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GEOLOGIST
GEOLOGIST
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Rocks! For a Webelos scout, rocks are for throwing and hitting with a stick. For us older folks, rocks take on a more responsible role in our lives. Rocks help form the foundation and walls of our houses; the walkways and roads we travel; the decorations we wear on our clothes or hands, and lastly, the things we stub our toes on or which trip us. •
Make a papier-mache volcano. Note - a drop of detergent to the mixture gives a foamier texture to the lava.
Visit a road cut and examine how the different layers of rock are slanted, level, intertwined, and of different types. After establishing that limestone comes from sea water and sandstone from deltas, have the scouts try to explain/recreate how the layers formed.
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Look for fossils in limestone chunks found around parking
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Obtain a bag of medium sized river gravel. Search through the rocks for various types. Don't worry if you can't
lots or buildings. In some places, limestone blocks were used in buildings and fossils can be easily seen.
identify them.
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Two helpful, inexpensive books are The Golden Guide to Fossils and The Golden Guide to Rocks and Minerals. The color photos are a great aid. These books are generally found in the children's or young adult section of book stores.
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Take a trip to a nearby underground cavern such as Laurel Caverns.
Streak Test This test is used by geologists to help iden tify specimens. The sample is rubbed against an abrasive surface, and the color of the resulting streak is studied. For your streak plate, use the unglazed back of a piece ceramic tile or the edge of a broken china plate.
COLLECTING FOSSILS Even though fossil collecting is not one of the require ments for the Geologist activity badge, it may be one of the main points of interest for the boys. Fossils are the remains of ancient plants and animals. They give us a him of life on our earth as it was millions of
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years ago. Collecting fossils is a fascinating exploration back in time. This science is called paleontology.
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Fossils can be found almost anywhere, even in your own driveway. But much more likely sites are old quarries, river bluffs and banks, gravel pits, excavations, and high way cuts—the very places you'll be looking for rocks and minerals.
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DUCKSKIM NUGGET POUCH The boys will enjoy making and using this replica of a gold miner's leather nugget pouch. It will come in handy for carrying the rocks collected for the Geologist activity badge. At the same time, it will complete one of the requirements for the Craftsman badge. 1. Cut two 6-by-8-inch pieces from suede buckskin, sheepskin, or imitation leather. Round the bottom cor ners, if you wish.
2. Have someone who is handy with a sewing machine stitch around the edges, wrong sides together, leaving the top open. Or, if you would rather, lace the edges together, right sides together, with lacing material. 3. Punch M 6-inch holes across the top of the pouch for the drawstring.
4. Turn right sides together and lace with two 14-inch lengths of leather thong, as shown. Knot ends to make drawstring.
Fossils are found only by those who look for them care
PAPIER-MACHE VOLCANO MODEL
fully. They are usually not very obvious. When you find a fossil, be patient in taking it out. If possible, chisel a
narrow trough around the fossil. When the trough is as deep as the fossil, hit the base of the pillar you have made, "he fossil should pop out. T4andle fossils carefully. Carry them wrapped in tissue ^ paper, cotton, or sectioned boxes. Check the encyclopc-
■ dia or science books to identify your find. Label the speci mens in the same way that rocks are labeled.
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12-inch-square wood for base
Aluminum foil
Baking soda
T/WP Up
Vinegar
COtdT
Red food coloring Newspaper and wallpaper paste Jar lid (one piece)
CUT OUT LEATHER. <6
STITCH AROUND EDGES-
BUCKSKIN NU&6ET POUCH
Wire coat hangers
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1. Make a cone-shaped base for papier-mache" by stick ing pieces of coat hanger in wood base diagonally. Fill in under wires with wadded aluminum foil.
2. Cover cone with papier-mache\ Leave an opening in
Among the most severe of recorded earthquakes in his tory was one measured at 8.2 in China in 1976; 8.5 in Alaska in 1964; estimated 8.3 in San Francisco in 1906; and estimated 8.9 in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1755.
top where jar lid can be set. Let dry.
3. Paint with tempera or acrylic paint.
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4. Set jar lid upside down in top of volcano.
5. To make volcano erupt, place about 1 teaspoon of bak ing soda in the jar lid. Add V* cup vinegar mixed with a little red food coloring and watch the action. This is safe to use indoors.
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HOW EARTHQUAKES ARE MEASURED The seismograph allows scientists to pinpoint the loca tion and strength of an earthquake. The basic seismograph
is a tall, massive frame which is sunk deep into the earth, down to bedrock where it can sense the vibrations an earthquake produces. From the top of the frame a heavy weight hangs by a single spring. This weight is so heavy there is no chance for it to be moved accidentally. Only a seismic wave from an earthquake can move it. The weight's movements are recorded and measured.
The Richter Scale measures the intensity of earthquakes. Each number indicates a quake 10 times as strong as the
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SURVIVING AH EARTHQUAKE If you live in an area where earthquakes are common, be prepared in these ways:
• Accompanied by an adult, check your home for haz ards. Be sure there is proper support for gas lines and appliances. Shelves should be braced.
• Learn how to turn off main switches for electricity, gas, and water.
• Know first aid for "hurry cases," as explained in the Webelos Scout Book.
• Keep flashlight and radio ready.
