Rock Collecting: More than Gems
Often when people think of rocks, they think of gemstones – rocks and minerals that are beautiful or rare. This planet is made of so many more rocks than just gemstones, each with their own purpose.
The Cook Museum collects all types of sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks.
A common sedimentary rock would be sandstone. The bright reds, yellows, browns, and oranges seen in the American Southwest landscape are sandstone.
Granite is an igneous rock. It is very durable yet still visually pretty, so it is often used in construction and sculpture.
Another durable rock is the metamorphic rock, marble. Because marble is formed with extreme heat and pressure, it is also popular in construction and sculptural use.
Sandstone, granite, and marble are not considered rare or precious, like a gemstone, but all three are important parts that make up this planet.
Part of the 2024 Vol. 2 Doodle Bug Activity Guide; Sponsored by
