Elizabeth V

@geolizzy

Ore Deposit geologist turned SAHM. I love rocks and books. Loves sustainable mining and hates coal.

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Elizabeth V@geolizzy· 6d

And because I somehow haven’t brought up the silica rule that never happened yet

NIOSH first recommended tougher limits on silica dust exposure in coal mines in 1974. But for 50 years, both Democratic and Republican administrations failed to act. That finally changed in 2024, when the Biden administration succeeded in establishing a new silica dust regulation for mining. It made the exposure limit twice as restrictive. It also provided, for the first time, a direct regulatory response to overexposure, including imposition of even tougher exposure restrictions, and possible fines, for noncompliance.

But the mining industry sued, agreeing with the tougher exposure limit but not the enforcement mechanism.

Federal courts responded to the industry lawsuits, which also cite other issues, with an indefinite delay in enforcement of the tougher silica exposure limits. The Trump administration did not oppose the delay, announcing it too would put enforcement on hold.

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· 6d

But especially the way the National Mining Association keeps trying to downplay and ignore what is happening.

"Thousands of opportunities for disease"

The National Mining Association cites government data that shows increasing compliance with silica dust exposure limits in the last 10 years, with mining companies nationwide meeting those limits more than 90% of the time. Last year, the compliance rate hit 97%.

The coal mining industry wants to be able to require the use of dust masks, so that miners could still work when other control measures fail.

"When other controls do not adequately reduce exposure levels, those extensive controls will be supplemented with respirators, which is no different than any other profession that requires the use of masks to ensure air quality safety," the NMA's Burke said.

But federal law treats underground coal mining differently from other industries. The Mine Safety and Health Act requires coal mining companies to prevent "unsafe and unhealthful conditions" and to make sure miners can work their entire careers in working conditions "sufficiently free of respirable dust" so they don't fall victim to black lung.

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· 6d

And this:

The black lung burden for miners like Tim Balthis makes life itself challenging. Even the simplest tasks are difficult as fibrotic tissue builds up in his lungs. Breathing becomes more and more labored. He knows it will only get worse. He's likely to die from it, unless he qualifies for a lung transplant. But even that, for coal miners, comes with a median survival rate of less than seven years.

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· 6d

I keep thinking about this article. Things like this:

At 57, Balthis has what is called complicated black lung, the advanced and fatal stage. He tried to describe for non-miners what it's like working around silica dust in an underground coal mine.

"It's like opening your front door and letting the sunshine [in]" with dust particles floating in the light. "And then multiply that by 10 billion times. … It's like a fog," Balthis recalled.

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· 8d

I also want to know who the “mining czar” is

But while the Biden administration leaned on the US Department of State and Department of Energy to deploy its critical minerals policies, the Trump administration created an effective mining czar based in the White House who coordinates the State Department, Pentagon, Energy Department, US International Development Finance Corp. and Export-Import Bank on Trump’s rare-earth and critical minerals strategy.

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· Jun 25

Broken down by mineral and region

Chart showing 2025 allegation by mineral and region. Copper allegations come from all regions, but concentrated in Africa and South America. Copper also has the highest number of allegations. Cobalt follows with most allegations in Africa. Iron ore is widespread, but highest in Europe and Central Asia. Zinc mostly in South America. Nickel highest in Asia and Pacific region. Lithium highest in South America. Manganese widespread. Bauxite mostly in Asia and Pacific. REE split between Africa and Asia and Pacific regions.

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· Jun 25

Worst offending companies: Glencore First Quantum Minerals Rio Tinto MIND ID BHP (Sorry the image cropped weirdly)

2025 Allegations chart with columns for company, headquarters, and number of allegations.

Glencore (Switzerland) 30
First Quantum Minerals (Canada) 23
Rio Tinto (UK) 20
MIND ID (Indonesia) 18
BHP (Australia) 15
CNMC (China) 14
DCH (Ukraine) 14
Zion Mining (China) 13
Group México (Mexico) 11
Vale (Brazil) 8

With the exception of CNMC, DCH, and Groupo México, most allegations are as a joint venture participant rather than as parent company.

