Geology TourText Box: Home Text Box: Last week we went to Hidden Pond Nature Center for a lecture on rocks. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and guided us through the rocks that are indigenous to Virginia. We were surprised that there are so many factors that go into rock creations. Finding certain rocks are clues to the past, such as what was here or how the earth has changed over the years. Afterwards, we went on a nature hike where the kids were able to find sample stones. Many of the stones we found were quartz. Audrey found one piece of quartz that has a layer of bedrock on one side. We learned that the age of rocks fall into certain categories, like Precambrian, Triassic, and Quarternary these are times on a Geologic Time line. During these times certain rocks formed like Metamorphic, Igneous, and Sedimentary. Text Box: Cade studies a ‘rock’ which was part of one of his favorite things to talk about—poop. The box contained fossilized dino poop. Text Box: We spent a long time on volcanic rock. So many amazing igneous rocks form from volcanic activity. Depending on how they cool, or are pressurized help them form. The one above was solid and heavy and contained a lot of iron, while next to it is pumice which most of us know is indeed light as a feather. Above both of these is a snowflake obsidian which is created with bands of crystals that ‘explode’ within the rock. Cool! We also learned about volcanoes who ‘erupt’ underground Text Box: We also spent some time on the types of volcanoes, and learned that not all volcanoes can be seen above the earth’s surface. Some ‘grow’ underground. He used the human body and examples of bodily functions to talk about the different ways they erupt. We found these great images of volcanoes. We also talked a little about Caldera’s such as the one in Yellowstone. Text Box: Click here to see what Toadhaven Thought of our tour.