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Craig Jorgensen

@bowtiediene.bsky.social
762 followers 321 following 308 posts

Chemistry & physics teacher, dad, hiker, GM. I love discussing science education and grading reform. Opinions are my own. (he/him)

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Craig Jorgensen @bowtiediene.bsky.social · 14h
#MinCup26 Congratulations to #quartz. And nice battle #cuprite. As a chemist and not a geologist I didn't know a lot about cuprite, but I learned a few things and it's probably in my top ten favorite minerals now.
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Ms "I Want To Eat Your Brain" ugh, no, not YOURS, gross! 🤢 @brainmist.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
OK folks, it's the LAST ROUND to vote in #MinCup2026, a wholesome competition where you don't have to hate reading about the candidates and you'll learn fascinating stuff! #Quartz has a strong lead but plucky #Cuprite 👏 is closing the gap! It's a win either way, but your vote could decide it!
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OUGS Social Media @ougeolsoc.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
That's hard! Amazing #quartz - so ubiquitous, so many uses - deserves to win #MinCup26 but I have a sneaking fondness for my local minerals. This is an example of the chalcotrichite variety from Old Gunnislake Mine in the Tamar Valley. So, #teamcuprite join me and vote #cuprite!
Delicate needles of chalcotrichite "hairy copper" grow as secondary crystals in cavities in copper rich rocks
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Semi-feral Post Monger @dwaynefuhlhage.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Quartz has taken out too many #TeamPoison pals over the years. Cuprite is blood red and sparkly and can assume the form of D&D dice. That’s enough for this hater. Resist Quartz domination. Vote Cuprite. #MinCup2026
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Ben Wildeboer @willyb.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Quick question for my Spanish Physics people (esp. Mexican Spanish): What is the correct vocabulary for speed and velocity en español? Some of our EL teachers were discussing this but none have a physics background, so we want to make sure we're not way off. #iTeachPhysics
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Mineral Cup & Ore Cup @mineralcup.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Did you play Mineral Cup this year? We’d love to hear from you in our annual Players Survey! www.mineralcup.org/2026/players... #MinCup26
mineralcup.org
Annual Mineral Cup Players Survey — Mineral Cup & Ore Cup
As always, we’d love to get your feedback on what worked, what didn’t, and ideas on what to do differently. We’d also like a better idea of who our players are (and how that’s changed) and where to…
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CosmicRami 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @rami.spaceaustralia.com · 01/10/2026
The final battle is upon us! Who will you vote for? Friendships have fallen in this year's #MinCup26 .... words have been spoken ... the rock nerds are fired up, and it has brought us exactly to this point! It's time to crown the winner ... you got just under 23 hours!
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Craig Jorgensen @bowtiediene.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
#MinCup26 Vote for the shiniest, most brilliant, and #TTRPG diciest mineral in all the lands! Vote #cuprite! Silicon dioxide? No thanks.
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Andre the Chemist @andrechemist.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
#chemchat check out the post that this is a response to for full appreciation of the joke
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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 30/09/2026
So it will be cubic v hexagonal for the #MinCup26 final, but what hexagonal mineral will it be? Is #graphite too flaky to stay the course? Is #quartz going to nick it in time? (see what I did there?) Tough call, but I think #Graphite gets my vote today (as I'm off out sketching!)
Image representing the crystal structure of quartz- here red spheres represent oxygen atoms, and blue spheres/polygons represent silicon atoms.  The structure has been expanded over b axis to show off quite how really basic it is.  Yes it is piezoelectric, but don't let that sway you.  The representation is drawn in VESTA from entry #789 in the American mineralogist databaseImage representing the crystal structure of graphite with brown spheres representing carbon atoms. The structure is made up of layers of carbon atoms where the carbon atoms make hexagon rings.  The structure is drawn in VESTA from entry #49 in the American mineralogist database.
