Rock and Fossil Collections
Kids Guide to Indentifying and Presenting Rocks and Fossils
Collecting rocks, minerals and fossils is a simply a great hobby. Kids love rocks and fossils. They carry them in their blue jean pockets and line their shelves and windowsills with the treasures. They carry them to school for show and tell.
Studying rocks teaches the student about the earth’s crust and studying fossils can teach him about the past. So don’t throw out those rocks, mom. Use the interest that brought them into your space as a stimulant for learning.
Get a Field Guide.
You will need for this study only a field guide to rocks and fossils, which can be obtained from the local library.(While you are there pick up several highly illustrated books on rocks and fossils to peak interest) For serious fossil collecting, small compartmentalized plastic storage boxes or lidded cardboard jewelry boxes with cotton liners are nice. A package of blank stickers, like those used to label folders, will come in handy.
Gather Rock and Fossil Specimens:
Gather all your specimens. Lay them out on newspaper so you can see them well. More specimens can be obtained by an afternoon of walking along a railroad track, beach, creek or river bed, even by digging in a rocky place. Some can be purchased at rock shops, museum gift shops, and tourist traps. When you have a few specimens begin with those.
Learn to Use a Field Guide:
Look up the specimen in a field guide. Decide which type it is. Use the following tests and methods for varifying identity.
Learn Rock Types:
First, it certainly helps to know the three types of rock:
- Sedimentary rock is formed when particles settle out of water,
- Igneous rock, formed by heat and pressure such as earthquake and having two further divisions extrusive (forced out or extruded through cracks) and intrusive, (where the molten rock is trapped inside a stone
- Metamorphic rock, which is rock that has changed in appearance and mineral composition.
For real rock hounds:
Studying rocks can turn into a lifelong hobby. A rock hound needs some simple tools:
- A mineral hammer has a flat end and a pointed end for striking and chipping out specimens
- Goggles for eye protection
- A small magnet to check for magnetite content, a magnifying glass for close examination
- A streak plate ( a piece of unglazed porcelain) for checking streak colors
- A pocket knife is handy for testing hardness.
On the Trail: When hunting for specimens carry a small backpack with some newspaper scraps for wrapping specimens, a small plastic case for holding finds, a notebook or labels to record date, location and the name of the rock if known a pen or pencil, tools.
Later, make a permanent label. Identifying rocks and fossils can be done by comparison to field guide photos in some cases, but in many cases you will need to consider the chemical composition of the rock, the location of the find, the streak color, and other physical properties. Sedimentary rock is usually stratified or layered. It may contain chips and bits of crystals and other rock, or organic sendiment like shells and bones, coral that has been pressed into layers like limestone. Igneous rock is almost always solid and has crystals.
A streak test can show a distinct color when rubbed across the steak plate which is typical of the mineral and so can confirm your rock’s identity.
Coral fossils are the easiest to find since they are so common. There are many types and these can be looked up in the fossil books. Some favorites are Petoskey Stone, chain coral, and honeycomb coral. Fossils of leaves and bones are harder to find, but here the rock shops can help again.
Share Your New Knowledge in a Presentation:
Present or display your collection when it is finished. Local libraries often have locked glass show cases for displays. Nursing home residents or a school science class might also be interested in seeing your work. This is called a "Rock Talk." Sharing a collection increases the fun and value you can derive from the effort.
An Extra Idea:
Take photos and write a short story about your collection for the local newspaper. People love rocks and fossils and may want to start their own collections!
