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The USGS Evening Public Lecture Series events are free and are intended for a general public audience that may not be familiar with the science being discussed. Our speakers are encouraged to thoroughly explain the subject matter being presented, and to define any words or terms that may be unfamiliar to those not having a background or familiarity with the material being presented.

Lectures are held at the USGS Menlo Park Science Center in Building 3, 2nd floor conference room A, Menlo Park, California. Click on Campus Map for building location and directions.

Thursday, January 29, 2009, 7:00 p.m.
USGS, Conference Room A, Bldg 3,
Menlo Park, California

EXPLORING MARS: Geology,
Climate Change and Prospects for Past Life

• Data from a recent polar lander, two still active rovers and three spacecraft in orbit are changing our perceptions about how Mars evolved. What do these new data imply for the prospects of past and present life?

Video: A video archive of this lecture will be available on this website on the Current Season page one to three day's after this event.

January 2009 Flyer (Acrobat PDF)

View December 2008 Lecture

Play Video (requires Flash Player)

Gemstone Deposits of the United States
Commercial production - localities visited by mineral collectors

• Gemstones found in the United States include sapphire, opal, tourmaline, aquamarine, turquoise, amethyst, peridot, and many others
• More than a half-dozen states are known for their gemstones, including unusual and exotic varieties such as red beryl, benitoite, and sunstone
• The gem material produced in the U.S. having the greatest overall value, does NOT come from rocks . what is this valuable commodity?
• In how many states have diamonds have been found; which states have produced diamonds commercially?

Upcoming 2009 Public Lecture Schedule

Monthly lectures are usually scheduled for the last Thursday evening of each month during most of the year but are occasionally presented on the preceding Thursday evening to accommodate our speakers. Also, the November and December lectures are scheduled earlier in the month to avoid conflicting with speaker and customer plans during the holiday season.

• This lecture schedule is subject to change --
• February -- TBA

USGS Public Events Calendar (Recorded Message) --- (650) 329-5000 For additional information on the USGS Evening Public Lecture Series please contact Amelia Barrales: abarrales2@usgs.gov or telephone (650) 329-5136.