#ventifact

[drhoz]

The Great ACT-NSW-NZ Trip, 2023-2024 - Otago Museum, Dunedin

After a fun hour nosing around the two rooms of Geology Dept. Museum at the university, @purrdence and I walked down to the Otago Museum, which had many more rooms but fewer fossils on display (and some of them were on loan from the university).

All joking aside, however, the Otago Museum has delightful exhibits, including some very interesting dioramas, a wing in the style of Victorian 'Great Chain of Existence' exhibits, and a live butterfly avairy.

And of course more geology stuff such wind-polished Ventifacts, one of the spherical concretions from Moeraki, and what, for 50 years, was thought to the last and only Takahē specimen in the world.

Admittedly the butterfly house operates at the temperatures and humidity of the wet tropics, which rapidly became unbearable, but I don't enjoy the heat. And the biology wing did include what we might term 'Adventures in Victorian Taxidermy'.

Those first two are supposed to be a Tasmanian Devil and a Koala, incidentally.

[noir-poetography]

Ventifact: A rock that has been abraded, pitted, etched, grooved, or polished by wind-driven sand.

© 2024, James Blatter

[skrunklydoo]

cole x morro x geo should be called ventifactshipping send post

furthermore morro x geo specifically should be called geostorm. because im funny. and uncreative. /j

[wurds-fur-nurds]

Ventifactosabery (noun):

Geology: The process by which wind-eroded stones, known as ventifacts, are shaped into sharp, blade-like forms, often resembling a saber, through continuous, unidirectional abrasion by sand-laden winds over extended periods of time.

Literary: A metaphorical term describing the gradual, deliberate refinement of a concept or idea through persistent and focused criticism or examination, resulting in a finely honed, precise articulation.

Etymology: Derived from "ventifact," referring to stones shaped by wind erosion, combined with "ostensive," relating to direct demonstration or definition, and "sabering," from the word "saber," a sharp-edged weapon, denoting the blade-like result of this process.

[literaryvein-reblogs]

a list of "beautiful" words for february

to try to include in your next poem/story

Amadelphous - gregarious; social, sociable

Bienséance - propriety; decorum

Canticle - song

Douceur - a conciliatory gift

Faveolate - having cavities like a honeycomb

Gressorial - adapted for walking

Ignescent - volatile

Libeccio - a southwest wind in Italy

Millefleur - having an allover pattern of small flowers and plants

Noctilucent - visible or glowing at night

Oneiric - of, relating to, or suggestive of dreams; dreamy

Pergameneous - resembling parchment

Quatenus -  the quality or capacity of; as

Rosarium - a rose garden

Uliginous - growing in wet or swampy ground

Ventifact - a stone worn, polished, or faceted by windblown sand

Writative - addicted to writing

Xenial - of, relating to, or constituting hospitality or relations between host and guest and especially among the ancient Greeks between persons of different cities

Yataghan - a long knife or short saber that lacks a guard for the hand at the juncture of blade and hilt and that usually has a double curve to the edge and a nearly straight back

Zelkova - a tall widely spreading Japanese tree (Zelkova serrata) of the elm family that is often used as an ornamental and shade tree in place of the American elm because of its resistance to Dutch elm disease

More: Lists of Beautiful Words ⚜ Word Lists ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[slightlymessystudyblr]

Took a 4 day trip to Death Valley for my Field Geology class. I learned a ton about volcanism, paleolakes, ventifacts, and more. The world is a beautiful place.

[xyeh2o]

(Pyrrhia) - Prologue: Odd One Out - Page 18

Page 18

           The other advisors dispersed towards their respective queens, leaving Cacti lingering in embarrassment. Bluefin approached with a compassionate gaze, gently nudging her wings to hers and offering to navigate the throng together.

           Nebula shot a distrustful glance over her shoulder, focusing particularly on Cacti. She sensed incompetence in the young dragon, though she reminded herself it was only her first day. Disappointed now, Nebula hoped that with time, Cacti might prove herself worthy.

           Nebula rolled her eyes and swept away, her departure marked by a flick of disdain. Bluefin watched intently, waiting until Nebula was out of sight. Once their privacy is assured, Bluefin gave Cacti a brimmed smile. Yet Cacti remained distant, covering her face from the multitude of inquisitive gazes of the crowd.

