Ask-a-Geologist #22: What are some common household uses of rocks and minerals?

We received a great question from one of our customers about the usefulness of rocks. Teddy wrote:

What are some common household items made of rocks and minerals?

In this video answer, we talk about several types of rocks and minerals and their common uses. There are probably some you know and maybe a few you do not. We talk about one you probably use everyday and one you may even eat. Take a look at the video and see how many of these you know.

The Fascinating Bay of Fundy

The Bay of Fundy is a geologically fascinating location in North America. The Bay of Fundy is approximately 174 miles long. The tide cycles are 12.5 hours showing a dramatic increase and decrease in the water level of the Bay. During this phenomenal change, over one billion tons of water flow into and out of the Bay of Fundy.

Fluorite – A Special Mineral of Many Forms and Colors

Fluorite is a unique mineral that can be found in more colors than any other mineral.

Mini Me Geology’s “The 12 Rocks of Christmas” Holiday Song

The 12 Rocks of Christmas – A holiday song for all of our friends!

Why Science Education is Important for Kids

Science education sometimes takes a back seat these days 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.

How to Draw a Cross-Section from a Topographic Map

Making a cross-section from a topographic is not too difficult and can come in handy for hiking, driving, biking, walking and yes, running. All you need is a topographic map of the area, a piece of graph paper, a ruler, and a pencil.

Ask-a-Geologist #20: What can you tell me about the mineral pyrite?

Today I have a special guest with me. Her name is Piper and we are discussing the mineral pyrite. (Make sure you watch the video until the end to see our first blooper reel!)

Glaciers are Awesome!

A glacier is a large, moving sheet of ice and snow. Next to oceans, glaciers hold the most water on earth. The polar areas are covered largely by glaciers and in warmer areas, glaciers cover the highest mountain tops. Many other geologic features can also be formed by glaciers as well. Glaciers can be found on every continent.

What You Need to Know About Minerals & Gemstones

Minerals are unique chemical substances which are homogeneous (the same) throughout the specimen. Minerals can be found as single crystals or clusters of many crystals. Rocks are a group of minerals that are found together.

Geology is all around you!

Whether you know a lot about geology or just a little, you probably know that the Earth’s crust and the material below it are made up of rocks and minerals. There are hundreds of varieties of rocks and minerals and each one has its own unique history from the time it was formed to the time someone finds a specimen and adds it to their collection