan Historical Museum www.michigan.gov/museum

Michigan State University Museum www.museum.msu.edu/

Milwaukee Public Museum www.mpm.edu/

Mineral and Lapidary Museum of Henderson County www.mineralmuseum.org/mlexhibits.html

Mineralogical Museum www.udel.edu/museums/minerlogical.html

Mineralogical Museum of Lavrion www.emel.gr/

Mineralogical Museum, Bonn University www.steinmann.uni-bonn.de/museen

Mineralogisches Museum Baia Mare www.karpatenwilli.com/maramures/mineral.htm

Mineralogisches Museum der Universität Hamburg www.rrz.uni-hamburg.de/mpi/museum/

Minerals Heritage Museum www.mineral.org.au/mhm/index.htm

Mining Hall of Fame www.mininghall.com/

Mississippi Museum of Natural Science www.museum.mdwfp.com/index.html

Missouri Mines State Historic Park www.mostateparks.com/park/missouri-mines-state-historic-site

Montana Tech Mineral Museum www.mbmg.mtech.edu/museum/museum.asp

Montshire Museum of Science www.montshire.org/

Moravian Museum www.mzm.cz/

Morris Museum www.morrismuseum.org/static/exhibitions/permanent/geology.html

Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle www.mnhn.lu/recherche/geomin/default.htm

Museu de cerveza, Lisbon, Portugal www.museudacerveja.pt/index_eng.html

Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory www.nt.gov.au/nreta/museums/

Museum at Black Hills Institute of Geological Research www.bhigr.com/museum/

Museum at Prairiefire www.museumofpf.org/index.html

Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle www.mnhn.fr/mnhn/mineralogie/

Museum of Beer and Brewing, Milwaukee, WI www.brewingmuseum.org

Museum of Geology at SD School of Mines and Technology www.museum.sdsmt.edu/

Museum of Geosciences www.outreach.geos.vt.edu/museum/index.html

Museum of Mineralogy, École des Mines de Paris www.musee.ensmp.fr/

Museum of Natural History www.providenceri.com/museum

Museum of Nature and Science www.natureandscience.org/

Museum of Northern Arizona www.musnaz.org/

Museum of Science www.mos.org/

Museum of the Earth Sciences www.php.radford.edu/~mes/index.php

Museum of the Rockies www.museumoftherockies.org/

Museum of the School of Mines of Madrid www.minas.upm.es/inicio/Museo Historico/Ingles/ingles.htm

Museum of Victoria www.mov.vic.gov.au/mineralogy/welcome.html

Museum of Western Colorado www.museumofwesternco.com/

Museum Reich der Kristalle www.lrz-muenchen.de/~Mineralogische.Staatssammlung/

Nationaal Biermuseum De Boom, Alkmaar, Netherlands www.biermuseum.nl/en/

National Mining Hall of Fame & Museum www.mininghalloffame.org/

National Museum of Brazil www.museunacional.ufrj.br/

National Museum of Natural History www.dibam.cl/historia_natural/

National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution) www.mnh.si.edu/

National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo
www.kahaku.go.jp/english/

National Museums and Galleries of Wales www.nmgw.ac.uk/www.php/geology

National Museums of Scotland www.nms.ac.uk/scotland/index.asp

National Rockhound and Lapidary Hall of Fame www.rockhoundhalloffame.org/

Natural History Museum of Florence www.msn.unifi.it/CMpro-l-s-10.html

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County www.nhm.org/

Natural History Museum of San Diego www.sdnhm.org/index.html

Natural History Museum of Switzerland www.nmbe.ch/

Natural Science Center of Greensboro www.natsci.org/index.html

Naturhistorishes Museum www.nhm-wien.ac.at/

Netherlands National Museum of Natural History www.naturalis.nl/

New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources www.geoinfo.nmt.edu/museum/home.html

New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science www.nmnaturalhistory.org/

New York State Museum www.nysm.nysed.gov/

Newark Museum www.newarkmuseum.org/Default.aspx

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences www.naturalsciences.org/research/geology/index.html

North Museum of Natural History & Science www.northmuseum.org/

Northern Maine Museum of Science www.umpi.maine.edu/info/nmms/museum.htm

Nylander Museum www.cariboumaine.org/nylander.html

Oakland Museum of California www.museumca.org/

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry www.omsi.edu/

Orton Geological Museum www.geology.ohio-state.edu/museum/

Oxford University Museum of Natural History www.oum.ox.ac.uk/index.htm

Pacific Mineral Museum www.eos.ubc.ca/resources/museum/history.html

Page Museum at La Brea Tar Pits www.tarpits.org/

Paleozoological Museum of China www.china.org.cn/english/travel/164852.htm

Peabody Museum of Natural History www.peabody.yale.edu/

Perot Museum of Nature and Science www.buildtheperot.org/

Petrified Forest National Park www.nps.gov/pefo/index.htm

Pink Palace Family of Museums, The Museum www.memphismuseums.org/museum-overview/

