Suvrat Kher
@rapiduplift.bsky.social
Sedimentary geologist dreaming of a himalayan home. Subscribe to my geology newsletter - https://rapiduplift.substack.com/
Reposted by Suvrat Kher
The grasslands of western India are, in the popular imagination, the remains of woodlands lost under British rule — areas to be reforested, not conserved.
But an analysis of medieval songs and stories reveals the grasslands predate British colonization.
But an analysis of medieval songs and stories reveals the grasslands predate British colonization.
India Sees Its Grasslands as 'Wastelands.' Ancient Poems Show Otherwise
The sprawling grasslands of western India are, in the popular imagination, the remains of woodlands that were leveled under British rule — areas to be reforested, rather than conserved. But a recent analysis of stories, songs, and poems from centuries past reveals that western grasslands predate British colonization.
e360.yale.edu
February 2, 2026 at 3:30 PM
The grasslands of western India are, in the popular imagination, the remains of woodlands lost under British rule — areas to be reforested, not conserved.
But an analysis of medieval songs and stories reveals the grasslands predate British colonization.
But an analysis of medieval songs and stories reveals the grasslands predate British colonization.
Reposted by Suvrat Kher
One last blast for the PM crowd: Eruptions is back! I have resurrected my blog and I will start (mostly) regularly updating with volcano news, research and culture. Check it out: eruptions.site/2026/01/28/w...
Welcome back to Eruptions
So, it has been awhile, right? Over the past few years, there have been a lot of changes to my volcano communication world. Scientists moved from Twitter to Bluesky. People decided they wanted podc…
eruptions.site
January 29, 2026 at 11:26 PM
One last blast for the PM crowd: Eruptions is back! I have resurrected my blog and I will start (mostly) regularly updating with volcano news, research and culture. Check it out: eruptions.site/2026/01/28/w...
Reposted by Suvrat Kher
A couple of January lesser mohavea wildflowers sneaking in a bloom, Death Valley
January 30, 2026 at 1:40 AM
A couple of January lesser mohavea wildflowers sneaking in a bloom, Death Valley
No one ever thought that preservation was because of 'tough bodies'.
It was always about trying to understand the specifics of taphonomy and diagenetic processes.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...
paper- pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/...
It was always about trying to understand the specifics of taphonomy and diagenetic processes.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...
paper- pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/...
January 28, 2026 at 3:41 AM
No one ever thought that preservation was because of 'tough bodies'.
It was always about trying to understand the specifics of taphonomy and diagenetic processes.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...
paper- pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/...
It was always about trying to understand the specifics of taphonomy and diagenetic processes.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...
paper- pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/...
Reposted by Suvrat Kher
I'm kind of surprised to see that map from USGS. It basically treats each aquifer (or section of the aquifer for the High Plains) like a bathtub and shades the whole thing by calculated volume of depletion. That's not how it works. Mapping it that way is misleading. The fairly severe drawdown
January 21, 2026 at 12:49 AM
I'm kind of surprised to see that map from USGS. It basically treats each aquifer (or section of the aquifer for the High Plains) like a bathtub and shades the whole thing by calculated volume of depletion. That's not how it works. Mapping it that way is misleading. The fairly severe drawdown
Reposted by Suvrat Kher
Links to Geology-related Open GIS Data
open.substack.com/pub/ikegami/...
open.substack.com/pub/ikegami/...
January 14, 2026 at 9:03 AM
Links to Geology-related Open GIS Data
open.substack.com/pub/ikegami/...
open.substack.com/pub/ikegami/...
Reposted by Suvrat Kher
I appreciate this from @us.theconversation.com by Jonathan Paul.
However, I think it’s making a mistake I commonly hear geologists make with regards to current events.
I have a hunch that this mistake is one of the reasons geology programs are struggling 🧵🛠️🪨🧪
theconversation.com/greenland-is...
However, I think it’s making a mistake I commonly hear geologists make with regards to current events.
I have a hunch that this mistake is one of the reasons geology programs are struggling 🧵🛠️🪨🧪
theconversation.com/greenland-is...
Greenland is rich in natural resources – a geologist explains why
Greenland’s rare earth element deposits may be among the world’s largest by volume.
theconversation.com
January 10, 2026 at 6:31 PM
I appreciate this from @us.theconversation.com by Jonathan Paul.
However, I think it’s making a mistake I commonly hear geologists make with regards to current events.
I have a hunch that this mistake is one of the reasons geology programs are struggling 🧵🛠️🪨🧪
theconversation.com/greenland-is...
However, I think it’s making a mistake I commonly hear geologists make with regards to current events.
I have a hunch that this mistake is one of the reasons geology programs are struggling 🧵🛠️🪨🧪
theconversation.com/greenland-is...
Reposted by Suvrat Kher
Anirudh Kanisetti echoing the complaint of pretty much every South Indian who has had to study "Indian history" at a non-state board school.
