Mini Me Geology Blog

November’s Birthstone - Topaz

tracyb — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:44:43 +0000

The November birthstone is topaz. Topaz is a unique gemstone which comes in a huge varitey of colors such as orange-yellow, colorless, light blue, pink, brown and green. Topaz has a hrdness of 8 on the Mohs Hardness Scale and a glassy luster. Igeous rocks are the most common type in which to find topaz gemstones. Topaz is used for jewelry in its variety of colors.

Mini Me Geology featured in Rock & Gem Magazine

tracyb — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:28:24 +0000

Mini Me Geology is featured in the November 2008 issue of Rock & Gem Magazine. This is a great magazine for anyone who loves rocks and minerals, both kids and adults.

Check out their website: http://tinyurl.com/5roetx then go buy the magazine!

Metamorphic Rocks

tracyb — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 04:27:05 +0000

The rocks that make up our Earth are constantly moving and changing. The three types of rocks are igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. A metamorphic rock is formed when a sedimentary or igneous rock changes form because the temperature or pressure changes. This change typically happens over time when the sedimentary or igneous rocks are buried beneath the earth’s surface. The pressure from the layers of rocks and the high temperatures from deep in the Earth cause the minerals in the igneous and sedimentary rocks to change. Many metamorphic rocks can be useful in our everyday lives. Metamorphic rocks are used in jewelry, building and road materials and to make insulation.

Mini Me Geology’s My Rockin’ Collection! Metamorphic RocksYou will love the variety of colors and textures in this Metamorphic Rock collection. Each of 10 rocks comes with an identification card which includes a photo and fun rock facts. Try to identify each rock using the hand magnifier and information cards. If you need a hint, the name of each rock is beneath the foam padding. If you need help using the hand magnifier or identifying the rocks, check out the “Dig Into Science” section of our website for tips on how to use your new Metamorphic Rock kit.

Each kit includes:

10 Large Metamorphic Rock Samples: amphibolite, anthracite coal, gneiss, hornfels, marble, phyllite, quartzite, mica schist, garnet schist, and slate
Hand Magnifier
Identification Card for each rock
Sturdy compartment box with snug latches for secure and organized storage

Last plug for contest!

tracyb — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:27:43 +0000

Hello Everyone!

The 2008 StartupNation Home-Based 100 Business competition is coming to a close. We have just a little more time to get in those votes. Please vote for us and help get our popularity meter up to “HOT!”

You can vote here!

A little about Sedimentary Rocks

tracyb — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:20:56 +0000

Sedimentary rocks are formed when sand, small pieces of rock, or mud are deposited as layers of sediment. These layers of sediment are pressed together over a long period of time and form a sedimentary rock from the pressure and cementation process. Sedimentary rocks are unique because they can be formed from any other rocks type: igneous, metamorphic and even other sedimentary rocks. Rocks are broken down by wind and water and the pieces are transported to oceans and lakes by rivers and smaller streams. The rock pieces are deposited in the lakes and oceans in the layers which later become a sedimentary rock.

Sedimentary rocks are unique because they are the only types of rocks that can contain fossils of sea shells and animals. Fossils form when the soft parts of plants and animals decay and leave the hard parts (such as bones) behind. The hard parts that are left are then covered with layers of sediment. When the sediment becomes a rock, the hard parts are preserved in the rock as a fossil.

Find out more about rocks and minerals at MiniMeGeology.com!

My Rockin’ Collection! Minerals featured on NeatoStuff.com site

tracyb — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:49:27 +0000

Mini Me Geology’s My Rockin’ Collection! Minerals kit was featured on the shopping blog Neatostuff.com. Check out our listing here. We were honored to have been chosen by such a great blog for a feature!

Please remember to keep voting for us in StartupNation’s Home-Based 100 contest. You can vote for us here through the end of October. Every vote and comment helps and we appreciate assistance!

