Rocks and Minerals

The Topic:

Rocks and Minerals

Easier - Rocks are hard natural materials of mineral origin. Different kinds of rocks make up the crust of our planet Earth.

Harder - A rock is defined as an aggregate of mineral grains, which means that rocks are a bunch of mineral grains all stuck together. The mineral grains may be large enough to be seen with the naked eye (phaneritic) or microscopic (aphanitic).

The three types of rocks are igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. Igneous rocks form when molten rock, or magma, cools and hardens. Sedimentary rocks result from erosion of any rock type, followed by depositing the resulting sediment into a natural basin, and finally cementing the sediment into stone. Metamorphic rocks form when any rock is subjected to great heat and pressure, but not enough heat to melt the rock.



Before You Buy a Rock Collection at About.com

http://geology.about.com/library/products/aabyb-rockcollections.htm

This site is a great starting point for kids of all ages who collect rocks, minerals and fossils.

Other Sites on Rock Collecting:

2) Rock Collecting by Rachel M. Barker

http://www.sciencemaster.com/jump/earth/rock_collecting.php

or http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/collect1/collectgip.html

3) Rocks for Kids http://www.rocksforkids.com/

4) Start a Rock Collection at OLogy http://www.ology.amnh.org/earth/stufftodo/rockcollection_main.html

Rock Cycle

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/rock.html

The rock cycle is a group of changes. Igneous rock can change into sedimentary or metamorphic rocks. Sedimentary rocks can change into metamorphic or igneous rock. Metamorphic rock can also change into the other kinds of rock.

Related Websites:
2) Interactive Rock Cycle Animation http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/inve . . . .cfm
3) Rock and the Rock Cycle http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/geology/rocks_intro.html
4) Rock Cycle from the Mineralogical Society of America http://www.minsocam.org/MSA/K12/rkcycle/rkcycleindex.html
5) Rock Cycle http://www.rocksandminerals.com/rockcycle.htm
6) Rock Cycle http://www.edu.pe.ca/southernkings/rockcycle.htm
7) Rock Cycle at Beyond Books - Earth Science Pt. 2 http://www.beyondbooks.com/ear82/7.asp
8) Stupid Page of Rocks http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/1080/

Rockhounds

http://www.fi.edu/fellows/payton/rocks/

Find out what you need to use to gather great rock specimens! Your geology expert, Vic, will show you what equipment you should use, how to use it safely, and how to carefully bring back the rocks that you find!



Rock Hound Collection Safety

http://www.enged.com/students/matcom/matcom10.html

This information is meant to help collectors remain conscious of some of the dangers associated with rock hunting.

Other Preparedness and Safety Websites:

2) Field Trip Safety Rules by G.J. Kuban http://paleo.cc/kpaleo/safety.htm
3) Start Collecting http://www.prehistoricplanet.com/features/articles/fossil_collecting.htm

4) Rock Hound Collection Safety http://www.fi.edu/fellows/payton/rocks/safety/index.html

After visiting several of the websites, complete some of these rocks and minerals activities and projects:

Make a Rockhounds Safety Poster. First visit sites like Rock Hound Collection Safety to learn what equipment you should use, how to use it safely, and how to safely bring back the rocks that you find!

Test Your Rock Identification Skill. Go to D. Peck's Rock Identification Key and see if you can correctly identify the rocks. A visit to sites such as Rock Identification and How are Rocks Classified? may also provide added help. You might also try the Rock Identification Test.

Start a Rock Collection. You can be a rock collector anywhere. And you can limit your collection to small-size rocks. Start by collecting and identifying the top 25 rocks in your area.

Websites By Kids For Kids

Adventures of Mineral Man & Rockhound (1999 ThinkQuest Junior Project)

http://library.thinkquest.org/5234/

Here are fun puzzles for you to solve, interesting photos, pictures, and interviews with real rock experts: geologists and earth science professionals. The site also has information about starting your own rock collection.

Diamonds in the Rough (ThinkQuest Junior Project)

http://tqjunior.thinkquest.org/5008/

Learn about diamonds and the Crater of Diamonds State Park, Murfreesboro, Arkansas.

Rock Collecting Locations

To get access our index to websites for rock, mineral, and fossil collecting sites in the United States and Canada, go to Rock Collecting Sites.

Lots More Rocks and Minerals Websites

Bob's Rock Shop

http://www.rockhounds.com/

This is a huge online publication for rock collectors and lapidary hobbyists. The Shop is a noncommercial site in that the rocks and mineral specimens displayed here are 'Not for Sale', but you are welcome to browse all you like.

Collecting Rocks by Rachel M. Barker (U.S. Geological Survey)

http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/collect1/collectgip.html

This online publication of the USGS has good startup information about collecting.

Other Useful USGS Web Publications:

2) Gemstones: An Overview http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/gemstones/sp14-95/

3) Fossils, Rocks, and Time http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/fossils/

4) Gold by Harold Kirkemo, William L. Newman, and Roger P. Ashley http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/prospect1/goldgip.html

5) Information on Prospecting http://geology.er.usgs.gov/eastern/prospect.html

6) Natural Gemstones http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/gemstones/

7) Prospecting for Gold in the United States by Harold Kirkemo http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/prospect2/prospectgip.html

Diamond Deception at NOVA Online

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/diamond/

You can look inside and learn about a diamond or find out about other gemstones like jade, opal, pearl, and more within the 'Primer of Gemstones' section.

Another Gemstone Identification Site:

2) Mineral Identification Site http://www.netspace.net.au/~mwoolley/top.htm

The Fossil Hunter

http://www.iwaynet.net/~mperona/

Here you can locate collecting sites, links, and good information for fossil hounds and other rock geeks.

