Talk:Armored mud ball

Moved

@Nick Moyes, @Conglomerate Joe, I hope nobody minds that I moved the article to mainspace. It is of course a work in progress, like everything else around here. The article is currently a WP:ORPHAN, "Armored mud ball" appears nowhere else in article-space. And do we need to need to settle a WP:ENGVAR? Seems like a "creator decides" situation. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 19:09, 10 August 2022 (UTC)

Hello, I think this is fine. Thank you for letting us know. I am not sure what Nick Moyes thinks but this sound alright to me.

Conglomerate Joe (talk) 19:15, 10 August 2022 (UTC)

Hi Gråbergs Gråa Sång,

I am sorry, I am new to Wikipedia and I did not know that moving an article to the mainspace is essentially "publishing" the article, yes? If so that is excellent, because it seems that it pops up even when I search "armored mud ball" in Google when I am not logged in! Thank you for doing this. Of course I understand that it is a work in progress, but I am glad that it is out of the draft stage. I also just published a new edit with extra content and organization.

Conglomerate Joe (talk) 19:22, 10 August 2022 (UTC)

@Conglomerate Joe Exactly right, see WP:MOVE. And WOW, that was quick by google, I don't think I've seen a new WP-article get #1 in a google search that quickly before, they usually have to "climb" over time. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 19:28, 10 August 2022 (UTC)

@Gråbergs Gråa Sång Excellent! So do we have to do anything with this article to keep it from getting deleted, or is it "all set" for the time being?

Thank you.

Conglomerate Joe (talk) 19:35, 10 August 2022 (UTC)

I find it very unlikely someone will suggest this article for deletion per WP:GNG, and if that should happen, there will be a formal-ish 1-week discussion first. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 19:38, 10 August 2022 (UTC)

It is also possible that Nick Moyes or someone else disagrees with my move and reverts it, but I don't think that will happen. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 19:40, 10 August 2022 (UTC)

Excellent, well thank you for your help! I will probably check the article occasionally going forward to see if it needs an update.

Conglomerate Joe (talk) 19:41, 10 August 2022 (UTC)

@Gråbergs Gråa Sång I am quite OK with your WP:MOVE. Regarding WP:ENGVAR, I am British and could demand the right to spell it 'armoured', but I waive that right in deference to @Conglomerate Joe and his Prof and all those who have written in primarily US-based journals on this topic. So, whilst I personally baulk at the spelling of 'armored' I believe that is the way to go.

I am sure there is a lot more still to add to this topic. All I ask is that it based on published journals, not summary information at the Prof's personal website. Nick Moyes (talk) 22:46, 10 August 2022 (UTC)

I think I saw CJ change an s to a z, that's why I asked, I actually didn't consider the title. Of course as a Swede, I'm not very clear on which is which. You reminded me of this Talk:The_Bible_and_humor#Humor/Humour discussion though. American spelling it is. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 06:56, 11 August 2022 (UTC)

@Nick Moyes It is alright if you want to change the spelling to British use. I grew up watching British television so it doesn't bother me. In some cases I even balk at the American spelling of things like "judgment" instead of "judgement."

As for the sources, I made sure that all sources were from published academic journals or books, not the Prof's website. All good!

By the way, Professor Little wanted me to send along his regards and thanks to you for helping us get armored mud balls on Wikipedia, he said he is very appreciative of your efforts! I would like to thank you as well.

Best regards,

Conglomerate Joe (talk) 15:37, 12 August 2022 (UTC)

Thanks to both of you for making an effort to get this subject on WP and not giving up because of the trial and error nature of this place. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 19:52, 12 August 2022 (UTC)

@Conglomerate Joe You're both very welcome. I always enjoy learning about new things in the field of science; it's far more interesting and rewarding than assisting people wanting to add obscure footballers or third-rate musicians to this encyclopaedia!

Now, the next bit of exciting news for both you and RDLittle is that I decided it was worthwhile submitting this new article and a photo to our Did You Know...? slot on the main page of English Wikipedia. It's a fiddly behind-the-scenes process which is now in train, and it usually takes around 6 weeks or so for a nomination to be accepted (see copy two threads below this one) and for it to work through into a queue to be added to our Main Page. It then stays there visible to all in the DYK section for between 12-24 hours, usually garnering around 3k to 5k+ views in that time.

