Rose Houk

A series of rubbled hills runs alongside Highway 89 about thirty miles north of Flagstaff. They look fairly unremarkable, but really, they’re remnants of mines that once produced pozzolan.

Pozzolans are a class of silica- and aluminum-rich materials commonly derived from explosive volcanic deposits. The early Romans knew of their value, incorporating them into aqueducts and buildings. The word pozzolan comes from a town in Italy.   

Kitchens all over the Southwest this time of year are filled with the irresistible scent of tamales steaming on the stove.

This Earth Note originally aired on KNAU December 25th, 2019.

In 1956 the National Park Service launched Mission 66, a major effort to upgrade deteriorating infrastructure and meet demands of increasing visitation. The program was completed in ten years, marking the agency’s 50th anniversary—and its arrival into the modern age.

It’s a fine Western experience to wander through a shimmering aspen grove on a sunny fall day.  But one particular grove is especially stunning.

Most people are now highly aware of the enormous quantities of disintegrating plastics accumulating in lakes, rivers, and oceans all over the planet. But those unnatural materials aren’t only found in water.