           “It’s alright, Cacti. I made plenty of faux pas on my first day as the Seawing advisor,” Bluefin reminisced, laughing softly. Cacti watched her curiously, noticing how little Bluefin seemed fazed by her own past gaffes. Cacti longed to be able to brush off her own mistakes just as easily. But mistakes, she knew, were part of growing stronger.            Bluefin’s laughter gradually faded, and she gently touched Cacti’s wings with her own. “You’re not alone in this, Cacti.”

           “Honestly, that was impressive. Nebula threw a random statistical question at you, and you answered it effortlessly,” the SeaWing remarked, her eyes bright with intrigue, even her bioluminescent spots glowed a tinge of orange due to the intrigue. “Most of us would’ve struggled with that—except for Verglas, of course. But even he looked impressed.”

           “It’s nothing, really.” Cacti mumbled, feeling a newfound courage under Bluefin’s reassuring babbling. The crowd had begun to look away, their attention drifting elsewhere, and for the first time, Cacti felt the weight of her earlier embarrassment with Nebula begin to lift.

           “I mean, you managed to impress an IceWing,” Bluefin teased, glancing over at Verglas, who was already engrossed in conversation with his queen. “Have you seen the way they live? So strict and sophisticated.”            The two slipped through the gathering, their claws clicking softly against the stone floor. Upon reaching the stage where the queens are settled, Bluefin glanced quickly at her queen, who lounged with a show of impatience, her tail flicking in boredom. Bluefin then turned her gaze back to Cacti, her expression a blend of amusement and concern.

           “See you later, Cacti!” Bluefin said, waving her webbed talons energetically. Cacti felt a sense of warmth and wondered why Bluefin was so kind to her despite their recent meeting.            Cacti returned the wave and then steeled herself as she approached her queen.            Seated on her throne, Queen Ventifact had been idly tapping her goblet, her attention wavering. However, when she noticed Cacti approaching, her expression brightened in surprise. She hadn’t expected her emissary to arrive at the hatchery so early.

           “Ah, there’s my SandWing advisor!” Queen Ventifact exclaimed, straightening into a regal posture and curling her barbed tail around her. “The Talons of Peace told me so much about you.”            Cacti lowered herself in respect, and Queen Ventifact gestured for her to rise.

           “Come now, sit beside me.” Queen Ventifact offered, The queen shifted to make space, her barbed tail tapping the spot beside her. “You must be weary from your journey, Sandwing.”

           Cacti looked to the other advisors seated on the queen’s right and took a similar position. Nervous but determined, she settled close to the queen, feeling the weight of her first meeting with the monarch who was slightly larger than herself.            She settled beside the dragon she had been taught to revere all her life. The sheer gravity of the queen’s presence triggered a wave of anxiety; any misstep could be disastrous. Because of this, she curled her tail tightly, trying to quell her nerves.

[ninja-confession-go]

i put genuine research about rocks to find a ship name for cole x geo x morro (the ship name i chose is ventifact) and i still barely know anything about rocks

.

[apockalypsisghostis]

Last Line Challenge

Rules: Post the last line you wrote on a WIP and tag five people to do the same.

i've been tagged by my dearest @viovayo - thank you for thinking of me always.

my last written line is for a fic exchange, but it's so boring and vague i can't even call it a spoiler or anything:

Noctis smiles.

i am so sorry lol i am working quite hard to make the final result not boring. to make up for it now, here's the last paragraph or so from a non-exchange project that i can spoiler:

[Noctis] reels the line back, and dismisses the rod back to the Armiger. "Well," he says, and turns to Ignis and Gladio, wiping his hands on the back of his pants. "We better get going, right?" Gladio makes a sort of affirmative grunt, but Ignis says, "If you feel that you're ready." Noctis is not. He knows it. Gladio and Ignis both know it. This will be the first time he acts on behalf of his country as King, albeit an uncrowned one. Besides the two men next to him, he has no one to turn to for advice, not his father or a council. He barely has any subjects to act on behalf of—truly the King of nothing. Not to mention, he will meet Luna again for the first time in years, and he still doesn't know what to tell her. Not to mention, Prompto.

i am tagging @owlpockets, @ventifacts, @batsutousai, and anyone reading this who has a wip to show off.

[aroceu]

@ventifacts

Finally watching the latest Project Voltage video, and while I'm sure Game Freak hasn't officially made it a rule that all trans-coded trainers get Eevee starters now, we're currently sitting two for two.

