Indiana University Bloomington: Geo Notes: Salem Limestone: Its Origin [Pdf]

Describes Salem Limestone, a high-quality limestone, and its use by stone carvers to create intricate and detailed sculptures.

Briefly describes how gold and diamonds came to be deposited in the streams of Indiana.

Describes how geothermal energy is harnessed in Indiana.

Explains how loess came to be deposited over much of Indiana by the melting of glaciers during the Ice Age.

Describes the impact of the Ice Age on Indiana's geology and prehistoric wildlife.

Describes the fossils of mammoths and mastodons that have been found in Indiana.

Discusses the chemical and physical composition of coal and why understanding the chemical properties of coal is important for knowing how to process and use it.

Describes a type of coal called "peacock coal" due to its iridescent color streaks.

Explains how to tell pyrite from real gold, its use as a source of sulfur, and how the sulfur dioxide produced by burning coal containing pyrite is removed from the exhaust.

Brief discussion of earthquakes that occur in Indiana, why they are a concern, and how they are detected.