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Geology Honor Requirements - Advanced Honor
When doing research for the geology and the rocks & minerals honors it becomes clear that in some areas they cross over quite a bit so you might want to consider teaching them together. Here a quite a number of ideas that you can use to make teaching the honors more interesting.
Georgia is amazingly rich in mineral resources. You may not know it, but before there was a California Gold Rush, there was a gold rush in Georgia! Check out the Dalhonega Gold Museum.
North Georgia’s Gold Rush
The Weinman Mineral Gallery in the Tellus Science Museum is the museum that always ROCKS! It has one of the largest collections of gems, minerals, and fossils in the southeast. Special exhibits include a simulated mine tunnel (where minerals glow-in-the-dark), displays on Georgia minerals and mining, birthstones and gold! The museum's collection includes an international collection of gems and minerals. Many temporary exhibits are scheduled throughout the year. Outdoor exhibits and activities include: antique mining equipment, rock garden, panning for gemstones and gold, and digging for fossils!
Do minerals produce the colors in fireworks?
Mineral elements provide the color in fireworks. Barium produces bright greens; strontium yields deep reds; copper produces blues; and sodium yields yellow. Other colors can be made my mixing elements; strontium and sodium produce brilliant orange; Titanium, zirconium, and magnesium alloys make silvery white; copper and strontium make lavender. Gold sparks are produced by iron filings and small pieces of charcoal. Bright flashes and loud bangs come from aluminum powder.
Who knew that geology could have current events? For example: the impact of the California wildfires on wildlife. Scientists are studying the impact of the change in geology on the animals. Geoscience News and Information
Fun Facts Related to Mineral Resources
Tennessee Landforms - This site has GPS waypoints (latitude/longitude WGS84) and maps to interesting landforms in Tennessee. Some of these landforms are on private property, get permission first. Other formations are difficult to access because they are off-trail.
Geology Day
February 16 – Providence Canyon State Park
Ducktown Basin Museum – Burra Burra Mine
Rockhounding Graves Mountain, Georgia
Georgia Mineral Society
Rockhounding Arkansas, Introducing Geology
USGS Frequently Asked Questions
Geology Merit Badge – this site is not officially sponsored by the Boy Scouts but has information and resources that pertains to the Pathfinder Geology and the Rocks & Minerals honor.
Are there gem mines in Tennessee? Yes, but many of them are tourist attractions that seed buckets (add stones from several locations, including outside the US) so that visitors are able to "find something". But they can still be fun, depending on what you're looking to find.
Rockhound Club Web Sites –
Pigeon Forge Gem Mine
Franklin North Carolina - Gem Mining Links
Emerald Hollow Mine - Offers unique “hands on” learning Educational Field Trip Programs.
Here are several links to give you some ideas for teaching this honor.
Georgia is amazingly rich in mineral resources. You may not know it, but before there was a California Gold Rush, there was a gold rush in Georgia! Check out the Dalhonega Gold Museum.
North Georgia’s Gold Rush
The Weinman Mineral Gallery in the Tellus Science Museum is the museum that always ROCKS! It has one of the largest collections of gems, minerals, and fossils in the southeast. Special exhibits include a simulated mine tunnel (where minerals glow-in-the-dark), displays on Georgia minerals and mining, birthstones and gold! The museum's collection includes an international collection of gems and minerals. Many temporary exhibits are scheduled throughout the year. Outdoor exhibits and activities include: antique mining equipment, rock garden, panning for gemstones and gold, and digging for fossils!
Do minerals produce the colors in fireworks?
Mineral elements provide the color in fireworks. Barium produces bright greens; strontium yields deep reds; copper produces blues; and sodium yields yellow. Other colors can be made my mixing elements; strontium and sodium produce brilliant orange; Titanium, zirconium, and magnesium alloys make silvery white; copper and strontium make lavender. Gold sparks are produced by iron filings and small pieces of charcoal. Bright flashes and loud bangs come from aluminum powder.
Who knew that geology could have current events? For example: the impact of the California wildfires on wildlife. Scientists are studying the impact of the change in geology on the animals. Geoscience News and Information
Fun Facts Related to Mineral Resources
Tennessee Landforms - This site has GPS waypoints (latitude/longitude WGS84) and maps to interesting landforms in Tennessee. Some of these landforms are on private property, get permission first. Other formations are difficult to access because they are off-trail.
Geology Day
February 16 – Providence Canyon State Park
Ducktown Basin Museum – Burra Burra Mine
Rockhounding Graves Mountain, Georgia
Georgia Mineral Society
Rockhounding Arkansas, Introducing Geology
USGS Frequently Asked Questions
Geology Merit Badge – this site is not officially sponsored by the Boy Scouts but has information and resources that pertains to the Pathfinder Geology and the Rocks & Minerals honor.
Are there gem mines in Tennessee? Yes, but many of them are tourist attractions that seed buckets (add stones from several locations, including outside the US) so that visitors are able to "find something". But they can still be fun, depending on what you're looking to find.
Rockhound Club Web Sites –
Pigeon Forge Gem Mine
Franklin North Carolina - Gem Mining Links
- Franklin Gem & Mineral Museum
- Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire Mine
- Gold City Gem Mine
- Mason's Ruby & Sapphire Mine
- Rose Creek Mine Rock & Gift Shop
- Sheffield Mine
Emerald Hollow Mine - Offers unique “hands on” learning Educational Field Trip Programs.
Here are several links to give you some ideas for teaching this honor.