Another Site for a Fossil Hunter:

2) Fossils and Fossil Collecting http://web.ukonline.co.uk/conker/fossils/

3) Frequently Asked Questions about Paleontology http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/FAQ/faq.html

Geology Online from Illinois State Museum
http://geologyonline.museum.state.il.us/
Here you can find lesson plans and resources that are designed around rocks, minerals, and related artifacts.

He's Nothing But a Rock Hound, A Diggin' All The Time

http://ur.utenn.edu/ut2kids/rocks/rocks.html

Do you like rocks? If so, you are a rock hound, a person who collects and studies rocks and minerals.

Kreigh's Web Resources Collection for Rockhounds

http://Tomaszewski.net/Kreigh/Minerals/MineralLinks.shtml

Here you will find a large collection of links and original information for Rockhounds about geology, minerals, fossils, lapidary, rock clubs, and other related subjects.

Mama's Minerals in Cyberspace

http://www.mamasminerals.com/index.htm

This site features information on minerals, rocks, fossils, meteorites, rockhounding equipment, and links to lots more.



Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom

http://www.minerals.net/

This is an outstanding site filled with information, identification data, and photographs of the gem and mineral world.

More Rock & Mineral Websites:

2) Buena Vista Gem Works http://www.buenavistagemworks.com/

3) Cape Cod Rocks http://capecodrocks.org/

4) Dakota Matrix Minerals http://www.dakotamatrix.com/

5) F.W.Bull Mineral Collection http://members.aol.com/fbullmin/

6) Gem Gallery http://www.theimage.com/gemstone/gemstone.html

7) Ken's Fluorescent Minerals http://www.users.interport.net/~kenx/

8) Mineral Gallery http://www.theimage.com/mineral/minerals1.html

9) Mineral Gallery http://mineral.galleries.com/default.htm

10) Mineral Identification Site http://www.netspace.net.au/~mwoolley/top.htm

11) Rocks and Minerals (Kentucky Geological Survey) http://www.uky.edu/KGS/coal/webrokmn/rocksmin.htm

12) Rocks and Minerals http://www.hpedsb.on.ca/pow/rocks_and_minerals.htm

13) Textures of Igneous Rocks http://www.geo.duke.edu/geo41/rks.htm

14) Textures and Structures of Sedimentary Rocks http://www.geo.duke.edu/geo41/seds.htm

Rockdoctors Guide to Minerals and Rocks

http://www.cobweb.net/~bug2/rock1.htm

This site provides basic information on rock and mineral identification. The site utilizes photos and includes a handy identification key for several types of common rocks and minerals.

Rockology 101

http://www.rogersgroupinc.com/ourcommunities/rockology/index.htm

This website introduces you to common rocks and minerals with some great tidbits of historical background.

Rocks and Minerals

http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/rocks.html

This links-site connects to research and informational websites. Find out the age of rocks, identify types of rocks, learn how rocks are formed and the rock cycle, learn to tell rocks and minerals apart, and take a quiz.

Other Rock and Mineral Links-Sites:

2) All About Quartz Crystals http://www.omtp.com/colemans/links.html

3) Benson's Mineral Links http://csis.pace.edu/csis/projects/students/eric~1.htm

4) Rocks and Minerals at Nearctica, Kids Section http://www.nearctica.com/family/kids/krocks.htm

5) Rocks and Minerals at Nearctica http://www.nearctica.com/educate/subject/erocks.htm

6) Uses of Rocks and Minerals http://www.nswmin.com.au/minerals/az-minerals.html



Reference Sites

Ask-A-Geologist at U.S. Geological Survey

http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/docs/ask-a-ge.html/

Before you submit a question, be sure to read the guidelines. But if you still have a question about rocks or minerals, then follow the procedures to Ask-A-Geologist.

Bureau of Land Management

http://www.blm.gov/nhp/index.htm

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), an agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior, administers 264 million acres of America's public lands, located primarily in the 12 Western States. If you are collecting rocks, minerals, or fossils on BLM lands, you should check to assure you are collecting in accordance to all laws and regulations.

Related BLM Websites:

2) Rock Collecting Guide: Oregon & Washington

http://lm0005.blm.gov:80/nhp/efoia/or/fy2000/IMs/m2000-023.htm



Websites for Teachers

Determining Age of Rocks and Fossils by Frank K. McKinney (Grade 8-9)

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/fosrec/McKinney.html

Some very straightforward principles are used to determine the age of fossils. Students should be able to understand the principles and have that as a background so that age determinations by paleontologists and geologists don't seem like black magic.

Lesson Plan by Tammy Payton at Rockhounds (Grade K-8)

http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow1/oct98/lesson.htm

By using the resources on this web-based activity, students will gain an understanding of the rock cycle including how sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks form.

Rock Classification (Grade 4)

http://chesterfield.k12.va.us/Resources/Lessons/Rocks/lesson.html

Students will sort and classify rocks and minerals using distinguishing physical characteristics.

Rock Collecting (Grades K-1)

http://ccsd.net/schools/mccaw/collect.html

This activity will provide students with an opportunity to use the five senses while comparing rocks and organizing the data.

Thematic Unit Rocks and Minerals (Grade 1-2)

http://www.libsci.sc.edu/miller/rocks.htm

Students will expand their knowledge of rocks by exploring the characteristics of local rocks.

rockhound metamorphic nonmetallic sedimentary fossil birthstone

mine safety basalt quartz amorphous geode weathering

crystalline hardness luster igneous magnetic obsidian

pumice Mohs Scale lava talc geology formation

granite feldspar mica petrified wood sand magma

stone agate amber gold rhyolite diamond

Keokuk geode calcite mineral mica sand rock candy



Created by Annette Lamb and Larry Johnson, 1/99

Updated, 1/01.