General Geology Questions |
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What are some household items made out of igneous rock?
What are the three big groups of rocks?
In what parts of the world can sandstone rock be found and what are some of its uses?
What rocks are changed by high pressure and high temperature?
What is in magma that makes up a rock?
What two groups of rocks are formed from all three kinds of rocks?
How do different rocks form?
What is inside a rock?
Can you cut a rock in half?
Can rocks be different colors?
What are the remains of once living organisms found in sedimentary rocks?
What is the liquid portion of a volcano called and what is the name for the bits of rock and ash?
What is the largest igneous intrusion in California ? What kind of rock is it? And where is it found?
What particle gives rock texture?
What determines the color/texture of a rock?
Where is the precipitate calcite commonly found to create interesting formations in the ground?
Has Gold ever been found in Illinois?
What type of characteristics is in the north Texas oil field formations and what is the mohs hardness of this formation?
What type of mechanical behavior in rocks must be necessary for earthquakes to occur?
I would like to know what to do with crystal like stones, you find around old rock sites or houses? Are they worth anything? Are there gold mines in Texas?
Are there still active volcanoes?
What are some household items made out of igneous rock?Many building materials are made of granite such as counter tops in homes. Pumice is also used in products such pumice stones which are used to smooth rough feet and in Lava Soap which is used to remove grease from hands.Back to Top  |
What are the three big groups of rocks?The three basic rock types are Igneous, Metamorphic and Sedimentary. See the article titled Geology is All Around You in the “Dig Into Geology” section of our website for more information on these rock types.Back to Top |
In what parts of the world can sandstone rock be found and what are some of its uses?Sandstones can be found at worldwide locations. They are often used as building materials and in industrial processing applications (e.g. grind stones). A natural use of sandstone is as a reservoir for water, oil and gas. The spaces between sand grains can be either open or filled. If the spaces are open, sandstones make good places for water, gas and oil to be stored below the land surface.Back to Top |
What rocks are changed by high pressure and high temperature?The change of a rock by high temperature and pressure is called metamorphism. This is the process by which metamorphic rocks are formed. Any rock can be changed by metamorphic processes.Back to Top |
What is in magma that makes up a rock?Magma is the term used for liquid rock which forms deep below the Earth’s surface. Magma can be composed of many different things such as silicates, alkalis, iron and magnesium. The composition of the magma will determine the type of rocks which it will eventually form.Back to Top |
What two groups of rocks are formed from all three kinds of rocks?Sedimentary and metamorphic. Check out our Dig into Science pages for more information on the types of rocks.Back to Top |
How do different rocks form?Check out our Dig Into Science page article on rocks and minerals for information.Back to Top |
What is inside a rock?Most rocks consist of the same minerals within the rock that you see on the outside. Often, rocks appear dull on the outside because of exposure to wind and rain. Often, if you break a rock open you can better see the minerals and their characteristics.Back to Top |
Can you cut a rock in half?Yes, you can break a rock using a rock hammer or use a rock saw. Always get your parents or a teachers help before doing this and make sure to wear safety glasses.Back to Top |
Can rocks be different colors?Yes. The color of a rock is determined by the colors of the minerals which make up the rock. Rocks with dark minerals appear dark or black. Rocks with light colored minerals will appear light in color.Back to Top |
What are the remains of once living organisms found in sedimentary rocks?Fossils are the remains or impressions of once living organisms that are often found in sedimentary rocks.Back to Top |
What is the liquid portion of a volcano called and what is the name for the bits of rock and ash?Magma is the liquid portion of volcano. The magma is liquid rock. Volcanic ash is expelled from the volcano when it erupts. Volcanic ash is made of small bits of rock and ash.Back to Top |
What is the largest igneous intrusion in California ? What kind of rock is it? And where is it found?Batholiths are typically the largest igneous intrusions. One example of a large batholith is Big Rock near Riverside, California. Big Rock is a part of a batholith which is composed of mostly granite with some inclusions of gabbro.Back to Top |
What particle gives rock texture?A rocks texture is determined by the size and shape of all of its mineral grains.Back to Top |
What determines the color/texture of a rock?The color and texture of a rock is determined by the mineral content and its formation method.Back to Top |
Where is the precipitate calcite commonly found to create interesting formations in the ground?Caves are the most common place to find interesting calcite formations. Formations such as stalagmites and stalactites often form in a cave.Back to Top |
Has Gold ever been found in Illinois?I am not aware of any significant deposits of gold in Illinois. Here is a neat resource on gold locations in the United States: pubs.usgs.gov/gip/prospect2/prospectgip.htmlBack to Top |
What type of characteristics is in the north Texas oil field formations and what is the mohs hardness of this formation?The Mohs hardness scale is a scales used for minerals only. However, oil fields are commonly composed of sandstones. Sandstones are largely made up of the mineral quartz which has a hardness on the Mohs scale of 7. I do not have many specifics on the North Texas oil fields; however, there is a neat resource found at: www.teraxenergy.com/barnett_shale.html which provides some information on the shale in North Texas that is mined for its gas hydrocarbons.Back to Top |
What type of mechanical behavior in rocks must be necessary for earthquakes to occur?Earthquakes are caused when rocks slip along a fault plane. Most earthquakes occur along plate boundaries. Plates are the slabs of rock which make up the upper crust of the Earth. The movement of these plates can result in an earthquake.Back to Top |
I would like to know what to do with crystal like stones, you find around old rock sites or houses? Are they worth anything? Are there gold mines in Texas?If you find crystals or stones and are wondering what to do with them you can take them to a local geologist at a university or jewelry store for identification. These professionals can help you make an identification of the rock or mineral and tell you if the item is worth money or useful for other applications such as jewelry. I am unsure if there are active gold mines in Texas but you could check with the Texas office of the United States Geological Services for that information.Back to Top |
Are there still active volcanoes?Yes. The largest active volcano is Mauna Loa in Hawaii, United States. The cone of the volcano is over 30,000 feet high!Back to Top |