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geoshanz.bsky.social
Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊
@geoshanz.bsky.social
2.9K followers 1.4K following 790 posts
• Researching sediments from the Deep Sea to Mars • Ph.D. in tiny rocks, oceans, + squiggly lines • Exploring extreme environments using robot friends Prev 🐥: @ MarsRoverMapper (ODU + NASA-JPL) https://geoshanz.blogspot.com
geoshanz.blogspot.com
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geoshanz.bsky.social
Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊 @geoshanz.bsky.social · 5h
Last time I was home, I grabbed some samples for my "garden collection" (because, why not!):
Glacial sample; sub-rounded, ~18-19cm on long axis. Glacial sample; sub-rounded; ~19-20cm on long axis
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geoshanz.bsky.social
Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊 @geoshanz.bsky.social · 5h
In conjunction with @moreorloess.bsky.social's comments, plenty of sub-rounded samples across my childhood home.

🗺️ Geologic Setting: Wisconsin- just north of the LGM/ MIS 2 terminal moraine and south of the widespread drumlin fields. I'm voting ice transport. Pics below.
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geoshanz.bsky.social
Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊 @geoshanz.bsky.social · 7h
The news is starting to roll-in from today’s NASA-JPL terminations. Sending the biggest virtual hugs to my extended JPL Family 🩵🥺
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geoshanz.bsky.social
Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊 @geoshanz.bsky.social · 10h
Same concerns.
geoshanz.bsky.social
Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊 @geoshanz.bsky.social · 1d
Absolutely heartbroken for my NASA-JPL colleagues. Tomorrow is going to be a challenging day 💔

[JPL Peeps- y’all know how to directly reach me. PLEASE reach out if you need anything. Love you Guys!!!]
reuters.com
Reuters @reuters.com · 1d
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to lay off about 550 workers reut.rs/4302N2L
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to lay off about 550 workers
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said on Monday it will cut nearly 550 jobs as part of a restructuring, not related to the current U.S. government shutdown.
reut.rs
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geoshanz.bsky.social
Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊 @geoshanz.bsky.social · 4d
Space Deer. Doing their thang. Every has a job to do. 😆🦌
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geoshanz.bsky.social
Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊 @geoshanz.bsky.social · 4d
Nor’easter inbound. Obviously that meant recon time. Here’s a quick clip from Virginia today. #VAWx
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geoshanz.bsky.social
Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊 @geoshanz.bsky.social · 5d
I know we’ve had this discussion before- but this is a hill I will die on. ALWAYS WINDOW SEATS. And yep, that shade is staying open. 👀📸
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geoshanz.bsky.social
Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊 @geoshanz.bsky.social · 5d
I mean, that’s sound advice.
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geoshanz.bsky.social
Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊 @geoshanz.bsky.social · 5d
Trying my best to mimic Vostok δ¹⁸O data. If you squint hard enough, you can see that pesky MIS 4 rearing its face.
Heart rate data from recent workout shows distinct peaks (rounds of Oly lifting/ running/ ski). 📈 : Whoop
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geoshanz.bsky.social
Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊 @geoshanz.bsky.social · 5d
Tiny shoutout to my fellow grad student @ocnogrphr.bsky.social! He’s returning to our Alma mater as part of our dept’s lecture series- as a seasoned postdoc!

Hey Ryan- don’t forget to swing by Borjo ☕️ Enjoy your visit to ODU!
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geoshanz.bsky.social
Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊 @geoshanz.bsky.social · 7d
🔔 Meeting Announcement

Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG)- virtual/ Nov 12, 2025

ℹ️ www.lpi.usra.edu/mepag/meetin...

#PlanetarySci 🧪
MEPAG Virtual Meeting #19 November 12, 2025 Virtual The Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group is scheduled to meet virtually on November 12, 2025. The MEPAG Virtual Meeting #19 provides a forum for the Mars science community to report on and discuss recent developments.
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geoshanz.bsky.social
Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊 @geoshanz.bsky.social · 8d
Happy to see you had a good race 💫
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geoshanz.bsky.social
Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊 @geoshanz.bsky.social · 13d
Hmm, squishy but pliable. I’d say around gypsum, so Mohs 2.
geoshanz.bsky.social
Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊 @geoshanz.bsky.social · 14d
If I’m tracking the correct overpass- Google maps says it’s closed through Oct 2026 now… did someone hit it yesterday?
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geoshanz.bsky.social
Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊 @geoshanz.bsky.social · 15d
Magic around the land. These only show a small subset of the amenities. Truly incredible 💫
Chicken coop. Yep, this whole large green barn is a coop with chickens, turkeys, geese, and peacocks. Stone bridge lined with lanterns overlooking a portion of the main house, 1,400 acre property, and a pond with two black swans. The pond is fed by a natural spring on the back side of the bridge. Some of the cattle on the farm. They had a mix of breeds including Belties, Longhorns, Jerseys, and Holsteins. A single metal tree swing overlooking the property and mountains.
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geoshanz.bsky.social
Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊 @geoshanz.bsky.social · 15d
Inside shots from the property:
Inside the orangery is filled with exotic plants, birds, and monkeys. The greenhouse is similar in size to a regional botanical garden, but connects to the main house through a hallway. The grand foyer with a symmetric staircase, a checkerboard white and gray marble floor, a wrap around balcony overlooking the main foyer, and several chandeliers and fireplaces. The hallway connecting the main house to the orangery with a checkered pattern floor, and large French windows with plentiful natural light. The British Folly on the back property serves as a hunting room with brown leather furniture, a rustic fireplace, and a fox hunting theme mural painted on the dome ceiling. The tones are warm- in contrast to the to the cool tones of the main house.
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geoshanz.bsky.social
Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊 @geoshanz.bsky.social · 15d
Recently visited a farm that left me speechless. I walked around the property whispering, “this can’t be real.” It was magical- filled with animals and happiness!

