Elizabeth V
@geolizzy.bsky.social
Ore Deposit geologist turned SAHM. I love rocks and books. Follow for geology and other science, women in STEM, and occasional snarky comments.
Pinned
Elizabeth V
@geolizzy.bsky.social
· Nov 10
Hello new followers! I’m Lizzy. My expertise is ore geology and mineral exploration, but I’m interested in all aspects of earth science. I’ve been a field mapper, lab scientist, adjunct faculty, and currently a SAHM because the job market is always up and down 😄
I can imagine. My shower water was always gray 😬
February 12, 2026 at 12:10 PM
I can imagine. My shower water was always gray 😬
There in impermeable layer underneath and around it. There are also ditches around it to collect the solution. If the cyanide leaks elsewhere, so does the gold so you very much don’t want it to leak. Rain doesn’t do anything, the solution already has water and it’s designed to handle it.
February 12, 2026 at 12:04 PM
There in impermeable layer underneath and around it. There are also ditches around it to collect the solution. If the cyanide leaks elsewhere, so does the gold so you very much don’t want it to leak. Rain doesn’t do anything, the solution already has water and it’s designed to handle it.
The “leached” solution is then collected at the bottom and then you use activated carbon to pull the gold and cyanide out from the solution. Then use another process (electrowinning) to separate the gold and cyanide.
February 12, 2026 at 3:35 AM
The “leached” solution is then collected at the bottom and then you use activated carbon to pull the gold and cyanide out from the solution. Then use another process (electrowinning) to separate the gold and cyanide.
What’s a cyanide leach pad? Modern gold mining requires the use of chemicals (usually a dilute solution of sodium cyanide) to get the gold out of the rock that the gold is in. One way to do this is to build a leach pad which is large pile of ore rock that you run the solution through.
If you find yourself wondering why I care so much about mine workers, it’s because I was one. I spent 2 years working in an open pit mine breathing in dust. I still remember the smell of a cyanide leach pad. I remember the feeling of having to be constantly vigilant for rockfalls.
This is me reminding all my followers that a new silica rule was supposed to go start last year to reduce allowable silica limits in air, but the Mine Safety and Health Administration decided to just not enforce it. It would have saved many miners from the horrors of black lung disease.
February 12, 2026 at 3:35 AM
What’s a cyanide leach pad? Modern gold mining requires the use of chemicals (usually a dilute solution of sodium cyanide) to get the gold out of the rock that the gold is in. One way to do this is to build a leach pad which is large pile of ore rock that you run the solution through.
My fault for calling it a cyanide leach pad. I can see how that’s confusing if you don’t know the process
February 12, 2026 at 2:15 AM
My fault for calling it a cyanide leach pad. I can see how that’s confusing if you don’t know the process
I haven’t heard of that. I’ll have to check it out
February 12, 2026 at 1:53 AM
I haven’t heard of that. I’ll have to check it out
Nope, it’s sodium cyanide. They spray it on large piles of crushed ore rock so the dirt smell is from the wet rock
February 12, 2026 at 1:52 AM
Nope, it’s sodium cyanide. They spray it on large piles of crushed ore rock so the dirt smell is from the wet rock
Like almonds and dirt. On really windy days I could kinda taste it too which I’m sure was real safe 😅
February 12, 2026 at 1:06 AM
Like almonds and dirt. On really windy days I could kinda taste it too which I’m sure was real safe 😅
Ugh that embarrassing typo. There! T H E R E
February 12, 2026 at 1:01 AM
Ugh that embarrassing typo. There! T H E R E
I also think when it comes to safety on the job it doesn’t matter who you voted for, I still want you to go home safe. No one deserves to die just because they need to put food on the table.
February 12, 2026 at 12:55 AM
I also think when it comes to safety on the job it doesn’t matter who you voted for, I still want you to go home safe. No one deserves to die just because they need to put food on the table.
And if you find yourself thinking “well, who did they vote for?”, first find some empathy. Second, not all miners are republicans. And third, they vote for whoever they think will make it so they keep their jobs because theirs nowhere else to work in some of these places
February 12, 2026 at 12:53 AM
And if you find yourself thinking “well, who did they vote for?”, first find some empathy. Second, not all miners are republicans. And third, they vote for whoever they think will make it so they keep their jobs because theirs nowhere else to work in some of these places
Coal seams are thinner and there’s more silica coming out of the rock. Coal miners are getting black younger and younger because of this. The silica limit rule would have prevented a lot of people from getting it.
February 12, 2026 at 12:53 AM
Coal seams are thinner and there’s more silica coming out of the rock. Coal miners are getting black younger and younger because of this. The silica limit rule would have prevented a lot of people from getting it.