During an earthquake, do these things: • Try to remain calm.
• If indoors, stay away from windows, mirrors, and chim neys. If in danger, get under a bed, table, or desk. • If outside, stay away from tall buildings, utility poles, and other things that might topple.
previous number. Number
Intensity
1
Felt by instruments only
2
Felt by sensitive people
2.5
Equivalent to the energy released from 100 gallons of burning gasoline.
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After on earthquake: • Give first aid to "hurry cases."
• Check for fire and fire hazards. If gas is leaking, turn
off main valve. If electrical wiring is damaged, turn off main switch.
3
Felt by most people, like a truck going by
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Felt by all; pictures may fall off wall
• Do not go sightseeing, especially if you're near an ocean; the earthquake may cause huge waves.
5
Might crack weak masonry walls
• Turn on a battery radio for emergency instructions.
6
Destructive in heavily populated areas
7
A major quake
8
A disaster
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Almost every boy, at one time or another, has a rock collection of some sort. This Interest 1n rocks and the earth from which they come makes the Geologist ActivityBadge a*natural' for most boys. .You'll find that the Webelos Scout book contains enough Information on volcanoes, geysers and the formation of mountains that the ^ boys will acquire a fairly good understanding of them with only a little assistance,
If you can locate a 'rockhound1 1n your pack or community, he can help the boys ' with some of the technical aspects of geology and the study of rocks and minerals. ■ He'll probably knew a few special spots, to take the boys rock hunting. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MINEF^LS
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Th* r^istancs that a smooth surface of a mineral, offers to scratching is called its
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ease or difficulty of which one mineral is scratchad by anctnsr. or by a file or !<nife The hardness of a mineral might then be said to be its -scratcnability. . A series of ten common minerals has been chosen as a scale, by comparison witn
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hardnass.
The denree of hardness is determined by observing the comparative
which the relative hardness of any mineral can.be told.
T^J5'1™^ ™"eralS
arranged in order of increasing hardness comprise what is Know as the Mcns Scale'of Hardness:
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1.
jaic
6.
Orthocldse (Feldspar)
2. 3.
Gypsum Calcite
7.. 8.
Quartz Topaz
4. 5.
Flourite Apatite
?• 10-
Corundum Diamond
•CLEAVAGE
if, *««. the proper force is applied, a mineral breaks so
flat surfaces, it 1s said to possess a cleavage. . Net all and only a few show it to any degree. FPACTliSE
different kinds of fracture:
A. Conchoidal. When the fracture has smooth, curved ""^"f "kJ !*?, B.
Interior surface of ashen. Fibrous or splintery.
Most commonly observed In g ass S qua.
When the mineral creaks showing splinters or
C. Hackly! When the"mineral breaks with a jagged. Irregular surface with '0. Sn'ofirreqular. When the mineral breaks into rough and Irregular sun-aces.
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PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MINERALS .(continued)
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TEHACITY
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The resistance which a mineral offers to breaking, crushing, bending or tearing. In short. Its cchesiveness.
The following ter» are use4 to dascriba various
kinds of tenacity 1n minerals:
A. B. c#
O.
£# F.
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BHttlft. When a mineral breaks or pewders easily. feiieable. When a mineral can be hararaered Into thin sheets. "S^ctTTeT" When a mineral can be cut Into thin shavir.gs with a knife.
Dwells.
When a mineral can be drawn Into wire.
E-u5tic.
Hhen, aftar being bent, th* mineral k: .
^ ^T^e.
When a mineral bends but dess not r»$uT-<? r:s or.ginal shape Whe wran tr« pressure is released. ^^^i po5it1o?i upon the release of the pressure.
.i?wa ."« crig.nal
LUSTER
The general appearance of the surface of a minenf 1n refi*ct*i H*J Is called
ustlr. Th« luster of minerals can be divided Into two tyses; nata^'!^"d^
There 1s no sharT) line dividing these two grouns, and tho« tsr:iwn!s
IS swtiass said to be submetallic.
The foVi^vng terns art 'Jf.ed to
the appearance cf non-metal Me minerals:
Having the luster of glass.
S the appearance of r«1n.
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g aa hard hard, brtliiant brtliiant lusttr lusttr like like th« th« of of
a diamond.
COLOR
The color of minerals Is one of their most Important Pg^^ minerals, especially those showing a metal! 1c l«ter. co.or
s a
STREAK
may vary, the streak 1s usually constant. DIAPHANEITY
The property to transmit light.
Classified as 1. Transparent; 2. Translucent;
or 3, Opaque.
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MAKE YOUR OWN FOSSILS
The shells and bones of many prehistoric animats have been preserved as casts
and molds.
In this type of preservation, the original shell or bone had been des-
troys-i, but It had left behind a trace of Its presence.
Suppos* that the shel* of a- prehistoric clam ww pressed down into the ocean floor
befbrl the sediments hardened. This produced an Impression of the «*•"£»' £1 J'oV,
As tfme'passed, the sediments turned ■to rock, and the shell °e"ire
curtly encased 1«"o«. Then, at some lat^.time In earth h story jhe shell SSyiS or was dissolved by water. This left behind a cavity called a mo.d.
D or prsiiistoric events.
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w have a cast of the original shell
now
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The pal dead a:
footprints.
footprint
When a track
and the