📍High Meadow Manor, Flint Hill, VA
The main house is massive and looks like an English or French chateau with large pillars and symmetric rectangular shape. Fun fact- the buildings on the property are heated by 34x ~100m deep geothermal wells. Inside the stables. The stables are immaculate with several breeds of horses for transporting carts throughout the property. The property is home to horses, cows, exotic birds, chickens, turkeys, monkeys, swans, pigs, goats, donkeys, and sheep. All animals receive extremely loving care and comfortable indoor and outdoor spaces. The back courtyard overlooking the outside of the orangery. A large fountain adorned with pink roses leads to the main entrance and of the greenhouse. The grand view from the front door of the main house. The front lawn extends hundreds of meters adorned with precisely manicured boxwoods, roses, and topiaries.
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Reposted by Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊
natureportfolio.nature.com
Nature Portfolio @natureportfolio.nature.com · 18d
A paper in Nature Communications identifies 85 previously undocumented lakes beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet. These subglacial lakes fill and drain with a variety of patterns, revealing interconnected hydrological pathways channeling large volumes of water under the ice sheet. ⚒️ 🧪
Detection of 85 new active subglacial lakes in Antarctica from a decade of CryoSat-2 data - Nature Communications
Wilson and colleagues identify 85 previously undocumented lakes beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet. These subglacial lakes fill and drain with a variety of patterns, revealing interconnected hydrological pathways channeling large volumes of water under the ice sheet.
go.nature.com
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Reposted by Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊
eos.org
Eos @eos.org · 19d
Did you know that there are blueberries on Mars? And they're made of #Hematite? Very cool, but definitely don't eat them.

eos.org/research-spo...
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geoshanz.bsky.social
Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊 @geoshanz.bsky.social · 19d
I fully endorse this post!
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geoshanz.bsky.social
Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊 @geoshanz.bsky.social · 19d
H E M A T I T E !!! #MinCup25
mineralcup.bsky.social
Mineral Cup #MinCup25 @mineralcup.bsky.social · 20d
#MinCup25 Quarterfinal 1: Colourful phoenix #Haüyne goes against heavyweight industrial powerhouse #Hematite.

Vote: www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r3...
Results: www.mineralcup.org/2025/results...
Vote in Quarterfinal 1 — Mineral Cup
Click here to vote in Haüyne vs Hematite Photo credits: Jean-François Ferrandon and John Sobolewski
www.mineralcup.org
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geoshanz.bsky.social
Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊 @geoshanz.bsky.social · 19d
Seriously though. 😆 I'm very good at tap dancing. Refined those skills through my MANY years as a Graduate TA.
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geoshanz.bsky.social
Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊 @geoshanz.bsky.social · 19d
Had the pleasure of sailing with Mark "Drago" Dragovich on the R/V Atlantis transit from San Diego, CA to Dutch Harbor, AK. 🌊

Drago was a STEMSEAS Student and an absolute rockstar. Thrilled to watch his post-military career in ocean and Great Lakes sciences flourish! Please check out his recap ⤵️
Best Decision | whitepinepress
www.whitepinepresstc.com
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geoshanz.bsky.social
Dr. Shannon Cofield 🪨🗺️🌊 @geoshanz.bsky.social · 20d
Just a few more days until the next expedition. USGS & NOAA colleagues are exploring the Cook Islands. (I’ll be serving as an Ashore Scientist).

Manuia te tere!

Deep-Sea Habitats of the Cook Islands |
1- 21 October, 2025 🌊🧪
NA176
Explore the ocean with us! We seek out new discoveries while conducting scientific exploration of the seafloor and stream live to the world aboard Exploration Vessel Nautilus.
nautiluslive.org
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