January 2, 2026 at 8:49 AM
Anirudh Kanisetti echoing the complaint of pretty much every South Indian who has had to study "Indian history" at a non-state board school.
Reposted by Suvrat Kher
Fantastic new slab of eensy little sea urchin fossils from Oregon, courtesy of @smilodonichthys.bsky.social #FossilFriday ⚒️
November 7, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Fantastic new slab of eensy little sea urchin fossils from Oregon, courtesy of @smilodonichthys.bsky.social #FossilFriday ⚒️
Folding in Proterozoic South Delhi Fold Belt, Kumbhalgarh Fort, Rajasthan.
Check out the polyphase folding (red arrow).
Pic- Vivek Singh Grewal.
#FridayFold
Check out the polyphase folding (red arrow).
Pic- Vivek Singh Grewal.
#FridayFold
December 26, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Folding in Proterozoic South Delhi Fold Belt, Kumbhalgarh Fort, Rajasthan.
Check out the polyphase folding (red arrow).
Pic- Vivek Singh Grewal.
#FridayFold
Check out the polyphase folding (red arrow).
Pic- Vivek Singh Grewal.
#FridayFold
Archean Jagannathpur volcanics from Singbhum Craton, India.
SEM BSE image- Pyroxene fibres with plagioclase.
www.geosocindia.org/index.php/jg...
SEM BSE image- Pyroxene fibres with plagioclase.
www.geosocindia.org/index.php/jg...
December 20, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Archean Jagannathpur volcanics from Singbhum Craton, India.
SEM BSE image- Pyroxene fibres with plagioclase.
www.geosocindia.org/index.php/jg...
SEM BSE image- Pyroxene fibres with plagioclase.
www.geosocindia.org/index.php/jg...
Reposted by Suvrat Kher
This is the reality we face. It is not physically possible to limit warming to 1.5°C. The required levels of emission cuts are impossibly steep
drilled.media/news/cop30-g...
drilled.media/news/cop30-g...
December 18, 2025 at 5:01 PM
This is the reality we face. It is not physically possible to limit warming to 1.5°C. The required levels of emission cuts are impossibly steep
drilled.media/news/cop30-g...
drilled.media/news/cop30-g...
Reposted by Suvrat Kher
Thin Section Thursday!
A cross-polarized image of a chondrule from the Allende (CV3) meteorite. The thin blades are crystals formed from the melt at very high cooling rates. FOV ~ 0.7 mm. Contributed by Bill Menarik. Send images & caption to akoziol1 at udayton dot edu. #thinsectionthursday
A cross-polarized image of a chondrule from the Allende (CV3) meteorite. The thin blades are crystals formed from the melt at very high cooling rates. FOV ~ 0.7 mm. Contributed by Bill Menarik. Send images & caption to akoziol1 at udayton dot edu. #thinsectionthursday
December 18, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Thin Section Thursday!
A cross-polarized image of a chondrule from the Allende (CV3) meteorite. The thin blades are crystals formed from the melt at very high cooling rates. FOV ~ 0.7 mm. Contributed by Bill Menarik. Send images & caption to akoziol1 at udayton dot edu. #thinsectionthursday
A cross-polarized image of a chondrule from the Allende (CV3) meteorite. The thin blades are crystals formed from the melt at very high cooling rates. FOV ~ 0.7 mm. Contributed by Bill Menarik. Send images & caption to akoziol1 at udayton dot edu. #thinsectionthursday
Reposted by Suvrat Kher
My top 10 books for 2025
December 15, 2025 at 4:39 PM
My top 10 books for 2025
Reposted by Suvrat Kher
December 13, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Reposted by Suvrat Kher
Possible desiccation cracks (mudcracks) in rock found by the Mars Curiosity Rover this week.
flic.kr/p/2rLi9Lh
flic.kr/p/2rLoXm3
flic.kr/p/2rL7ntV
flic.kr/p/2rLi9Lh
flic.kr/p/2rLoXm3
flic.kr/p/2rL7ntV
December 12, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Possible desiccation cracks (mudcracks) in rock found by the Mars Curiosity Rover this week.
flic.kr/p/2rLi9Lh
flic.kr/p/2rLoXm3
flic.kr/p/2rL7ntV
flic.kr/p/2rLi9Lh
flic.kr/p/2rLoXm3
flic.kr/p/2rL7ntV
Documenting ancient firemaking.
A broader perspective from @johnhawks.net on the "earliest evidence of ignition" news reports of firemaking ~400k.
www.johnhawks.net/p/sparking-a...
A broader perspective from @johnhawks.net on the "earliest evidence of ignition" news reports of firemaking ~400k.
www.johnhawks.net/p/sparking-a...
Sparking ancient fires
New research helps to show the challenges of documenting ancient firemaking
www.johnhawks.net
December 12, 2025 at 4:03 AM
Documenting ancient firemaking.
A broader perspective from @johnhawks.net on the "earliest evidence of ignition" news reports of firemaking ~400k.
www.johnhawks.net/p/sparking-a...
