We’re in the midst of our KONOS Rock Study. After we learned what makes a rock Igneous, Sedimentary, or Metamorphic

(children watching sediments settle)

we took off to collect some slate at a friend’s house. 

Slate is a metamorphic rock made from shale. Apparently some of the highest quality slate in the world is found in nearby Delta, Pennsylvania.

Not only did our friend give us slate, but she gave us a box of gems, geodes and other minerals from Utah.

We had a few other rocks some friends gave us last year, including these rose quartzes.

(left: unpolished; right: polished)

We spent the better part of the morning identifying and learning about our specimens.

We’re still working on this one we collected from Topsail Island, NC a few years ago on vacation. Far as we can tell, it might be a barnacle fossil. Anyone willing to venture another guess?