Museum Entrance

1. Museum Entrance Museum of Rocks and Minerals Visit the Curator Minerals Rocks The Rock Cycle Birthstones and Gemstones Welcome to the Lobby

2. Museum of Rocks and Minerals Curator Information Add Picture Here Miss Menk is a 5th grade teacher at Shoemaker Elementary School in the East Penn School District. When she is not teaching, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and playing with her dog, Marley. Special thanks to Harcourt Science Earth Science book for the information in this museum! Back to Lobby Note: Virtual museums were first introduced by educators at Keith Valley Middle School in Horsham, Pennsylvania. This template was designed by Lindsey Warneka under the direction of Dr. Christy Keeler during a Teaching American History grant module. View the Educational Virtual Museums website for more information on this instructional technique.

3. Museum of Rocks and Minerals Minerals What are some mineral properties? How do minerals form? How are minerals used? Back to Lobby

4. Rocks Museum of Rocks and Minerals Sedimentary Rocks Igneous Rocks Metamorphic Rocks Back to Lobby

5. The Rock Cycle Processes Involved Definition Examples of the Rock Cycle Museum of Rocks and Minerals Back to Lobby

6. Birthstones and Gemstones Museum of Rocks and Minerals Lab Created Gemstones Back to Lobby

7. The Hope Diamond This is the world’s largest blue diamond which is named the Hope Diamond and weighs in at 45.42 carats. This diamond has traveled the world in its lifetime, but now resides at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. Many legends surround this diamond. Some say that those who possess it will be cursed. To find out more information about this beautiful diamond, check out these websites: http://www.si.edu/encyclopedia_si/nmnh/hope.htm http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/a_nav/hope_nav/main_hopfrm.html Back to Lobby

8. How do minerals form? Diamond To be a mineral, a material must have certain features. A mineral is always a solid material with particles arranged in a repeating pattern. This pattern is called a crystal. Almost all minerals are made from material that was never alive. Also, true minerals form only in nature. They are not made in a laboratory. Minerals form in many ways. Some minerals form in Earth’s mantle. There, high heat and pressure change carbon into hard sparkling crystals called diamond. Diamonds have many uses. Some are cut and shaped to make jewelry. Most are used on cutting tools such as drills and saws. Other minerals, such as calcite, can form at or near Earth’s surface. Some calcite forms in the ocean where calcium, oxygen, and carbon combine in sea water. Some ocean animals form calcite shells or other body parts. Calcite also forms as water evaporates in limestone caves. Water also plays a role in forming other minerals. Galena crystals form when hot, mineral-rich water moves slowly through cracks in Earth’s crust, mixing with other minerals before it cools or evaporates. Galena Calcite Back to Minerals

9. What are some mineral properties? • Imagine taking a look at a mineral and wondering, “What in the world is this?” Well, you can take a look at the mineral properties to figure out exactly what type of mineral it is! • Streak-the color of the powder left behind when you rub a mineral against a white tile. Usually it is the same color as the mineral. • Luster- the way the surface of a mineral reflects light. Some minerals look shiny, like how aluminum foil looks. These are of a metallic luster. Others are dull or dark and called nonmetallic. The sparkling appearance of a diamond is called a brilliant luster. • Hardness- a mineral’s ability to resist being scratched. Moh’s hardness scale lists minerals that have hardnesses from 1 to 10. A mineral with a higher number can scratch a mineral with a lower number. Back to Minerals

10. How do we use minerals? • Some minerals can be used in nearly the same form they have in nature. They don’t need much refining, or processing to remove other materials. • Minerals Used in Everyday Life • Silver and Copper- musical instruments, electric wire, jewelry • Gypsum- plaster and wallboard • Graphite- used in pencils • Halite- table salt to preserve and flavor food Back to Minerals

11. Igneous Rocks Obsidian • Rocks are made up of one or more minerals. Rocks that form when melted rock hardens are called igneous rocks. Lava cools and hardens before large mineral crystals have time to form. • Quickly cooled rocks from lava are fine-grained • Slowly cooled rocks from magma are course-grained. Gabbro Granite Basalt Pumice Back to Rocks

12. Sedimentary Rock Sedimentary rocks are formed when sediments are compressed (or pushed together really hard) and hardened. Sediments are formed by weathering due to wind, water, ice, and plant roots. Weathering breaks up the rock into tiny pieces. Over a long period of time, layers of sediments can form sedimentary rocks as they are squeezed and stuck together. Sedimentary Rock Examples: Sandstone Conglomerate Shale Limestone Back to Rocks

13. Metamorphic Rock Gneiss High heat and great pressure can change the texture of rock—the way it looks and feels. They can also change the form of the minerals that make up the rock. These are called metamorphic rocks. Metamorphic rocks can form from any kind of rock—sedimentary, igneous, or even other metamorphic rocks. Types of metamorphic rock: Schist Slate Marble Back to Rocks

14. Definition The rock cycle is the process in which rocks are changed from one form to another. This process takes many years and occurs through weathering and eroding among many other causes. A rock may begin as one type and be changed many times. Changes may take thousands of years. Some part of the first rock, however, will still be there after each change. The hole in the side of this rock formation known as Window Rock which is located in Arizona was caused by weathering and erosion! Back to Rock Cycle

15. Processes in the Rock Cycle • Weathering • Erosion • Heat • Pressure • Melting • Compaction • Cementation Back to Rock Cycle

16. Weathering Rocks! Above is Miss Menk at Window Rock, Arizona. To the right is Miss Menk and her brother, Ben at the Painted Desert in Arizona. The top right picture is Miss Menk with her Mom and Dad at the Natural Bridge in Virginia . All of these rock formations are going through the rock cycle! How can you tell? Back to Rock Cycle

17. Birthstones • A birthstone is the "gemstone associated with the date of one's birth, the wearing of which is commonly thought to bring good luck or health. Supernatural powers have long been attributed by astrologers to certain gemstones." • from Encyclopedia Britannica • Everyone has a birthstone—find out • what yours is by checking out the • picture to the right! Also click on the • links below to find out more • information behind these colorful • stones! • http://www.about-birthstones.com/birthstone-list.html • http://www.acstones.com/Birthstone.html Back to Birthstones and Gemstones

18. Gemstones Ruby Gemstones are naturally occurring crystallized minerals which come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. They are valued by many and are often used in jewelry. Find out information on your favorite gemstone: http://www.gemstone.org/gem-by-gem/gem-by-gem-by-variety.html Emerald Back to Birthstones and Gemstones

19. Lab Created Gems Insert Artifact Picture Here Laboratory grown gems have basically the same look and makeup as their naturally found gemstone friends, however, they are not “the real thing”. Instead, specialized scientists are able to recreate a lab created gem given the right elements rather than waiting thousands of years for the natural gems to be mined out of caves and mines! Isn’t technology amazing? Natural gemstones are very expensive so many people choose to buy lab created gemstones as a beautiful alternative. Lab created pink sapphire and diamond ring Back to Birthstones and Gemstones