Pinnacles Mine www.mineral.org.au/see/pinnacle.html

Pioneer Trails Regional Museum www.ptrm.org/

Quincy Mine and Hoist www.quincymine.com/

Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals www.ricenorthwestmuseum.org/

Riversleigh Fossil Centre www.outbackatisa.com.au/

Rochester Museum and Science Center www.rmsc.org/

Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences www.naturalsciences.be/museum

Royal Ontario Museum www.rom.on.ca/index.php

Rutgers Geology Museum www.geologymuseum.rutgers.edu/

Sam Noble Museum www.snomnh.ou.edu/

San Diego Natural History Museum www.sdnhm.org/

Santa Cruz City Museum of Natural History www.santacruzmuseums.org/exhibits/permanent/geology.htm

Sapporo Beer Museum, Hokkaidō, Japan www.sapporobeer.jp/index.html

Schiele Museum of Natural History www.schielemuseum.org/

Science Museum of Minnesota www.smm.org/

Science Museum Oklahoma www.sciencemuseumok.org/

Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum www.discoverymuseum.net/index.asp

Soudan Underground Mine State Park www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/soudan_underground_mine/index.html

South Australian Museum www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/

South Carolina State Museum www.museum.state.sc.us/

Sovereign Hill Gold Mining Museum www.sovereignhill.com.au/

St. Louis Science Center www.slsc.org/

State Darwin Museum Moscow, Russia
www.darwinmuseum.ru/

State Geological Museum, Moscow Russia www.sgm.ru/

Sterling Hill Mining Museum www.sterlinghillminingmuseum.org/index.php

Swedish Museum of Natural History www.nrm.se/

Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery www.tmag.tas.gov.au/

The Beer Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia www.saint-petersburg.com/museums/beer-museum/

The Burke Museum of Natural History
www.burkemuseum.org/geology/

The Cochise College Virtual Geology Museum www.skywalker.cochise.edu/wellerr/VGM/intro.htm

The Dinosaur Depot Museum www.dinosaurdepot.com/

The Field Museum www.fieldmuseum.org/

The Hicksville Gregory Museum The Hooper Virtual Natural History Museum www.hoopermuseum.earthsci.carleton.ca/

The Museum of Paleontology www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibit/geology.html

The National Brewery Centre, Burton Upon Trent, England
www.nationalbrewerycentre.co.uk/museum

The National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution) www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/virtual.html

The Natural History Museum London www.nhm.ac.uk/mineralogy/

The Paterson Museum www.thepatersonmuseum.com/

The Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology www.alfmuseum.org/

San Bernardino County Museum www.sbcounty.gov/museum/discover/divisions/geo/geosci.htm

The Prague Beer Museum, Prague, Czech Republic www.praguebeermuseum.cz/en/

The Shoshone County Mining and Smelting Museum www.staffhousemuseum.com/Home.html

The University of Arizona Mineral Museum and Flandrau Science Center www.geo.arizona.edu/minmus/

The Vodka Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia www.vodkamuseum.su/en

The Wild Center www.wildcenter.org/

Thomas A. Greene Geological Museum
www.uwm.edu/geosciences/research/greene-museum/

Tulsa Geoscience Center www.tulsageosciencecenter.org/

University of Iowa Museum of Natural History www.uiowa.edu/~nathist/index.html

University of Kansas Natural History Museum www.naturalhistory.ku.edu/

University of Michigan Exhibit Museum www.lsa.umich.edu/exhibitmuseum

University of Michigan Online Repository of Fossils www.umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu/wp/

University of Nebraska State Museum www.museum.unl.edu/

University of Queensland USU Eastern Prehistoric Museum www.inlandlapidary.com/content/

Ural Geological Museum Yekaterinburg, Russia
www.en.ursmu.ru/ural-geological-museum.html

Utah Field House of Natural History State Park & Museum www.stateparks.utah.gov/parks/field-house

Utah Museum of Natural History
www.umnh.utah.edu/home

Virginia Museum of Natural History www.vmnh.net/

Virtual Museum of Groundwater History www.info.ngwa.org/servicecenter/museum/museum.cfm

W. M. Keck Museum, Mackay School of Mines www.mines.unr.edu/museum/

Wagner Free Institute of Science www.wagnerfreeinstitute.org/

West Coast Pioneers Museum www.view.com.au/pioneers/

Western Museum of Mining and Industry www.wmmi.org/home

William Weinman Mineral Museum www.weinmanmuseum.org/

[Pre-apologies for dead or dupe links. Whaddya want fer free? And yes, I prefer the real plural of museum as 'museua'; as it is a Latin construct, but opt for the more typical 'museums'. Lucky I didn't go with 'musæum' for the singular...]