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Louise Dawe @louisedawe.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Let's see #Cuprite in #MinCup26 finals! Jauch and Reehuis used γ-ray diffraction to revisit how electrons are arranged in Cu₂O, finding incomplete ionization of Cu and O but no Cu–Cu charge build-up to support covalent bonding. Reported in @actacrystb.iucr.org: journals.iucr.org/paper?S20525...
journals.iucr.org
Reassessment of the electron density in Cu2O using γ-ray diffraction
The electron-density distribution in Cu2O has been critically reexamined to test controversial conclusions from earlier experimental and theoretical studies.
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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 29/09/2026
Semi final #MinCup26 match up between #Cuprite and #Halite - I'm now fully behind the magnetic #Cuprite - and have dug out that neutron diffraction discovered it has nearly ZERO thermal expansion from 200-300 K link.springer.com/article/10.1... WEIRD!
Image representing the crystal structure of Cuprite - here red spheres represent oxygen atoms, and blue spheres represent copper atoms.  The structure has been expanded over a,b and c axes. The representation is drawn in VESTA from entry #7351 in the American mineral databaseImage representing the crystal structure of halite. Yellow spheres represent sodium atoms, green spheres represent chlorine atoms. The representation is drawn in VESTA from entry #641 in the American mineralogist database.
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Craig Jorgensen @bowtiediene.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
#MinCup26 You seem like the brilliant sort, so vote for the mineral with greater brilliance than diamond. #Cuprite
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Mineral Cup & Ore Cup @mineralcup.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
#MinCup26 Quarterfinal 4 Linked by archaic translations and mineralogical misunderstandings, the quarterfinals are ending in hexagons with vivid pyromorphite vs writeable graphite. VOTE: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... RESULTS: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re...
Split photo between translucent lemon-yellow hexagonal crystal jutting out of a mass of shiny black bubbling minerals and metallic silver graphite hexagon with crosshatched surface set even within a matte translucent white rough crystal mass.
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Craig Jorgensen @bowtiediene.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
#MinCup26 The fact that #pyromorphite can lock up lead (Pb) has earned a vote from me. Wish we never put lead in gasoline or paint (what were we thinking?!).
mineralcup.org
Vote in Quarterfinals 4 — Mineral Cup & Ore Cup
Vote in Pyromorphite vs Graphite Credit: Pedro Alves and Harold Moritz
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Mattis (Dictatorship Simulator) @smash-that-like.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Before doing IT and gamedev I studied geosciences. So happy about the #mincup
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Mineral Cup & Ore Cup @mineralcup.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
#MinCup26 Quarterfinals 3 It's a pair of dissolvable beauties as rare and complicated #Julienite is against ubiquitous and straightforward #Halite. VOTE: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... RESULTS: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re...
Split photo of close-ups of minerals bright blue julienite in radiating fan shapes within a dark rock and clear perfect cubes of halite suspended in clear liquid, tiny bubbles hanging onto some of the crystals
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Craig Jorgensen @bowtiediene.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
#MinCup26 Sodium chloride (aka #halite) is cool because it is transparent to infrared radiation - so it acts like a window for those wavelengths of light. And I know #julienite bumped #calcite (another mineral with a fun relationship with light), but #julienite does seem more interesting. 🤔
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Ms "I Want To Eat Your Brain" ugh, no, not YOURS, gross! 🤢 @brainmist.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Quartz gets to be top mineral most of the year by sheer numbers. Let Skutterudite have its day to shine!
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Semi-feral Post Monger @dwaynefuhlhage.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Keep the #MinCup2026 faith, y'all Thanks to the admins for everything they do
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Craig Jorgensen @bowtiediene.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
#MinCup26 Hydrofluoric acid (HF) is used to dissolve silicates. HF is rather scary stuff. #Quartz is the most common silicate on Earth. Don't make geochemists studying trace elements have to use HF. Vote for #skutterudite.
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Fernando Salvaterra @salvaterra.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Quarterfinal 2 skutterudite VS quartz #mincup26 #minerals
illustration of two minerals competing on the Mineral Cup 2026 quarterfinals: skutterudite VS quartz. one is a metallic crystal chunk, the other is a semitransparent crystal cluster
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🏔fjellsopp🍄 @fjellsopp.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Vote #Skutterudite #MinCup26
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Craig Jorgensen @bowtiediene.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
#MinCup26 #Quartz, the white bread toast of minerals. Vote #skutterudite. #anyMineralButQuartz
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Birch 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @birchduck.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
This is a very upsetting picture of a rock and I love everything about it Vote skutterudite #MinCup26 commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sk...
