c eruptions inIndia called traps—and above all insisted t t tly from t t vigorous opponents ed t ted by volcanic action even  ual evidence of it. As late as 1988 more tologists contacted in a survey continued to believe t tinction of ted to an asteroid or cometary impact.

    t  obviously support t  site. Enter Eugene Sion—er-in-laaug ty of Ioo urned to Iowa.

    Geology is a profession t varies from place to place. In Ioate t is flat andstratigrapful, it tends to be comparatively serene. t deposits of oil or precious metals, not a  of a pyroclastic flow.

    If you are a geologist employed by tate of Io of toevaluate Manure Management Plans, e’s “animal confinement operators”—o t of us—are required to file periodically. teen million  of manure to manage. I’m not mocking t all—it’s vital and enlig keeps Ioer clean—but  ’s not exactly dodginglava bombs on Mount Pinatubo or scrabbling over crevasses on t insearc life-bearing quartzes. So ter of excitement ts tment of Natural Resources ion focused on Manson and its crater.

    trourn-of-tury pile of red brick t y of Ioment and——ts of tment of Natural Resources. No one noee geologists y, but you get t t very accessible.  to be taken outonto a roof ledge and hrough a window.

    Ray Anderson and Brian itzke spend ts, and y specimen stones. (Geologists are never at a lossfor paper to find anytra celepo move stacks of documents around.

    “Suddenly  ter of told me, gleaming at t,  ime.”

    I asked t Gene So ha