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· Jun 24

Map for those who want to know where this is

Map showing the Virginia part of the Delmarva peninsula and adjacent offshore area. A large hatched area shows the area of interest on the outer continental shelf. This area is close to shore including near Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· May 31

My 4th grader has a test on natural resources of Virginia coming up and I took at the study guide and the part about rocks, minerals, and ores is disappointing to say the least

Table titled “Minerals, Rocks, and Ores.” Below the title is written: “These natural resources are used in everyday life. Example uses include building materials and fuel sources.” There are three columns. The one on the left says “minerals” with a photo of a piece of blue kyanite, a blue bead bracelet, and a spark plug. The middle column is titled “Rocks” with three trowels with aggregates, a pile of sand (?), a cement mixer, and 2 cinder blocks. The last column is titled “ores” and has 2 samples of iron ore, a pile of ochre pigment, and 2 orange glazed ceramics

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· Apr 21

Mood today:

Seal of the state of Virginia. The Roman goddess Virtus wearing a blue outfit that leaves her left breast exposed holding a spear and a sheathed sword. One leg stands on the body of a prone man with a crown laying beside him. Virginia is written at the above them and Sic Semper Tyrannis is beneath them. Red flowers form a ring around the edge of the seal.

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· Apr 9

Yep. It’s gonna shut down a lot of the touristy part of DC just so they can have fast cars go zoom

Map of the track for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix. It shows a red route on a grayed out map background that goes down Pennsylvania Ave, around the National Archives, past the National Gallery of Art on 7th Ave, across the National Mall, turning left on Independence Ave behind the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and back up 3rd Ave to the start.

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· Feb 11

Seems like a good time to mention that metallurgical coal and thermal coal are two different things. Metallurgical or Met coal is used in steel production because it has a low sulfur and ash content. Thermal or steam coal is lower quality and used to produce electricity.

Screen shot from the quoted video. In screen is a chart showing stock prices for 5 coal related companies. The top two with the biggest increases are Alpha Metallurgical Resources and Warrior Met Coal. Others are Peabody Energy, Hallador Energy, and Natural Resource Partners LP.

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· Feb 8

Today’s my birthday, and I wanted to share two of the books I received. Excited to read both!

Two hardcover books on a wooden table. The book on the left is Strata Storie from Deep Time by Laura Poppick. It has a colorful geologic cross section in the cover. The book on the right is The Whispers of Rock by Anjana Khat and the cover is reddish to purplish rock with yellow veining.

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· Jan 22

I keep thinking about this comment someone left on a post I made where it’s obvious they didn’t read my profile. Maybe it’s a bot or a sock puppet account instead of a real person but either way, I keep laughing about it.

Blue sky post with username marked out.
“Let’s remember that this isn’t just a abomination by the current cabal of incompetents and fraudsters in the government. Companies are not being forced to do this. Their leaders are choosing to rape the planet for money.
The REAL enemies are the fossil fuel companies and the rapists running them.”

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· Nov 4

Vote for #molybdenite! It’s fun to say, the name tells you it has molybdenum in it, and it’s pretty! Stockwork veins of it are my favorite, like these from Climax Mine in Colorado.

Light gray and tan rock with darker blue-gray stockwork veins crosscutting the sample. Small, yellow, cubic pyrite crystals are disseminated throughout.

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· Sep 12

Gotta vote for #molybdenite today! It’s one of my favorite ore minerals. Here’s a sample I collected on a field trip to Climax Mine in Colorado. #MinCup25

Light gray felsic rock with thin cross-cutting (stockworks) of darker blue-gray molybdenite. Also present are cubic pyrite crystals.

