Welcome to the USD Department of Earth Sciences Blog

This blog will serve as the official blog of the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of South Dakota. Earth Sciences faculty will use the blog as a way to highlight events, research, and accomplishments of students and faculty in department. We will also use the blog as a forum for commentary on news, events, and developments in the Earth sciences.

The study of Earth Sciences encompasses not only geology, but also includes meteorology, and oceanography. South Dakota has terrific geology, from the Black Hills and Badlands in the west, to the glacial geology and Sioux Quartzite in the east. The Department of Earth Sciences has a close relationship with the South Dakota Geological Survey with whom we share a building. USD Earth scientists take field trips and do research throughout South Dakota, adjacent states, across the western United States, and around the world (China, Iceland, Greece, and Mongolia in recent years).

Follow this blog to learn more about the University of South Dakota Department of Earth Sciences!

Badlands National Park, South Dakota. Tertiary rocks of the White River Group overlying

the "yellow mounds" paleosol developed in the Cretaceous Pierre Shale. (B. Jordan)