A broader perspective from @johnhawks.net on the "earliest evidence of ignition" news reports of firemaking ~400k.
www.johnhawks.net/p/sparking-a...
Reposted by Suvrat Kher
Our updated 54" x 36" Geology of Plate Tectonics chart reflects recent advances in geological thought over the past 40 years. Grab one below!
English (folded): geosociety.co/3KO5SNe
Spanish (folded): geosociety.co/3ML4Guy
#PlateTectonics #Tectonics #Volcanism #Metamorphism #Seismicity #Geothermal
English (folded): geosociety.co/3KO5SNe
Spanish (folded): geosociety.co/3ML4Guy
#PlateTectonics #Tectonics #Volcanism #Metamorphism #Seismicity #Geothermal
December 11, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Our updated 54" x 36" Geology of Plate Tectonics chart reflects recent advances in geological thought over the past 40 years. Grab one below!
English (folded): geosociety.co/3KO5SNe
Spanish (folded): geosociety.co/3ML4Guy
#PlateTectonics #Tectonics #Volcanism #Metamorphism #Seismicity #Geothermal
English (folded): geosociety.co/3KO5SNe
Spanish (folded): geosociety.co/3ML4Guy
#PlateTectonics #Tectonics #Volcanism #Metamorphism #Seismicity #Geothermal
Thought provoking and well explained by Steven M Stanley.
"Why the punctuational model of evolution is valid".
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
"Why the punctuational model of evolution is valid".
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Why the punctuational model of evolution is valid | Paleobiology | Cambridge Core
Why the punctuational model of evolution is valid
www.cambridge.org
December 8, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Thought provoking and well explained by Steven M Stanley.
"Why the punctuational model of evolution is valid".
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
"Why the punctuational model of evolution is valid".
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Suvrat Kher
@bsky.app #FossilFriday Arborea arborea, one of many impressive enigmatic Ediacaran fossils from the Flinders Ranges on display at the South Australian Museum in Adelaide.
December 5, 2025 at 10:24 AM
@bsky.app #FossilFriday Arborea arborea, one of many impressive enigmatic Ediacaran fossils from the Flinders Ranges on display at the South Australian Museum in Adelaide.
Reposted by Suvrat Kher
Cool paper documenting ecological insights about Indian tropical savannas in traditional literature between the 13th and 20th century. Grassland-scrubland biomes are often misconceived as deforested and/ or degraded wastelands. So, important paper.
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Utilizing traditional literature to triangulate the ecological history of a tropical savanna
Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Cool paper documenting ecological insights about Indian tropical savannas in traditional literature between the 13th and 20th century. Grassland-scrubland biomes are often misconceived as deforested and/ or degraded wastelands. So, important paper.
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Manufacture of synthetic Ernestite thr' high temp sintering of sand & laterite raw material.
Wonderful mineralogy and geochem study of origin of cylindrical drill bits used during the Bronze Age Harappan Civilization.
www.nature.com/articles/s40...
@johnhawks.net
Wonderful mineralogy and geochem study of origin of cylindrical drill bits used during the Bronze Age Harappan Civilization.
www.nature.com/articles/s40...
@johnhawks.net
Origin of the Harappan Ernestites: Geochemical Insights into Provenance and Fabrication - npj Heritage Science
npj Heritage Science - Origin of the Harappan Ernestites: Geochemical Insights into Provenance and Fabrication
www.nature.com
December 3, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Manufacture of synthetic Ernestite thr' high temp sintering of sand & laterite raw material.
Wonderful mineralogy and geochem study of origin of cylindrical drill bits used during the Bronze Age Harappan Civilization.
www.nature.com/articles/s40...
@johnhawks.net
Wonderful mineralogy and geochem study of origin of cylindrical drill bits used during the Bronze Age Harappan Civilization.
www.nature.com/articles/s40...
@johnhawks.net
Delhi Radioactive!
December 2, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Delhi Radioactive!
A nanometer thin coating of amorphous silica may be protecting phosphatized embryo-like microfossils from diagenetic changes in Ediacaran Doushanto Formation.
pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/...
pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/...
The role of amorphous silica coating on apatite nanocrystals in the exceptional preservation of phosphatized embryo-like microfossils from the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation | Geology | GeoScienceWorl...
pubs.geoscienceworld.org
December 2, 2025 at 10:59 AM
A nanometer thin coating of amorphous silica may be protecting phosphatized embryo-like microfossils from diagenetic changes in Ediacaran Doushanto Formation.
pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/...
pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/...
Reposted by Suvrat Kher
that's a fun thought experiment ... just last week we were discussing the 'life' span and fate of sedimentary basins in my class, this plot from a study a couple decades ago emphasizes the uniqueness of intracratonic basins in terms of longevity pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/...
December 1, 2025 at 3:11 PM
that's a fun thought experiment ... just last week we were discussing the 'life' span and fate of sedimentary basins in my class, this plot from a study a couple decades ago emphasizes the uniqueness of intracratonic basins in terms of longevity pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/...