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· Sep 10

I’m voting #dioptase today. It’s a gorgeous color and this little chunk showed up in my car one day and I have no idea where it came from but it’s so pretty it’s one of my favorite mineral samples #MinCup25

Small piece of darkish blue green dioptase with shiny crystal faces visible on top edge

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· Sep 5

Tough choice for me today. I love both! But I’m choosing barite simply because I loved finding pockets of it when I worked in Nevada. Barite can be pretty too! #MinCup25

Transparent yellow tabular barite crystal cluster held to show shiny crystal faces

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· Sep 4

This was an easy vote for me today! I’m a big fan of #calcite. Here’s my favorite sample that I have that I found in a mine where I used to work. Dogtooth calcite! #MinCup25

Cluster of clear calcite crystals shaped like pointy dog teeth on a cardboard box

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· Aug 12

Trying real hard to move that space shuttle to Texas I see www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-st...

Collection Use: Evaluation of how existing materials and collections are being used or could be used to highlight American achievement and progress, including whether the Smithsonian can make better use of certain materials by digitizing or conveying to other institutions.

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· Jun 16

What makes me saddest though is that this huge section of Shoshone Nation Forest (i think) is up for sale. A good chunk of it was in my field area for my Masters degree and in my opinion is one of the prettiest places on Earth. It’s also contains high peaks and I know because I climbed them 😅

Map of the southern end of the Wind River Mountains in Wyoming. An area resembling the letter “M” is marked to be sold by the US Forest Service. It includes high peaks and glaciated valleys.

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· Jun 16

I’m sure it’s just a coincidence that these tracts on a drainage just south of the Atlantic City-South Pass City Gold district are up for sale. I’m sure you can build houses next to gullies, right?

Map showing the ghost towns of Atlantic City and South Pass City, Wyoming. These towns were the sites of historical gold mine towns with gold mined from placer and hard rock mines. Bureau of Land Management plots up for sale lie downstream from South Pass City in a strange almost checkerboard pattern next to the stream and presumably excludes placer claims within the stream.

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· Apr 4

Though like mining, oil and gas is also very boom and bust so anyone who’s been around for a while is used to it (but it still sucks)

Dressed in plain looking rough clothes, James Franco stands with a noose around his neck. With a slight smirk, he looks to the right and another man stands to his left staring out of frame, also with a noose around his neck. This scene is captioned with “First time?”

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· Apr 2

Yes I’m religious, I believe in the holy trinity

3 rocks. From left to right: A piece of granite labeled Igneous, a piece of gneiss labeled Metamorphic, and a piece of sandstone labeled Sedimentary

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· Mar 30

And how if this the first article I have seen about closing 34 MSHA offices? That’s really bad news! Not just for coal, but lots of the offices are in places where we mine other things like gold and copper

Map of the USA showing the locations of 34 MSHA regional offices set to close. These include offices in Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, Texas, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and New Hampshire.

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· Feb 12

This is a screenshot from yesterday. They weren’t even sure if it was an early departure or not 🤭

OPM status for DC from Feb 11. Status: Early Departure ? All employees must depart no later than 2pm

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· Jan 9

Finished my blanket square for a community blanket. Not too bad considering I had to remind myself how crochet worked again

Yellow crocheted square with blue border. Center yellow section has raised cluster stitches to give it texture. Square is 10 inches by 10 inches

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· Sep 22

I don’t have strong feelings either way for this matchup of #MinCup23. I went with the #ammineite because it’s a pretty blue and wonderfully weird since it’s conditions for formation need a copper deposit with a guano deposit on top. It’s amazing that the mineral even exists!

Tiny, bright blue, slightly elongated cluster of ammineite on colorless halite

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· Sep 18

Everyone likes to show photos of clear quartz, but I love #quartz because it can be purple (and other colors)! Just look at this amethyst! Stibnite is cool looking, but it isn’t this lovely color. #MinCup23 Photos from Mindat.org

Two pointy crystals of purple amethyst sticking up from a light grey piece of rock

One larger pointy purple crystal of amethyst with two smaller crystals pointing to the left, one to the right, and one at the camera.

Elizabeth V@geolizzy· Sep 17

When I think about #kaolinite I think about Providence Canyon in Lumpkin, GA (USA). It was formed by bad farming practices in the 1800s. It’s 150 feet deep and one formation contains lenses of kaolin. It was one of my favorite geology field trips! #MinCup23 Photos from gastateparks.org