|
|
|
TopClicks
->
Education
->
Science
->
Earth Science
->
Geology
->
Minerals & Gems
A Gem of a Story - Gems and jewels: before they become treasures, they look like, well, rocks. You might be able to spot a future gemstone if you study this site. You'll see a collection of pictures and descriptions of rocks and minerals from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. You can also click on each small picture to get a larger picture of that mineral.
Birthstones - Did you know that if you were born in April, your lucky birthstone is the diamond? To find out more about various gemstones and their properties, check this site!
Bob's Rock Shop - There's a real treasure to mine at this site, which is all about rockhounding around the U.S. and Canada. Consider the tale of the kid who found a 1,104-carat sapphire. Mull over Mexico's mystery mineral. Find out how all those facets get on a gemstone. And learn how to wrap a stone in wire to make a pendant--with the help of an adult.
Canadian Rockhound: Junior Rockhound Magazine - If you've ever wanted to start a mineral collection, this is a good place to explore. If you've already collected boxes of rocks and would like to try to identify and organize them, you'll really like this site (almost as much as your parents will!). About 3,000 minerals have been identified, but the good news is most rock collectors will only come across about 60 of them in the field. This site offers a lot about geology in general, too, including plate tectonics, earthquakes, and the geologic time scale.
Diamonds in the Rough - Wouldn't it be fun to try to find some diamonds yourself? These kids did! They visited the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas and brought along a camera so you can see what they saw. They also interviewed three successful diamond hunters about their techniques, which include looking on the soil surface, sifting through a screen, and washing soil and rocks with water. This site was created by students for the ThinkQuest Junior competition.
He Ain't Nothing but a Rock Hound, a Diggin' All the Time - Elvis was spotted digging around on this page recently. If you have rocks in your head and love to collect minerals, fossils, and crystals, you will love this site and its extensive information on collecting and studying rocks. There's also a neat rock hound's crossword puzzle.
International Colored Gemstone Association - If you were going to make a rainbow of gemstones, you'd pick ruby for red, sapphire for blue, and emerald for green--but what about all the other colors? Check out this site for a colorful look at the world of gemstones. You can also view a field guide to various faceted gems and see the difference between a "brilliant" cut and a "trilliant." Gem care tips round out the resources of this site, where you can learn (among other things) that opals should never be placed in an ultrasonic cleaner.
The Nature of Diamonds - Diamonds are rare and exotic, formed deep below the ground and transported closer to the surface by volcanoes and other cataclysmic events. If you have one, it is probably the oldest item you will ever own. According to this site, it's likely your diamond is three billion years old, two-thirds the age of the whole Earth! Learn all about diamonds: their physical and chemical properties, how they are mined, and what beautiful gemstones they make.
Virtual Cave - Now you can explore the mineral wonders of the perfect cave without leaving your house or school! This site has pictures of many geologic features besides stalactites and stalagmites. For example, you'll see popcorn, bathtubs, and cave pearls. For a bat-free cave experience, try spelunking here. There's also a handy list of public "show caves" arranged by state so that you can find a real cave to visit.
|
|
