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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D.

@jvh-vt.bsky.social
333 followers 1.1K following 277 posts

I share thoughts on geology, maps, data visualization, and history. Currently exploring stories around the natural and human history of slate. Former Geology Prof | Fulbright Scholar | Vermont

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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 10h
Hand-colored wood engraving by Elisee Reclus capturing slate extraction in #Angers, France c.1878-94. #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 20h
Subtle but detailed watercolor of Conglog Quarry the captures the toppling pillars of a former slate incline c.1994 #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
Sketch map of the Pen-y-Bryn quarry south of #Caernarvon, #Wales located in the Nantlle Valley. And a collection of haunting images from the Museum Wales: museum.wales/collections/... #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
A stylized version of vertical slate fencing and sheep pens delineated by slate rock walls seen on Watkins Path to summit of #Snowdon #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
Haha right? Did I mention, in the dark?! And often hanging from the ceiling by wrapping a chain around their waist and under their leg. 🤯
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
Typical ladder (86' long) used by quarrymen (in the DARK) in the #Llechwedd Quarries, Blaenau #Ffestiniog, #Wales c.1893. #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Ground slate points from the Pacific Northwest demonstrating lenticular & hexagonal cross-sections. #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Circular slate bar-top created for the Royal Singapore Yacht Club from slate quarried in the Lake District, UK. #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
A great video juxtaposing historical and modern slate mining in the Corris region of #Wales. It also features one of my favorite slate-related buildings, the 'Slate House' - the former office of the historic Aberllefenni quarry #geology #thestoryofslate link.www.storyofslate.com/gXtgSE
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
A notice from Lord #Penrhyn warning quarrymen not to support the North #Wales Quarrymen's Union - it didn't work... #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Slate treads advertised in the J.S. Moyer & Co. 'Slate Products Catalog #2' from Bethlehem, PA c.1880 #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Cutting and dressing slates in the #Ballachulish slate quarry, Scotland c.1927. Interesting juxtaposition of slate on the roof in the background, metal on the splitting shed (likely because they moved so frequently). #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
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Whatters2 (@whatters2.bsky.social)
Gwynedd Maes-y-Neuadd(‘mansion in the meadow’) is a sturdy manor of solid Welsh granite and slate. It dates back to the 14th century. It is said to be haunted by the ghost of a former children’s…
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
A detailed etching by Joan Williams c.1973 depicting slate tips, inclines and a few remnant drumhouses in North #Wales. #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
A nice lithograph by Bernard Cheese illustrating the extensive stonework common in #Welsh quarries c.1962. link.www.storyofslate.com/QOYqDj #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Fantastic detail in this 1920 OS map: inclines, railways & mill buildings surrounding Blaenau #Ffestiniog, #Wales. #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Generalized geology of the Ardenne-Eifel area & Ardennes slate belt - apparently the first place where the term Boudin was used. #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
A more detailed geology map depicting a sliver of the 'Waterford' or Meetinghouse Slate in Waterford, #Vermont. #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The Great Southern & Western Railway transported Irish slate from the Valentia Quarry to Valentia port #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Pretty dramatic growth in the #Delabole Quarry, Cornwall between 1884 & 1905 in these OS maps. #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Generalized geologic map depicting exposures of Meetinghouse Slate in Wateford, VT = another source of #Vermont slate. #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
1896 cross sections from the Lake District, UK including the Skiddaw Slate within the Kirkstile Formation #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Some nice photos of abandonded slate quarries in the English Lake District, UK. #geology #thestoryofslate
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Reposted by John Van Hoesen, Ph.D.
Roj Smith 📷 @rojsmith.com · 15/09/2024
Welsh Slate Industry Cefn-y-waun Welsh Calvinist Methodist Chapel #dinorwig #photography
Slate gravestones in a cemetery, in the middle distance a Welsh chapel, in the distance slate tips and mountains.
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Aerial view of the Mardasson quarry & WWII memorial in Bastogne, Belgium - part of the High-Ardenne slate belt #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
The quarries of #Easdale Island, Scotland are easily identified on this 6" Ordnance Survey map of Argyllshire c1875 #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
An advertisement for stone-cutting services in Portland, #Maine from Barlett Adams - a very talented slate carver! #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Remains of quarrymen barracks & rail carts in the Rhosydd Quarry near Blaenau Ffestiniog, #Wales by Jean Napier c1999
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Careful sorting and stacking of slate shingles at the Greaves' Wharf in Portmadog, #Wales #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Sequence of images capturing the 1896 'Great Blast' at the #Penrhyn Quarry, #Wales - they used 7 tons of gunpowder! #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Similar to other regions in the USA following large urban fires, slate 'migrated' along rivers & railways to New Orleans #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Sorting and splitting slate in a splitting shed of the #Honister Slate Quarry, #Cumbria. #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
A well-worn grandfather clock carved from a single block of slate. Provenance unknown #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Detailed image of Penrhyn Quarry, North #Wales c1880s showing use of rails along benches and a few blast shelters. Very different from today's view! #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
1912 map depicting the location of purple & green slates in the vicinity of Ransom Sound, #Newfoundland #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Quite the hat collection in this image of the Whitesell Slate Quarry in Belfast, #Pennsylvania c.1904 #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Historical slate quarries in #Swithland Leicestershire, UK - which was the source for many early Swithland gravestones, #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
A fantasict visual summary of "Life In A Pennyslvania Slate Quarry" from Once A Week Magazine c.1890, depicting headframes, cableways, cable carriages, a signal shanty, trimming sheds, and slate banks. #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Although #Vermont is best known for the Slate Valley, there were other smaller deposits located around the state. This stereoview depicts a railroad serving the dark black unfading slate that was quarried in and around Northfield, #VT #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Hand-drawn map of the Cardigan Slate Works near Cwmerau, Cardiganshire in North #Wales depicting tramway locations #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Aerial view of Blaenau Ffestiniog, #Wales with extensive slate tips - most moved by hand! #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Hand-labeled sketch map of one of the slate belts cutting through North #Wales, Caernarfonshire c.1874 #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Impressive saw advertised for use in milling structural slate, - although OSHA might be concerned with the 'open concept' setup... #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Gwyn Arvon translates to white or blessed Arvon; but really it means a house made of slate! Clapboard siding, shingles, window sills, and even wainscoting! in #Arvonia, #Virginia. #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
A simple but elegant beveling on a grave marker carved in slate from Monson, #Maine betraying the areas Scandinavian immigration. #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
One of the larger quarries in $Monson, #Maine now drowned but its retaining wall is still impressive & sturdy! #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Impressive looking - albeit it small - former prison in Delta, #Pennsylvania made with Peach Bottom Slate & Cardiff Conglomerate #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
A slate monument carved from #Monson slate still holding an exceptional edge after 100+ years exposed to the #Maine elements. #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
A unique landscape dominated by slate tips being overtaken by a variety of successional species located in the now defunct quarry district of #Brownville, #Maine. #geology #thestoryofslate
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John Van Hoesen, Ph.D. @jvh-vt.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
The Borough Hall located in Chapman, #Pennsylvania is also covered with the exceptionally detailed Chapman Slate. #geology #thestoryofslate
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