Introduction - Parts I and II

Hello! Welcome to my Rocks and Minerals Virtual Tour. On this tour we are going to be visiting the state of Georgia and learning a bit about it's rocks and minerals.

The ten stops that we will be taking today are to observe the rocks and minerals:

1. Perlite
2. Iron oxcide
3. Kaolin
4. Fullers' Earth
5. Cement
6. Feldspar
7. Mica
8. Silicom
9. Dimension stone
10. Industrial sand & gravel.

On this tour we will also learn a bit about igneous rocks, metamorphic rocks and sedimentary rocks.

Igneous rocks are rocks that form when magma cools and crystallizes. Many igneous rocks often look glassy, since the magma and crystals close to the Earth's surface doesn't have enough time too form. Some igneous rocks may also have bubbles or bumps in them, this is caused by trapped air within the rock.

Metamorphic rocks are formed when certain minerals and stones undergo extreme changes in temperature and pressure. Many types of metamorphic rocks contain mica, and that's one of the minerals that will be studying today! Metamorphic rocks have a shiny and sparkly tone to them.

Sedimentary rocks are made up of small or large pieces of other rocks that are cemented together by weathering and/or erosion. Some sedimentary rocks can be made up of different types of rock. Almost all fossils are always found in a sedimentary rock.

Questions?

Here I will answer a few questions that you may have, before we start our Virtual Rock Tour.

How can an igneous rock become a sedimentary rock?
An igneous rock becomes a sedimentary rock through weathering and erosion.

How can an igneous rock become a metamorphic rock?
An igneous rock becomes a metamorphic rock when the igneous rock endures
extreme changes in heat, temperature and pressure.

Can a sedimentary rock be transformed into an igneous rock, and then into a metamorphic rock?

I do not believe that this could happen. Since an igneous rock can only be formed from cool magma, a sedimentary rock (a rock that formed from weathering) could not be changed into a rock that is formed from magma.

*Something to remember~ According to the Law of Conservation of Matter, rocks and other materials are neither created nor destroyed. Instead, materials change form.

The Rock Cycle

First, magma is formed within a volcano.

After the volcano spews out the magma it cools and hardens into an..

Igneous rock.

The igneous rock is then transformed into sediment which transforms into a..

Sedimentary rock.

The sedimentary rock could then be transformed into a metamorphic rock if

it underwent extreme changes in heat, temperature or pressure.

Our 10 Stops - Stop # 1

Perlite stones are a pretty, very tiny white and/or grey stone. Perlite is supposedly a volcanic, glassy type of rock. Perlite is a stone that is picked for little jobs, as it is not used for many things. Common uses include perlite being used as a filter and in ceramics.

Our 10 Stops - Stop # 2

Iron oxcide, a type of sandstone is usually the type of rock that you see when looking at pictures of the grand canyon.

It is said that since prehistoric times, sandstone has been used for the building of houses and homes. Iron oxcide is a very easy rock to carve, making it a good choice for sculptors or carvers. Iron oxcide and sandstone has also been used for purposes that aren't so common, like 17,000 year old sandstone oil lamps and sandstone drink coasters.

Out 10 Stops - Stop # 3

Kaolinite is a clay mineral found in Georgia that is the main substance that makes up the kaolin rock. Kaolin is used for many things, such as porcelain, medicine, ceramics, paper, make-up, smoking pipes and light bulbs.

The kaolin rock is usually white, beige or light brown in color. But colors can range from reds to blues or dark browns. Color tints are also commonly found from mineral impurities.

Our 10 Stops - Stop # 4

Fuller's Earth is a clay found in Georgia. Its substance is used in vegetable oils and greases to decolorize and purify it. The U.S. was the biggest producer of fullers Earth in the year of 2005.

According to Wiki, " fullers kneaded fuller's earth and water into woollen cloth to absorb lanolin, oils, and other greasy impurities as part of the cloth finishing process. Similarly, it has been used as an ingredient in powdered, "dry" shampoos. Fuller's earth was also sold in pharmacies until recently for compressing pills and cleaning hats and fabrics."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuller%27s_earth

Our 10 stops - Stop # 5

In Georgia, cement is a very popular mineral. Actually, cement is popular in many places. Cement is used as a sort of glue for other rocks. Cement hardens over time and is used as a building material.

Cement is used in buildings and structures all over the world.