| Rock collecting is a fascinating hobby for kids and | | | | rounded and bent instead of lying prone across |
| adults alike. While rocks are common, cheap, and | | | | the rock. |
| found everywhere, the variety is huge. Collected | | | | Igneous rocks are very exciting finds and are a |
| rocks can be displayed in many ways, from rock | | | | common favorite of rock hounds. An excellent |
| gardens to neatly kept showcases, making rock | | | | example is Obsidian. It is a beautiful igneous rock |
| collecting a versatile hobby. | | | | that looks like black glass. It is bright, shiny and |
| With rock collecting, you will soon find out that | | | | hard and razor sharp making it a favorite choice |
| rocks can be categorized as one of three types. | | | | of many native American Indians for making |
| A sedimentary rock formed when sediments, | | | | arrowheads. |
| such as sand or silt, were pressed together under | | | | Pumice is another interesting igneous rock and has |
| their own weight or the weight of water and | | | | many uses both personal and commercial. It is |
| eventually became solid. | | | | very light and porous and will actually float in |
| An igneous rock is one that was formed by | | | | water. This stone is mixed with some soap and |
| volcanic activity. The third type of rock is the | | | | makes a great hand cleaner and is even used at |
| metamorphic rock, which is like a sedimentary | | | | times for cleaning and rubbing calluses off people's |
| rock which has been changed through intense | | | | feet. |
| heat and pressure but with some interesting | | | | Commercially, it is used for enhanced road |
| variations. | | | | traction in snowy and icy weather. A great |
| Rock hounds also get excited about another type | | | | example can be found in Flagstaff, Arizona. They |
| of rock collecting consisting of minerals, gems and | | | | are actually is in the process of leveling an entire |
| crystals. Pure minerals are not technically the | | | | mountain of pumice and using it for road sprinkling |
| same thing as rocks but they are very | | | | during snows as well as an ingredient for brick |
| compatible and will enhance any rock collections. | | | | making. |
| Minerals include things like iron pyrite (better | | | | It is only common sense to realize that different |
| known as fool's gold) and quartzite which | | | | regions produce different rocks, crystals and |
| resembles diamonds. The variety of crystals is | | | | minerals. The American mid west, for instance, |
| almost endless, including gem quality crystals such | | | | contains much sedimentary rock formations but |
| as amazonite, amber, amethyst, ametrine, etc. | | | | few igneous and metamorphic rocks. The |
| For some people, rock collecting consists of | | | | Appalachian range contains some rare and valuable |
| picking up rocks from the different places they | | | | metamorphic rocks such as gneiss andschist and |
| visit and keeping them as souvenirs. They might | | | | makes it a favorite hunting ground for area |
| even use the large specimens to outline their | | | | "hounds". In the western desert, there is a |
| driveways or decorate a specific room in their | | | | plethora of igneous rocks, crystals, and minerals |
| house or garden. Small ones sometimes find their | | | | and subsequently it is an oasis for rock hounds of |
| way to a windowsill orcomparable spot in the | | | | every stripe. No matter where you live, however, |
| home. In either case it would be advised that the | | | | there are rocks than can be collected and you |
| collector label them - including date found and the | | | | could end up finding the hobby hard to resist! |
| specific location -- with a fine point marker or a | | | | Along this vein, it is an especially great hobby to |
| small sticker of some. | | | | encourage children to become involved with. |
| If a person is just collecting for souvenirs it does | | | | Besides being fun and interesting, it can be very |
| not take any scientific research or evaluation to | | | | educational. In fact, especially among those that |
| be a pleasurable hobby. However, if you expect | | | | have decided to home school children, rock |
| to identify rocks and minerals, you can expect to | | | | hunting has become a favorite scientific project. It |
| spend a goodly amount of time doing scientific | | | | can be included in the geology curriculum and rock |
| research in the process. | | | | collecting kits are available with other home |
| Fortunately, most types can be differentiated | | | | schooling materials. |
| easily. For instance, sedimentary rocks often look | | | | My favorite resource for home schooling products |
| like their parts have been glued together by some | | | | of all kinds is Home School Discount. Their menu is |
| means. Sandstone is a great example of this as it | | | | easy to find and if you're looking for their rock |
| displays visible flat layers. Metamorphic rocks, on | | | | kits just click here. [ |
| the other hand, also exhibits layers at times but | | | | Whatever your rock collecting specialty or bent is, |
| the layers do not lay flat like sandstone but are | | | | the hobby is truly "hard" to resist. Enjoy. |