Rocks & Minerals B/C

[gneissisnice]

Thanks, does anyone know any good websites for just rocks (specifically rocks)?

Personally, I find that it's less useful to have pages devoted to each rock than it is for minerals. Rocks aren't as distinct and rigid in their compositions so there's a lot more ambiguity about certain details.

I would find charts that help with the classification of the different types (for example, a chart for igneous rocks that shows composition and texture), since that's typically all you need for ID purposes. Then maybe a list of other things about each rock, like environment of formation (shallow marine vs. river delta vs. deep marine for different sedimentary rocks, for example), uses, and so on.

That's pretty much it, I wouldn't go crazy with a fact sheet for each individual rock.

[Kyanite]

Thanks, does anyone know any good websites for just rocks (specifically rocks)?

Personally, I find that it's less useful to have pages devoted to each rock than it is for minerals. Rocks aren't as distinct and rigid in their compositions so there's a lot more ambiguity about certain details.

I would find charts that help with the classification of the different types (for example, a chart for igneous rocks that shows composition and texture), since that's typically all you need for ID purposes. Then maybe a list of other things about each rock, like environment of formation (shallow marine vs. river delta vs. deep marine for different sedimentary rocks, for example), uses, and so on.

That's pretty much it, I wouldn't go crazy with a fact sheet for each individual rock.

Agreed, I fit about 2 rocks onto a single side of a page with information such as formation and possible colors.

[dxu46]

Thanks, does anyone know any good websites for just rocks (specifically rocks)?

Personally, I find that it's less useful to have pages devoted to each rock than it is for minerals. Rocks aren't as distinct and rigid in their compositions so there's a lot more ambiguity about certain details.

I would find charts that help with the classification of the different types (for example, a chart for igneous rocks that shows composition and texture), since that's typically all you need for ID purposes. Then maybe a list of other things about each rock, like environment of formation (shallow marine vs. river delta vs. deep marine for different sedimentary rocks, for example), uses, and so on.

That's pretty much it, I wouldn't go crazy with a fact sheet for each individual rock.

Agreed, I fit about 2 rocks onto a single side of a page with information such as formation and possible colors.

I'd say since you get a whole binder, you shouldn't think of saving space but rather including info. You should at least have 1 specimen per page, with a lot of info.

[arv101]

Thanks for your opinion but I was looking at past tests and there's usually like 20 stations so thats like 2-3 mins at each, how the heck are you supposed to both ID and answer like 5 follow up questions in that time? Also if you mess up the ID you're pretty much done for. How are you guys making sure your binder is "efficient"?

[ScottMaurer19]

Thanks for your opinion but I was looking at past tests and there's usually like 20 stations so thats like 2-3 mins at each, how the heck are you supposed to both ID and answer like 5 follow up questions in that time? Also if you mess up the ID you're pretty much done for. How are you guys making sure your binder is "efficient"?

Practice. Binders of any size work efficiently as long as you can find anything in it. In theory you should know the binder well enough to find any page without tabs. Also, put the most needed info in a separate and smaller section towards the front.

Or you could go the route of knowing everything and then you can finish those 2-3 min stations in half the time. Binder is easier though.

[arv101]

Thanks, also, what are the restrictions on the magnifying glass? Like can their be a light in it or something of that sort?

[pb5754]

Thanks, also, what are the restrictions on the magnifying glass? Like can their be a light in it or something of that sort?

I don't think there are magnifying glass restrictions

last year at regs I remember a team had a mag glass uv light

[Kyanite]

Thanks, also, what are the restrictions on the magnifying glass? Like can their be a light in it or something of that sort?

I don't think there are magnifying glass restrictions

last year at regs I remember a team had a mag glass uv light

One thing about magnifying glasses is get about a 10x zoom or 8x zoom, dont want to be looking so close you cant see anything

[gneissisnice]

Thanks for your opinion but I was looking at past tests and there's usually like 20 stations so thats like 2-3 mins at each, how the heck are you supposed to both ID and answer like 5 follow up questions in that time? Also if you mess up the ID you're pretty much done for. How are you guys making sure your binder is "efficient"?

The trick to any ID event is to know your identification perfectly. You should be able to identify every specimen by sight; if you need to use your binder to ID, you've already lost.

There are a handful of specimens that are similar, so you should at least be able to narrow down to a couple of options.

Don't forget that you have two people doing the event. If time is an issue, practice working with your partner. Maybe one person will ID while the other writes down the answer and starts answering the questions.

As for binders, you want it to be well-tabbed so you're not wasting time flipping through. I strongly recommend typing out everything by hand, just copying and pasting from wikipedia will give you blocks of text that take forever to read. Bullet points are you friend, keep things concise.

For example, a paragraph like "Quartz is one of the most useful natural materials. Its usefulness can be linked to its physical and chemical properties. It has a hardness of seven on the Mohs Scale which makes it very durable. It is chemically inert in contact with most substances. It has electrical properties and heat resistance that make it valuable in electronic products. Its luster, color, and diaphaneity make it useful as a gemstone and also in the making of glass." (taken from geology.com) is MUCH more difficult to get information from than a bullet point like: "Uses: Electronics, gemstones, glass. Useful because of hardness and chemical properties."

Saves you a lot of time when it comes to finding that information.

[808rain]

A few questions....
* Can someone please clarify "attached using available rings, which may be removed during the event" Can it be in a binder and then we remove it during the event? Is this right?

* Any resources you recommend having in the binder?

* Will the team be at a disadvantage if it's just one person? Will we get half points?