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- The
Topic:
- Rocks
and Minerals
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- Easier - Rocks are
hard natural materials of mineral origin. Different
kinds of rocks make up the crust of our planet
Earth.
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- 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).
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- 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.
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- 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
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- 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/
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- 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!
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- 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!
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- Diamonds
in the Rough (ThinkQuest Junior Project)
- http://tqjunior.thinkquest.org/5008/
- Learn about diamonds and the Crater of Diamonds
State Park, Murfreesboro, Arkansas.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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
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- 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.
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- 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
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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-
-
- Created by
Annette
Lamb and
Larry
Johnson,
1/99
- Updated,
1/01.
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