Rock collecting is simple and fun with this children’s book that includes an introduction to geology, an identification guide to rocks and minerals, and a “how to” section.
Nature’s treasures are just beneath our feet, waiting to be discovered. With this book, you’ll experience the excitement of finding, collecting, and identifying rocks and minerals. Dan R. Lynch, author of many Rocks & Minerals field guides, presents a children’s introduction to our amazing Earth.
The book begins with geology basics, such as where rocks come from and how Earth’s surface changes over time. Next, young readers are provided with an identification guide, which features full-color photographs and ID tips on 75 types of common and collectible rocks and minerals. From there, a “how to” section includes details on what to look for, where to look, and what to bring, as well as safety considerations. With rock collecting guidelines that the whole family will learn from and enjoy, this fun guide is engaging and informative.
Inside You’ll Find
- “How to” section, including details on what to look for and where to look
- Geology basics, such as where rocks come from and how Earth’s surface changes over time
- Identification guide to 75 common and collectible rocks & minerals
- Full-color photographs and ID tips
With plenty of kid-appeal, Rock Collecting for Kids starts children on a path toward becoming successful rock collectors!
All About Geology
Minerals
Rocks
How to Identify Rocks and Minerals
Rock Collecting Basics
Mineral Collecting Basics
Agates, Fossils, and Dyed Crystals
Frequently Asked Questions
About Rock Collecting
Glossary
Rocks and Minerals Journal
About the Author
ALL ABOUT GEOLOGY
If you want to collect rocks, it helps to know a little about geology. Geology is the study of the Earth and what it’s made of. Geology also explores the Earth’s history and how it has changed since it formed long ago.
A scientist who works in geology is called a geologist. A geologist studies rocks and minerals and everything else about the Earth beneath our feet.
Rocks and minerals are very important to understand because they make up the Earth and because we use them every day. We use rocks to build houses and walls, and we use minerals to make many things, like coins, computers, and glass. But we can also use rocks and minerals to learn amazing things, like the age of the Earth and what kinds of animals lived long ago.
Rocks and minerals are also fun to collect! By picking up rocks and writing down where you found them, you can learn a lot about geology. And you can build your collection every time you visit a new place. But you're not allowed to collect just anywhere! Check out page 126 to make sure it's OK to collect where you are. And when in doubt, ask first!
Our Earth
The Earth is always changing. The mountains, oceans, and rocks seem like they will be here forever. But they will be gone someday, and something new will be in their place. These changes happen because of the Earth’s geology.
The Earth is made up of layers. The outside of the Earth, where all the plants, animals, and people live, is called the crust. The crust is like a thin, hard shell of rock on the surface of the planet. It has all the mountains, plains, oceans, and deserts that we see, but the crust is affected by the layers beneath it.
Deeper inside the Earth, there is another layer called the mantle. It is very hot and made up of melted rock. It’s so far down that we can’t dig there. The melted rock in the mantle is called magma. The mantle’s heat is like a big oven, and all of that heat causes the crust above it to move around. Sometimes the magma pushes its way up through the crust—we call that a volcano!
Deeper down, there are even hotter layers, and some of those layers are melted and others are solid. At the very center of the Earth is a hot, solid core made of metal.
When we study geology, we look at what the Earth is made of and how the inside of the Earth moves and changes. Geology also involves how the weather can change the Earth’s surface long-term. Over a long time, wind, rain, and ice can wear down rocks, and even whole mountains can be worn away!
Inside the Earth
The Crust: The ground, mountains, and the ocean are all part of the thin outer crust.
Upper Mantle: Located just underneath the crust, the upper mantle is hot and soft because it is made up of melted rock.
Lower Mantle : The lower mantle is made of rocks that won’t melt because they’re buried too deep, even though it is very hot.
Outer and Inner Core: The outer core is so hot that everything there melts and swirls around the inner core, which is made up of solid metal!
The Simple Introductions to Science series introduces children, ages 6 to 12, to some of the most appealing aspects of nature. Topics range from fossils to insects, and the books serve as both a basic introduction and a field identification guide. When applicable, the Simple Introductions to Science books also present a “how to” guide to finding and collecting. At 5" x 7" and around 160 pages, each book is conveniently sized for small hands. The colorful, appealing, kid-friendly design includes plenty of full-color photographs and illustrations. A number of headers with short blocks of text make for easy reading. Filled with fun and fascinating information, each softcover book retails for under $15.