A marine geologist with Natural Resources Canada, Steve Blasco, wondered why the wreck of the Titanic did not sink completely into the ocean sediments at its resting place 4 km below the surface. Mr. Blasco used core samples of the sea floor at the site to determine that the Titanic now sits on a million year old marine landslide deposit. Presumably this deposit is stiffer than other types of marine sediments. Mr. Blasco has studied a number of other scientific aspects of the Titanic wreckage, including the bacteria that is causing the formation of ‘rusticles’ and will one day completely dissolve the vessel. His group has also found numerous life forms in the oxygen-deprived depths, and a discovery that the steel used in the construction of the hull was brittle because of high sulfur content steel, and the rivets were high in slag. [Source: Castanet.net. Image: destinosdeviagem.com]
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Landslide Videos from Brazil
Dr. Dave has posted links to a few scary landslide videos from the recent heavy rains affecting the Santa Catarina province of Brazil. This latest one shows an ambulance being swept off a road by a “small” landslide. The ease with which the vehicle is moved is quite impressive. It didn’t appear that anyone was injured in this particular landslide but I’m sure there might have been some underwear changing involved. Elsewhere in the region people have not been so lucky and there is a heavy death toll. Click through for two videos.
Landslide Covers Freeway, Kills at Least 4 in Taiwan
April 29, 2010
rockman
Geologic Hazards
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