A rock that looks like a section of jaws with super narrow green teeth. Caption " Teticulated and complexly intergrown skutterudite from Germany. Credit: Robert Lavinsky"
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Craig Jorgensen @bowtiediene.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
#MinCup26 Come on #skutterudite - discovered in Norway and loaded with arsenic. Not normally on team poison, but let's go team poison!
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Craig Jorgensen @bowtiediene.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
#MinCup26 #Cuprite can form a d6, d8, d12 dice shape! Vote for that wonderful overlap between geology and #TTRPGs!
mineralcup.org
Vote in Quarterfinal 1 — Mineral Cup & Ore Cup
Vote in Sphalerite vs Cuprite Credit: Gianandrea Ghirri and Jose CO / yotta photograpy
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Craig Jorgensen @bowtiediene.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Repost with an image of your favourite James Bond (wrong answers only).
static.klipy.com
Walter Koenig Bester That Happens Sometimes
Alt: Walter Koenig as Bester from Babylon 5.
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Craig Jorgensen @bowtiediene.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Happy Mountain Day to those who celebrate. #MHC
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Vicky Veritas @vickyveritas.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
One mineral to rule them all! Which one will it be? You choose! It’s never too late to join the fun. #MinCup26 ⚒️ sci-fi 🧪 🖖🏼 scifi Geosciences #WomenInSTEM geology #geosky #GIS 🍎 🪐 🔭 🌋 📚 🌿
Durin the IV shows a piece of mithril, a rare and powerful metal ore from the series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
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Craig Jorgensen @bowtiediene.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
#MinCup26 I was going to vote for #cylindrite, but then I read about the possible lead remediation properties of #pyromorphite. Go #pyromorphite because lead poisoning freaks me out a bit.
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Craig Jorgensen @bowtiediene.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Depluralise a film: Planet of the Ape
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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 20/09/2026
Bit late to today's #MinCup26 party - but no contest for my vote. #Stichtite has layers (like an onion, like an ogre) and is full of interesting structural points. #Quartz is just... well Quartz, nothing doing here.
Image representing the crystal structure of quartz- here red spheres represent oxygen atoms, and blue spheres/polygons represent silicon atoms.  The structure has been expanded over b axis to show off quite how really basic it is.  Yes it is piezoelectric, but don't let that sway you.  The representation is drawn in VESTA from entry #789 in the American mineralogist databaseImage representing the crystal structure of stichtite - here red spheres represent oxygen atoms, orange spheres/polygons represent magnesium atoms , light blue spheres/white represent carbon atoms (that make up CO3 carbonate groups) and pink spheres represent hydrogen atoms.  The representation is shown along the structures b axis is drawn in VESTA from entry #18330 in the American mineralogist database
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Beachrave @beachrave.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Quiz! Which would you rather be hit by? A. An exceptionally slow (15 mph), exceptionally light (1600 lb) Smart Car driven by Olympic gymnast Simone Biles (105 lbs) B. An exceptionally fast (28 mph), exceptionally heavy (115 lbs w/ cargo) ebike driven by an ~average woman (185 lbs) Hint: 0.5*m*v*v
A 2008 Smart Fortwo in bright yellow.

This is perhaps the smallest 2-seater car sold in the USA that is street legal to at least 65 mph since 2010.

It's small and cute, like a kids' Jeep car scaled up. Or a VW Beetle scaled down.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2008_Smart_ForTwo_Passion_convertible_--_04-22-2011_2.jpgEbike. A circa 2026 Trek Verve+ 4S Lowstep in yellow.

It's on the beach with water visible. It holds some cargo about the size of a cinder block.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7xZyBIPD0E
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Craig Jorgensen @bowtiediene.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
#MinCup26 #Quartz is super common and is an irritating end to a day at the beach. Vote #Stichtite, it's rare and soft - it would never make your Speedo crunch like Doritos.
