ROCK HOUND
Description: Identify rocks and minerals using a rock
identification and information chart made by the team and answer
questions relating to geologic features from pictures.
Number of Participants: 2
Goggles:
Rock Hound requires a team to wear goggles. These must be brought
by the team and worn during the event. Each member must wear
goggles.
The Competition
There will be two parts: (A) Rock and Mineral
Identification; (B) Geologic Feature Identification
Part I: Rock and Mineral Identification
1. The team makes its own rock chart. See General Rules
section on charts. Words only; no drawings or illustrations
2. The team has twenty (20) minutes to identify as many rocks and
minerals as possible from a group which can include, but is not limited
to the following:
basalt, bituminous, coal, conglomerate, gneiss, slate, granite,
limestone, marble, obsidian, fluorite, pumice, quartzite, sandstone,
halite, pyrite, schist [garnet] scoria, shale,
calcite, copper, galena , graphite, feldspar [pink],
gypsum, hematite, kaolinite, mica [biotite], talc, quartz [several
varieties]
3. Each team receives one small dropping bottle with a very
limited amount of acid. If excessive amounts are used on rocks
and the team runs out, the team receives no additional acid.
4. Items for testing hardness, scratch, etc., will be
provided. The amount of acid received will be limited.
Part II: Geologic Features
1. Pictures or models relating to geologic features will make up
this part of the test.
2. These may include, but not be limited to such things as: talus
slope
geyser
anticline fault
line tectonic
plates
glaciers volcanoes
Scoring
Team with greatest number of correct responses wins
Tie Breaker [if any]
Team with best spelling on Part II
