Rookie Rockhounds
The junior members of the Columbia Gem and Mineral Society have their own club called the "Rookie Rockhounds". The Rookie Rockhounds are a part of a national group, the Future Rockhounds of American (FRA). The Future Rockhounds of America was begun by the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies in 1984, so that the youth in our clubs would have an organization all their own. The mission of the FRA is to encourage youth activities and learning and to keep their interest in rockhounding high.
Mission Statement
Future Rockhounds of America is a nationwide nonprofit program within the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies that develops and delivers quality youth activities in the earth sciences and lapidary arts in a fun, family environment. Our underlying goals are to foster science literacy and arts education through structured activities that are engaging and challenging and by which kids -- and the adults who mentor them--learn while having fun.
1. To learn how to classify everyday rocks using hand-on specimens. * A few simple tests and observations will help you place your specimens into a category (igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic). It may not be the full proper name for your specimen, but it will put it into the right family. Once you get to know the family by name you feel a little closer to it and it becomes familiar. Soon you will begin to learn the names of some of the different members of the family.
2. To learn how to tell rocks and minerals apart-identify-using hands-on specimens. *Between 2500-3000 minerals have been identified, but there are only 60 that you will come across in the field. They are identified by their various characteristics-color, luster, streak and hardness are the obvious ones. We will learn these techniques.
3. To learn mining procedures and the proper equipment to use when collecting specimens (hands-on).
4. To provide the group with opportunities for the collection of local minerals, while implementing what we have learned.
The members of the Rookie Rockhounds may work on the Future Rockhounds of America Merit Badges. The Future Rockhounds of America Merit Badge Program provides a fun framework for our youth to learn all about rocks, minerals, geology . . . !
There are now 15 Merit Badges that the youth can earn.
Rocks & Minerals Leadership Earth Resources Earth Processes Fossils Earth in Space Lapidary Arts Gold Panning & Prospecting
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Collecting Gemstone Lore & Legend Showmanship Stone Age Tools & Art Communication Rocking on the computer Field Trips
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There is a 159 page guide book available online at:
http://www.amfed.org/fra/AFMS_Merit_Badge_Manual_revised_2008.pdf
Books to Explore (these are available at various branches of the Richland County Public Library)
Secrets of the Stone juvenile fiction by Harriett Taylor
The Cave Painters non-fiction by Gregory Curtis, 759.0120944 cur
The Cave Paintings of Baja California, non-fiction by Harry Crosby, 972.2 cro
Fun Links
Take a tour of geologic time with the University of California Museum of Paleontology! Click below:
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/geologictime.php
Click here to go to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History's interactive Dynamic Earth site. Learn about Gems and Minerals, Rocks and Mining, Plate Tectonics and Volcanoes,and the Solar System.
Volcano World! http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/
They were the bad boys of the world's waters; prehistoric predators whose size and might spun legends that live on today Watch sea monsters attack prey. Dive into the seas where they once thrived. Take a look at bodies built for speed hunting and defense. Visit National Geographic's Interactive Monsters of the Ancient Sea . . . Click here to travel back in time. http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0512/feature3/multimedia.html
Virtual.clemson.edu/groups/geomuseum Clemson’s Geology Museum
www.agiweb.org American Geological Institute
www.amfed.org American Federation of Mineralogical Societies
www.dnr.sc.gov/geology South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
www.earthsciweek.org look for fun projects in conjunction with new movie Journey to the Center of the Earth
www.emeraldvillage.com Little Switzerland, NC
www.fi.edu/fellows/payton/rocks/index2.html Loogootee Community Schools Rock
Hound program
www.franklin-chamber.com has guide to numerous gem mines in Franklin, NC area
www.gemmountain.com Gem Mountain Mine in Spruce Pines, NC
www.hiddenitegems.com Emerald Hollow Mines, Hiddenite, NC
www.mii.org/links.html Mineral Information Institute
www.mnh.si.edu/explore/earth /index.html Smithsonian Museum of Natural History
www.schoolofgemology.com
www.worldfamousgems.com