I hope this experience shows you that we're always keen to support the construction and improvement of genuinely notable scientific topics, such as this one. I also hope one or both of you will think seriously about sticking around and bringing your own geological expertise to improve other parts of Wikipedia in the future. I'd be really happy to guide either of you in that proces, having previously worked with (=adopted) another retired geology professor to guide them into our ways of contributing here. Regards, Nick Moyes (talk) 22:02, 16 August 2022 (UTC)

Then I want to brag a little. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 08:29, 17 August 2022 (UTC)

Sweet! Just checked, and thought you'd well and truly beaten every one of my page views from DYKs. Then [smug voice] I found this. Nick Moyes (talk) 19:10, 17 August 2022 (UTC)

Hm, I should have DYK:d Larries (yes it's a notable subject, I have the doi:s to prove it)... Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 08:35, 18 August 2022 (UTC)

No disrespect, but I personally view that area of Wikipedia writing as my typical example of 'pointless article' that so many people love to read about. I'm sure it would have done brilliantly at DYK. Give me a pair of muddy balls studded with pebbles, anytime! LOL. Nick Moyes (talk) 11:23, 18 August 2022 (UTC)

We'll see how Draft:Humor and religion does if I ever get it that far. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 11:42, 18 August 2022 (UTC)

That's more like it! Nick Moyes (talk) 20:27, 19 August 2022 (UTC)

Almost 7 000 views, not bad. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 18:04, 3 September 2022 (UTC)

@Conglomerate Joe Did you see this view count for when the article was on the Main Page? Do let your Prof know too, please. Nick Moyes (talk) 19:50, 3 September 2022 (UTC)

@Nick Moyes [1]. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 10:30, 5 October 2022 (UTC)

Nice one! Nick Moyes (talk) 12:11, 5 October 2022 (UTC)

No longer an orphaned article

Hello,

I edited the article for the Turners Falls Formation to include a link to the armored mud ball page, so that this article is no longer "orphaned." I will also add a mention of armored mud balls in the Geology section of Sugarloaf Mountain (Massachusetts) and the Pico Formation page because both of these formations have occurrences of armored mud balls.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Conglomerate Joe (talk) 19:39, 10 August 2022 (UTC)

Sounds good. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 19:55, 10 August 2022 (UTC)

Of course, the article is in dire need of a pop-cult section like Tardigrade#In_popular_culture. I'm joking. Probably. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 09:16, 16 August 2022 (UTC)

Did you know nomination

The following is an archived discussion of the DYK nomination of the article below. Please do not modify this page. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as this nomination's talk page, the article's talk page or Wikipedia talk:Did you know), unless there is consensus to re-open the discussion at this page. No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was: promoted by Evrik (talk) 04:12, 22 August 2022 (UTC)

(

• Comment or view
• Article history

)

Armored mud ball

• ... that armored mud balls (example pictured) are formed underwater when fragments of clay or mud are rolled by moving currents, picking up a coating of gravel or pebbles that helps to stop them breaking down further? Source: The particles, typically sand or pebbles, form an "armor" that allows the mud ball to retain its shape during transport. 12
  • ALT1: ... that armored mud balls (example pictured) are formed underwater when fragments of clay or mud are rolled by currents, picking up a coating of stones that helps stop them breaking down further?
  • Reviewed: Template:Did you know nominations/Youlgrave Waterworks

Created by Nick Moyes (talk). Self-nominated at 23:57, 15 August 2022 (UTC).

• Hi Nick Moyes, what an interesting topic, review follows: article moved to mainspace on 10 August and exceeds minimum length; article is well written and cited inline throughout to reliable sources; I don't have access to many of the sources but didn't spot any overly close paraphrasing form those I checked; hook is interesting, mentioned in the article and checks out to source cited; image is fine and freely licensed. Two issues outstanding:
• QPQ to be provided

 Done

• The hook is over length (I count 217 characters), can you suggest a shorter wording?

ALT1 is now shorter (though my count of the original was 194 characters (excluding source editor formatting characters and 'example pictured') Will ping fully once my QPQ is completed. Nick Moyes (talk) 15:22, 16 August 2022 (UTC)

If you give me a ping when you've addressed the above I will come back to complete the review. Cheers - Dumelow (talk) 07:04, 16 August 2022 (UTC)

@Dumelow: Thanks. Both issues have now been addressed. Cheers, Nick Moyes (talk) 21:10, 16 August 2022 (UTC)

Thanks Nick Moyes, I see the rules do allow for exclusion of the (pictured), but in my opinion shorter is generally better - Dumelow (talk) 06:17, 17 August 2022 (UTC)