[horademagic]

Garrafa Ventifacta/ Ventifact Bottle

Artefato gerador de mana

Custo de mana: 3 incolores e/ou de quaisquer cores

Por que ela é interessante? Pagando 1 mana mais um custo X que você quem define qual será, você vira esse artefato e coloca nele X marcadores alocados, faça isso apenas no seu turno e nas suas fases principais. No começo da sua fase principal, se houver algum marcador alocado nele, tire todos que estão alocados e vire-o, ele simplesmente irá gerar mana incolor igual ao número de marcadores removidos desse dessa maneira. Então dá para converter tudo em mana para seu uso.

Preço da carta: em torno de 2,70 até 50,00

Indisponível em Português

Link: https://www.ligamagic.com.br/?view=cards%2Fsearch&card=Ventifact+bottle&tipo=1

Até a próxima postagem, Ulli e Thiago

[tessatalksbooksblog]

BBNYA Spotlight - The Ventifact Colossus by Dorian Hart #Spotlight #Fantasy

About BBNYA and the Spotlight Tours This year, the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) celebrates the books that made it into Round Two with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title. BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner. If you want some more…

[drainageteam01]

What is Erosion?

Erosion is the wearing away of surface material by moving forces such as water, wind, and ice. Erosion carries rock fragments, soil, and dissolved materials from one place to another. This is distinct from weathering which does not involve movement.

Water erosion is the most important force for erosion. Rainfall can cause erosion when it splashes onto the ground, or when it collects and flows into tiny rivulets and streams. Rivers erode the land they travel through, forming canyons and shaping coastlines over time.

Wind

Wind is a natural erosion agent and can displace sand, soil and other debris. It can also sculpt rock formations, such as the ventifacts that form in deserts.

The erosion power of wind is greatest where surfaces are bare and dry, as in arid climates. Wind erosion is often caused by agricultural practices that remove vegetation and expose the soil surface, as well as land clearing for development and oil and gas drilling.

When winds reach a certain threshold velocity, they start to erode and transport the particles they carry. The amount of material moved is related to the particle size and adhesion, as well as the surface condition and the velocity of the wind.

Once the wind carries particles far enough, they drop back to the ground as sediment or re-enter the air as dust. Some of this dust can be carried many kilometers, even across oceans.

Wind erosion is often the cause of dust storms, which reduce plant productivity and cost the economy through high cleaning bills, absenteeism and transport delays, sand-blasted crops, and lower retail sales. It can also reduce the water holding capacity of the soil, which can lead to reduced crop yields and increased salinity in groundwater supplies. It also increases the risk of invasive species and changes in the biodiversity of an ecosystem.

Water

Erosion is the action of water and wind that breaks down rocks, carries away rock particles, and deposits them at a new location. It can happen in both the mountains and at sea level, but is more common in dry regions, such as deserts, where vegetation is sparse. Erosion is the most common cause of land deterioration. It can lead to soil deterioration and degradation of crops, and can even destroy civilizations.

Water erosion starts with raindrops that erode the surface of the ground as they hit and splash. Over time this can add up to significant damage, especially when rainfall is heavy or occurs over long periods of time. Rainwater erodes the surface of the earth, carving out valleys and shaping mountains. As it flows downstream in rivers and streams, it erodes the bedrock, carrying away sand, silt, clay, and organic matter. This sediment is deposited elsewhere, usually in lakes and watercourses.

The severity of erosion depends on a number of factors, including slope, soil type and condition, the nature of the underlying rock, the amount of plant cover, the intensity and duration of rainfall, and temperature. The most important off-site effect of water erosion is the transport of sediment into lakes, streams, rivers, and oceans, where it causes sedimentation of the bottom of lakes, disrupts the ecosystems of streams and rivers, and contaminates drinking water.

Soil

Erosion begins when dirt is exposed to abrasive forces. Wind can cause erosion by blowing dirt from a place where it has settled (eroding the topsoil), or by carrying soil particles across long distances (surface drift). Erosion destroys the most fertile section of the ground, which contains nutrients and organic matter that plants need to grow.

Water can also cause erosion. Flowing water can dislodge soil particles from their resting places. Flowing water can carry these particles down slopes and into streams and rivers. This kind of erosion is most common in arid and semi-arid regions. Water erosion is a major problem for farmers, as it can reduce crop yields and delay or inhibit the emergence of seeds. Erosion can also deposit sediments in downstream riverbeds, which can choke waterways and destroy ecosystems.

The most important factor in controlling erosion is restoring or maintaining ground-covering vegetation. Plants and crop residues that completely cover the ground can help prevent erosion by intercepting raindrops before they reach the soil surface. The best way to do this is to plant trees and grasses that are resistant to harsh weather conditions.

