Mini Me Geology Blog http://www.minimegeology.com/blog Rocks for Kids, Teachers, Parents and Homeschoolers Mon, 16 Apr 2012 19:06:55 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 The Earth’s Interior Layers – Part 4, The Inner Core http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2012/04/16/the-earths-interior-layers-part-4-the-inner-core/ http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2012/04/16/the-earths-interior-layers-part-4-the-inner-core/#comments Mon, 16 Apr 2012 19:06:55 +0000 tracyb http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/?p=840 Finally! You’ve reached the solid inner core and boy, is it hot! This interior core is roughly 3,200 miles deep!

The inner core is made of solid metal. This metal is iron with a little bit of nickel. The core is approximately 1516 miles in diameter and is hotter than the sun’s surface. Ouch!

Keep reading…

]]> http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2012/04/16/the-earths-interior-layers-part-4-the-inner-core/feed/ 0 The Earth’s Interior Layers – Part 3, The Outer Core http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2012/04/03/the-earths-interior-layers-part-3-the-outer-core/ http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2012/04/03/the-earths-interior-layers-part-3-the-outer-core/#comments Tue, 03 Apr 2012 17:48:55 +0000 tracyb http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/?p=836 Are you tired yet? You’ve been digging a long time. Now that you have passed through the mantle, you are at the edge of the outer core. Can you swim? I hope so because this 1,380 mile thick layer is liquid!

Keep Reading…

]]> http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2012/04/03/the-earths-interior-layers-part-3-the-outer-core/feed/ 0 The Earth’s Interior Layers – Part 2, The Mantle http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2012/03/10/the-mantle/ http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2012/03/10/the-mantle/#comments Sat, 10 Mar 2012 23:10:50 +0000 tracyb http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/?p=826 So, what did you think of the Moho? Pretty neat area, huh? Now that you dug through the Moho you are in the mantle. The mantle is approximately 1,800 miles thick! Are you tired yet? Keep going because this is a very interesting area of the Earth.

The solid mantle material is made of materials rich in iron, aluminum, magnesium, oxygen and silicon. The temperature in the mantle is over 1,000 degrees Celsius so you will start to sweat from the heat as you dig.  Read more.

]]> http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2012/03/10/the-mantle/feed/ 0 The Earth’s Interior Layers – Part I, The Crust http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2012/02/15/the-earths-interior-layers-part-i-the-crust/ http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2012/02/15/the-earths-interior-layers-part-i-the-crust/#comments Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:32:32 +0000 tracyb http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/?p=819 Have you ever wondered what is beneath your feet? I am not talking about the grass and soil, but the material located miles below the land surface. If you stand in your backyard and dig a hole, what would you see?

We are starting a new four part series on the layers of the Earth. This week, we explore the crust. Join us as we dig straight to the center of the Earth. What will you encounter along your journey of roughly 3,975 miles? Read more at Dig Into Geology.

]]> http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2012/02/15/the-earths-interior-layers-part-i-the-crust/feed/ 0 The Fascinating Bay of Fundy http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2012/01/24/the-fascinating-bay-of-fundy/ http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2012/01/24/the-fascinating-bay-of-fundy/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:00:25 +0000 tracyb http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/?p=812 The Bay of Fundy is a geologically fascinating location in North America. I visited the bay in summer 1990 with my college geology department from Furman University. The Bay of Fundy is located along the eastern coast of North America in the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in Canada and on the northern side of the Gulf of Maine. You can go here to see a map of the Bay on Google. I visited the Bay of Fundy during a college field trip and found the formation of the area fascinating. The bay is along the Atlantic Ocean and is subject to dramatic tidal changes. The photo at left shows an area of the Bay of Fundy at low tide. You can see people walking along the low area.  Keep Reading

]]> http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2012/01/24/the-fascinating-bay-of-fundy/feed/ 0 http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2012/01/18/805/ http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2012/01/18/805/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:05:06 +0000 tracyb http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/?p=805 Dinosaurs include some of the largest land animals ever to roam the Earth. The Age of Dinosaurs began approximately 245 million years ago. A mass extinction 65 million years ago ended the reign of these creatures. Some dinosaurs were as small as today’s dogs and chickens, while others stood over five stories tall. Scientists believe that large dinosaurs were able be reach their massive sizes due to a huge metabolism. Read more.

]]> http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2012/01/18/805/feed/ 0 Happy New Year! http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2011/12/28/happy-new-year-2/ http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2011/12/28/happy-new-year-2/#comments Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:59:18 +0000 tracyb http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/?p=798

Thank you for a wonderful 2011. We hope that you are having a wonderful holiday season. Have a safe and happy new year.

We will see you back here in 2012 for some fun new feature articles on geology formations!  Up first – the Bay of Fundy!

]]> http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2011/12/28/happy-new-year-2/feed/ 0 Happy Holidays! http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2011/12/23/happy-holidays/ http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2011/12/23/happy-holidays/#comments Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:42:03 +0000 tracyb http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/?p=731

]]> http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2011/12/23/happy-holidays/feed/ 0 Last Day for Express Shipping http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2011/12/21/last-day-for-express-shipping/ http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2011/12/21/last-day-for-express-shipping/#comments Wed, 21 Dec 2011 08:08:38 +0000 tracyb http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/?p=718 There is still time to get your rock kit before Christmas with Express Shipping. Order by midnight tonight and choose express shipping option. Most locations receive express mail in 1 to 2 days. Shop now!

]]> http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2011/12/21/last-day-for-express-shipping/feed/ 0 Use ID Accessories to Test Your Minerals http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2011/12/17/use-id-accessories-to-test-your-minerals/ http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2011/12/17/use-id-accessories-to-test-your-minerals/#comments Sat, 17 Dec 2011 12:21:53 +0000 tracyb http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/?p=786 A geologist uses tools to help them identify the names of minerals in their collection. Streak plates test the powdered color of a minerals. White plates test dark minerals and white streak plates test light colored minerals.

Hand lenses, or magnifiers, help you see details of your mineral and rock samples. Our hand lenses have two different powers for excellent views. You can see the fine details as you examine the cleavage planes of your augite or the inclusions in a quartz crystal.

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