While high school students are taught about chemistry using simple examples of inorganic and organic substances, very few are exposed to the chemistry of the most abundant group of chemicals on Earth- the silicate group of minerals. Silicate minerals can
A geological hammer is often seen as an essential part of any field geologists equipment. Often called rock picks or geopicks, the geological hammer is also a symbol of our profession. And let’s face it, who doesn’t like to
Cinder cones are volcanic features that are found at volcanic sites where there has been some form of fountaining activity. Fire Fountains are where lava has been ejected during an eruption up into the air where it cools and falls to the ground
The evidence for Plate Tectonics is very conclusive. It is a very well supported theory, and while scientific debate continues about small parts or local effects, the overall concept is accepted as good as fact. So what are the pieces
The Earth’s plates don’t just sit there. They move and interact at their boundaries – and that is what makes our planet so dynamic. The volcanoes, the earthquakes, and even climate are all related to the movement and position of
The Earth’s rocky outerlayer (the lithosphere) is broken up into around seventeen major pieces that we call tectonic plates. These plates form a jigsaw pattern around the planet with their edges interacting to cause earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain ranges and
The Earth’s crust – that outermost rocky layer of our planet – can be daunting to understand. To start with the vast majority (around 70%) of it lies under our oceans. The rest of the Earth’s crust seems to
Taking solid field notes is a skill that many students are not taught. The days of a geologist’s life recorded in a well-worn, dusty but interesting book full of diagrams, maps and descriptions are all but gone. This task has
Most people believe that one of the major hazards of volcanoes are lava flows. They are surprised to find out that almost no one has ever been killed during an eruption by lava flows – and that sadly most
Field trips are critical. Learning Earth science in the field is as important as learning to cook in a kitchen. Why then do we expect teachers and their students to learn about the wonders of our dynamic planet from