The destruction of natural plant cover and the use of modern farming methods that leave soil bare are among the most significant causes of erosion. These activities can make erosion happen faster and damage the ability of soil to hold moisture and nutrients, which in turn affects crops.

Vegetation

The breakdown and movement of rock, sediment, soil, nutrients or pollutants is called erosion. It may be caused by wind, water, ice or gravity. Erosion often occurs after weathering, but it differs from weathering in that material is moved and dropped somewhere else (gravitational erosion), whereas weathering happens in situ.

Plants, especially roots, can help hold soil in place. When the vegetation is removed, as in deforestation or plowing for agriculture, erosion increases because there is no longer anything to keep the soil in place.

Erosion can be accelerated by intense rains, river flooding or waves breaking on the beach. Erosion can also be caused by glacial movement or by the sudden uplift of land from shifting tectonic plates (gravitational uplift).

Thermal erosion describes how warm temperatures can cause permafrost to break apart along rivers and coastlines, eroding and transporting soil, mud and other materials down a slope. This type of erosion is also known as mass wasting, and it can reshape mountains and valleys, devastating communities in its path.

The sculpting of rocks by winds is another type of erosion. The sand dunes of the Badain Jaran section of the Gobi Desert are an example, as are the sculpted rocks of Arches National Park in Utah. Wind erosion is also responsible for the infamous dust storms of the 1930s in North America, known as the Dust Bowl.

[afrenchwriter]

(Well, and since it's about the desert, let me add another extract to give you a proper feeling of the fic:)

[...] The White Desert was one of the most extraordinary places I had ever seen, not only for its colours but also its unusual rock formations (called ventifacts and made of chalk, as Wensleydale explained to us). We spent a couple of hours wandering between those extraordinary structures, our eyes constantly upwards despite the brightness of the sun, listening to Moonchild telling us more about the site's history. I had thought of taking my camera with me, and I couldn’t resist taking several pictures of our small expedition there, including portraits of everyone. It was clear that each member of the team knew what they were doing, accustomed to this land after years of study and exploration - but with Anthony Crowley, it was different. There was no doubt, in the way he was moving, that the desert was his element. Sometimes, I would look at him, walking ahead of us, stopping from time to time to take notes or talk to Young or wait for us. At some point, I even thought I heard him singing to himself (Anything Goes by Cole Porter, if I wasn’t mistaken; Alma had made me listen to this song enough times for me to remember it). And it was so strange, to see this white, red-haired man roaming such a harsh environment with such ease; but it was also fascinating. [...]

The Man of the Desert (ch. 3: The First Expedition)

Behold! An extract from the third chapter of my new Good Omens Human AU fic, The Man of the Desert:

[...] Once arrived at our destination, everyone went inside the building, and I was about to follow them when I heard Crowley’s voice behind me: “Well, Fell, I guess I’ll see you later, then.” I turned around, frowning. “Aren’t you coming back to the hotel?” “No, I have my own place, too, in South Cairo, not far from here.” Crowley vaguely gestured away. “I prefer it that way. It’s quieter, more… private.” “Oh. I see.” [...] “Well then, I suppose-” “I could show it to you one day, if you want,” Crowley added suddenly, before pulling a cigarette from his breast pocket. “I mean, you and your wife. You know, for afternoon tea or something.” I couldn’t see his eyes behind those sunglasses, but considering the mocking tone he had just used, I knew there was that mischievous sparkle in them. Slightly surprised but equally pleased by his offer, I smiled at him. “I would love to come over one day, for afternoon tea or something,” I replied in an equal tone. “And I’m sure Alma would, too. We could bring scones.” Crowley coughed out some smoke, then smiled back, clearly amused. “We’ll make it a date, then.” He adjusted the strap of his backpack on his shoulder then waved at me. “See you around, Fell.” “Goodbye, Crowley.” I watched him walk away, blending in with the heterogeneous crowd of this part of the city, and I noticed that I felt strangely lighter as I climbed the stairs of the hotel to join my wife. [...]

You might be wondering why the hell Aziraphale has a wife here... Well, it's a story inspired by The English Patient - so yes, you can expect all the drama, but also a well-deserved happy ending for all the main characters!

[noosphe-re]

Ventifacts = rocks carved by the wind (by nbeard3)

[cruxymox]

prompt: ventifact

i suppose my marks & lines

make me some kind of stone

so what is this burning wind

& why are what used to be my eyes doing this?

ventus, there is something within

facere, & i am formed