Why We love Garnet Schist

tracyb — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 03:03:47 +0000

Garnet Schist is a beautiful gray, silvery or brown colored metamorphic rock which shiny mica layers and an abundance of well-formed garnet crystals. Garnet schist is the same rock as a mica schist with the exception of the inclusion of the garnets (too cool!). The original rock type is typically a clayey rock with some calcite content such as a siltstone or a mudstone. The major minerals in a schist are quartz and mica. During the compression of the rock (metamorphism) the mica grains, which are thin and flat, are squeezed into sheet-like layers and give a silky, shiny appearance to the rock. The texture of a schist is usually fine-grained; however, in a garnet schist the garnet crystals are large enough to be seen by the naked eye and appear to be “floating” in the schist rock. If schist rocks are broken, they will bread into wavy surfaces. Get your sample of Garnet Schist today!

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CLICK HERE TO VOTE AND LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS.

Please Vote for Us in SuN’s Home-Based 100 Contest!

tracyb — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:22:48 +0000

PLEASE VOTE FOR US!

We are so excited to share with you that we have entered the StartupNation’s Home-Based 100 Competition. This is a competition for the best of the best home-based businesses.

So, we are asking for your help!

Please follow this link to the Mini Me Geology Profile and Vote for Us! You can also leave comments about your great experiences with our products and services. You can vote for us every day through the end of September. So, please take a minute to help us out!

Experiment on Weathering from Mini Me Geology

tracyb — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:48:38 +0000

Hey Kids! Try this fun experiment to learn more about the weathering of rocks. You will need:

ó Plastic Wrap

ó Clay

ó Water

ó Notebook

ó Camera (optional)

Step 1: Take the water and wet the clay. Work the water into the clay with your hands until soft and moist.

Step 2: Divide the clay into two equal pieces and roll it into a ball, square or any other shape you like.

Step 3: Wrap each piece of clay in plastic wrap.

Step 4: Place one piece of clay into the freezer and leave the other piece on your table or counter. Let the clay stay in the freezer overnight.

Step 5: The next day, take the clay out of the freezer and unwrap both pieces.

Observe:

Do the clay pieces look different? If so, how? Hint: the clay from the freezer should have the some cracks. Examine the clay with a hand magnifier to get a closer look at the cracks. Write about your findings in a notebook and take pictures if you want.

Then, wrap each clay piece back up and put the one piece back into the freezer and repeat for several days. Observe the clay pieces each day and see how the cracks change over time. You are now a true Mini Me Geologist!

Why is science education important for kids?

tracyb — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 02:58:38 +0000

Science education sometimes takes a back seat with the push of reading and math being so strong. But, science is a part of our daily life. Everything we do and deal with in life is science from cooking, playing ball, growing a garden and understanding how technologies work to watching a rain storm. Understanding science helps kids appreciate and relate to the world around them.

Elementary school is the perfect time to get kids interested in science when they are naturally curious. Science education fuels that curiosity and provides children with valuable ideas, skills, and potential future career choices. For example, scientists are an important part of the future of our world. Without them we would not be able to predict the weather or earthquakes, understand global warming, cure illnesses and take care of the sick, or have many of the products that enhance our lifestyles today.

Geology education teaches children about earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and tsunamis arming them with knowledge and Earth processes that can protect their health and safety throughout their lives. Children with a basic understanding of rocks and minerals are able to translate that knowledge to a wide variety of activities and potential careers such as gardening, groundwater recovery, pollution control and clean-up, engineering, environmental research, oil and gas exploration and recovery, road construction, mining, energy production and jewelry manufacturing.

Mini Me Geology can be a valuable resource for parents and teachers who are interested in promoting science education with their children and students. Our rock and minerals kits give kids hands-on experience with the samples and help to teach reasoning and identification skills as they identify the samples. Our free geology education information, word puzzles, project ideas and experiments are designed to give children a better understanding of geology, while having a little fun too. Please visit our website www.MiniMeGeology.com for more information.