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Craig Jorgensen @bowtiediene.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
#MinCup26 A blood red copper mineral that looks like #TTRPG dice? Yes, please. Go #Cuprite!
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Jeremy Secaur @secaurphysics.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Ohio teachers, watch this before you cast your vote this fall. I'm voting like my profession depends on it, because it is.
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Raquel 🌈✨ @aistear.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Blumineck lo ha vuelto a hacer 🥹 le aplaudo hasta que se me caigan las manos, bravo. "Be masculine, be feminine, be neither, or be both. But be kind."
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Craig Jorgensen @bowtiediene.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
It just dawned on me that the current high school freshmen are the future graduating class of 2030! 🤯 #whatIsTime #howIsTime #feelingOld
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Craig Jorgensen @bowtiediene.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Todaybor Day is Labor Day.
static.klipy.com
Homestar Runner: Todaybor Day is Labor Day!
Alt: Homestar Runner with Benedetto and The Cheat sayimg "Todaybor Day is Labor Day!"
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NBC 10 WJAR, Providence New Bedford @nbc10wjar.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
East Providence man grows hundreds of pawpaw trees in backyard bit.ly/4xfHwyb
bit.ly
East Providence man grows hundreds of pawpaw trees in backyard
An East Providence man, known as the "King of the Pawpaws" has a garden unlike any other in the state.
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Craig Jorgensen @bowtiediene.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
At a wonderful AirBnb, but this piece of furniture is fascinating. #chemistsOnVacation #iTeachChem
A repurposed metal cabinet with the label "calcium carbide" on it.
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Mineral Cup & Ore Cup @mineralcup.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
#MinCup26 Round 1 Match 5 It's a fiery match of vibrant red #Cuprite and just as saturated orange #Orpiment battle for your votes! VOTE: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... RESULTS: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re...
Split photo of deep red, chunky cuprite crystals, clear and vibrant and shiny like pomegranate seeds and orpiment forming many round puffs of intensely orange spikes radiating out like sea urchin spines.
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Craig Jorgensen @bowtiediene.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Change a letter, change a movie, Wight at the Museum
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Craig Jorgensen @bowtiediene.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Dolly Parton AND Tim Curry?! Seriously?!
apnews.com
Tim Curry, iconic character actor and 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' star, dies at 80
Tim Curry has died at 80. The beloved character actor created a gallery of delicious, loony villains for stage and screen. Curry gained fame as Dr.
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Mineral Cup & Ore Cup @mineralcup.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
What’s that? For #MinCup26, our 10th year of minerals battling it out for your affections, we drew from ANY year to pick our returning minerals? That’s a lot of joy and heartbreak from one little list! www.mineralcup.org/2026/mineral...
mineralcup.org
Mineral List — Mineral Cup & Ore Cup
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Kerstin Neuhaus @microtopico.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
If you want to know more about unusual minerals: Mineral Cup 2026 #MinCup will start on Sep, 1st. You can find more information here @mineralcup.bsky.social and on the homepage www.mineralcup.org.
mineralcup.org
Mineral Cup & Ore Cup
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Thomas Marrone @thomasthecat.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
The Official Babylon 5 YouTube Channel (yes, there is one!) has started posting full episodes of B5, starting with the Pilot, called "The Gathering." If you haven't seen B5, go check it out. Premiering in 1994, B5 was a prototype for today's Prestige TV formula. www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGVW...
youtube.com
The Gathering (Pilot) | Babylon 5 FULL EPISODE
YouTube video by Babylon 5
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Stephen Lucek @stephenlucek.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Hi there, an educator here. We don’t need training on AI. We know what it is. We’re holding on for dear life until private equity decides to move on to the next shiny thing. I just hope there are enough of us still around to pick up the pieces.
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Kerstin Neuhaus @microtopico.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
This is amber. It looks like a rock, but does not count as one. If you would like to learn more about rocks and minerals: in four weeks, it's time again for this year's #Mineral Cup, where we search the mineral of the year 2026. Find out more: www.mineralcup.org #MinCup #MinCup26 #Minerals ⚒️
Amber necklaces, two large and several small pieces of amber.
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