Rocks ROCK!Rocks ROCK!

Kathryn HicksKathryn Hicks

Geology 1 Geology 1

The Adventure Begins… The Adventure Begins…

Growing up on a farm outside of Firebaugh Growing up on a farm outside of Firebaugh has had its perks, one of which being the has had its perks, one of which being the gorgeous back drop it presents. gorgeous back drop it presents.

The mountains in the back drop of that The mountains in the back drop of that

photo are just a short drive away. I photo are just a short drive away. I chose to explore that area, named chose to explore that area, named Panoche for my project. I found a great Panoche for my project. I found a great variety of rocks, had good fun with my variety of rocks, had good fun with my dad and even met a really nice person dad and even met a really nice person who in my opinion should be a Geology who in my opinion should be a Geology teacher himself. He shared a wealth of teacher himself. He shared a wealth of information! information!

Exploring Panoche Exploring Panoche

Shale Shale

The first rock that The first rock that caught my attention caught my attention was what I thought was what I thought might be Shale. might be Shale.

From it’s smooth From it’s smooth black surface I came black surface I came to that guess. I’d also to that guess. I’d also just read about it just read about it again in our book again in our book

Once I examined it Once I examined it more closely I more closely I became pretty became pretty positive that it was in positive that it was in fact Shale. fact Shale.

When I broke a piece When I broke a piece off, it was very easy off, it was very easy to and continued to to and continued to break up into smaller break up into smaller and smaller pieces.and smaller pieces.

ShaleShale

I also saw what I believed to be Red I also saw what I believed to be Red Shale. It shared the same characteristics Shale. It shared the same characteristics as the black shale, only a red tint in place as the black shale, only a red tint in place of the black coloring. of the black coloring.

FeldsparFeldspar

I’m a girl… I like shiny things… So it’s not I’m a girl… I like shiny things… So it’s not wonder this caught my attention. wonder this caught my attention.

I was drawn in by coloring of the rock I was drawn in by coloring of the rock from far away and then discovered the from far away and then discovered the crystal like white parts within it. crystal like white parts within it.

I wasn’t quite sure what the name of it I wasn’t quite sure what the name of it was though. With the help of the book I was though. With the help of the book I determined it was Feldspar.determined it was Feldspar.

I came to this conclusion because I knew I came to this conclusion because I knew

it was within the igneous rock family it was within the igneous rock family based on the surroundings and the based on the surroundings and the layered look it had. layered look it had.

BasaltBasalt

The pretty dark green color caught my The pretty dark green color caught my attention. And late with the help of the attention. And late with the help of the book I determined it to be from the book I determined it to be from the igneous family. Although I’m not sure if igneous family. Although I’m not sure if I’m correct, the book states that it’s I’m correct, the book states that it’s mainly found around oceanic and mainly found around oceanic and volcanic areas… volcanic areas…

Basalt Basalt

Conglomerate aka GravelConglomerate aka Gravel

I know this one is pretty much a freebie I know this one is pretty much a freebie BUT I think it’s great to realize we do not BUT I think it’s great to realize we do not have to go far to find what’s right in front have to go far to find what’s right in front of us!of us!

Gravel is apart of the Detrital Gravel is apart of the Detrital Sedimentary Rocks family. Its rock name Sedimentary Rocks family. Its rock name is Conglomerate (rounded pieces) or is Conglomerate (rounded pieces) or Breccia (angular pieces). But more Breccia (angular pieces). But more commonly it’s know as simple gravel!commonly it’s know as simple gravel!

Conglomerate aka GravelConglomerate aka Gravel

A pit stop….A pit stop….

This is my prize from my trip! While I This is my prize from my trip! While I didn’t find it myself, getting to it wasn’t didn’t find it myself, getting to it wasn’t easy. My dad and I decided the term, easy. My dad and I decided the term, “Everything happens for a reason,” was “Everything happens for a reason,” was very true given our day. As we headed very true given our day. As we headed out from the ranch to Panoche we were out from the ranch to Panoche we were stopped because the people hauling our stopped because the people hauling our hay out were having hay out were having somesome trouble. trouble.

““Some,” trouble turned into an hour plus Some,” trouble turned into an hour plus

later… After much hem-hawing we later… After much hem-hawing we decided to head out anyways. We decided to head out anyways. We started our quest and made so many new started our quest and made so many new discoveries. We had a ton of fun! And discoveries. We had a ton of fun! And within minutes we knew we were so within minutes we knew we were so happy we decided to come anyways. happy we decided to come anyways. After some time we made our way to the After some time we made our way to the little Panoche Bar. The Panoche Bar/Inn little Panoche Bar. The Panoche Bar/Inn is nothing fancy, just a great pit stop for a is nothing fancy, just a great pit stop for a cold soda and snack. The bartender, cold soda and snack. The bartender, Larry, was so nice. Larry, was so nice.

Panoche Bar Panoche Bar Once he learned I Once he learned I

was studying a was studying a Geology course and Geology course and was up looking for was up looking for rocks, he started in rocks, he started in on a mini lecture. He on a mini lecture. He showed me so many showed me so many interesting rocks! interesting rocks! And even let me walk And even let me walk away with a couple away with a couple prizes…prizes…

I ended up with a I ended up with a refreshing drink and a refreshing drink and a wealth of information and wealth of information and tips. “Everything tips. “Everything happens for a reason.”happens for a reason.”

Raw GypsomRaw Gypsom

This is my prize from the trip! Althought I This is my prize from the trip! Althought I didn’t find it on my own, it was journey to didn’t find it on my own, it was journey to get it. And certainly one I’ll never forget. get it. And certainly one I’ll never forget.

Mission Accomplished.Mission Accomplished.