One of the things you learn in mine safety training is to watch out not only for yourself, but for others. Everyone wants everyone else to go home safe. Giving in to the coal companies who don’t want to hurt their profit by limiting silica exposure, is basically condemning them to die
February 12, 2026 at 12:40 AM
One of the things you learn in mine safety training is to watch out not only for yourself, but for others. Everyone wants everyone else to go home safe. Giving in to the coal companies who don’t want to hurt their profit by limiting silica exposure, is basically condemning them to die
If you find yourself wondering why I care so much about mine workers, it’s because I was one. I spent 2 years working in an open pit mine breathing in dust. I still remember the smell of a cyanide leach pad. I remember the feeling of having to be constantly vigilant for rockfalls.
This is me reminding all my followers that a new silica rule was supposed to go start last year to reduce allowable silica limits in air, but the Mine Safety and Health Administration decided to just not enforce it. It would have saved many miners from the horrors of black lung disease.
February 12, 2026 at 12:40 AM
If you find yourself wondering why I care so much about mine workers, it’s because I was one. I spent 2 years working in an open pit mine breathing in dust. I still remember the smell of a cyanide leach pad. I remember the feeling of having to be constantly vigilant for rockfalls.
Ugh. That too. Have I mentioned how much I hate coal?
February 12, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Ugh. That too. Have I mentioned how much I hate coal?
This is me reminding all my followers that a new silica rule was supposed to go start last year to reduce allowable silica limits in air, but the Mine Safety and Health Administration decided to just not enforce it. It would have saved many miners from the horrors of black lung disease.
February 12, 2026 at 12:28 AM
This is me reminding all my followers that a new silica rule was supposed to go start last year to reduce allowable silica limits in air, but the Mine Safety and Health Administration decided to just not enforce it. It would have saved many miners from the horrors of black lung disease.
Undisputed champion of making sure all those coal miners die struggling to take their last breath
"Sir, to show our appreciation, the trophy says 'the undisputed champion of beautiful, clean coal'"
February 12, 2026 at 12:26 AM
Undisputed champion of making sure all those coal miners die struggling to take their last breath
Honestly, I’m surprised we haven’t seen more of this from the files
February 11, 2026 at 10:36 PM
Honestly, I’m surprised we haven’t seen more of this from the files
I give you all the mining news 😆
February 11, 2026 at 10:27 PM
I give you all the mining news 😆
Ex-Prince Andrew just offering up mining investment opportunities in Afghanistan to his buddy
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Andrew sent Epstein UK briefing on Afghan investments, document suggests
The briefing which includes "high value commercial opportunities" in Helmand province, appears in the Epstein files.
www.bbc.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:25 PM
Ex-Prince Andrew just offering up mining investment opportunities in Afghanistan to his buddy
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Elizabeth V
it’s now quite obvious the administration is feeding graphic photos of dead eagles killed by wind turbines to fox news
i have never seen anything like what is in this story released publicly by the interior department
(this also confirms my @heatmap.news story about the sweeping eagle crackdown)
i have never seen anything like what is in this story released publicly by the interior department
(this also confirms my @heatmap.news story about the sweeping eagle crackdown)
Minnesota green energy program funded by Obama fined for killing bald eagle: ‘National treasure’
The University of Minnesota is facing a penalty of over $14,000 after it was discovered that a green energy initiative funded by was responsible for the gruesome death of a bald eagle.
www.foxnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:04 PM
it’s now quite obvious the administration is feeding graphic photos of dead eagles killed by wind turbines to fox news
i have never seen anything like what is in this story released publicly by the interior department
(this also confirms my @heatmap.news story about the sweeping eagle crackdown)
i have never seen anything like what is in this story released publicly by the interior department
(this also confirms my @heatmap.news story about the sweeping eagle crackdown)
Reposted by Elizabeth V
Incredible update: "This article was updated to note that CNN reports there were at least four party balloons shot down by DOD, not just one."
gizmodo.com/one-mexican-...
gizmodo.com/one-mexican-...
Mexican Cartel 'Drones' Near El Paso Airspace Were Actually Party Balloons: Report
FAA initially ordered the closure of airspace over El Paso for 10 days before backtracking.
gizmodo.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Incredible update: "This article was updated to note that CNN reports there were at least four party balloons shot down by DOD, not just one."
gizmodo.com/one-mexican-...
gizmodo.com/one-mexican-...
We’re really good at making our problems someone else’s problem 😅
February 11, 2026 at 7:04 PM
We’re really good at making our problems someone else’s problem 😅
Yeah I think the Powder Basin is subbituminous coal so thermal
February 11, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Yeah I think the Powder Basin is subbituminous coal so thermal
You must buy multiple Costco size packages of tissues to fill all those
February 11, 2026 at 6:52 PM
You must buy multiple Costco size packages of tissues to fill all those