Seismic Wave Websites

Seismic Waves -- Follow the directions to complete the activities with this link. Be sure to read the page, try the wave machine, answer the questions, and check your answers. Additionally, you should click in the box that has an image of 4 cartoon houses on the Earth.

Seismic Waves 2 -- Scroll down until you find the PROCEDURE heading. Use page 10 of your packet for directions and hints to complete this activity.

The Theory of Continental Drift

Tectonic Plate Movement on Prezi

Exemplary Prezis

The Weathering and Erosion prezis that I have seen have been quite amazing. Here are a few that I felt were exemplary. Excellent job, Crazy 8s!

Weathering and Erosion Project on Prezi

Brita & Kaylie's W, E, & D Prezi on Prezi

Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition on Prezi

Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition on Prezi

The Formation of our Black Hills

Many of you have been out to the Black Hills. If you haven't (or if you can't remember what it is like), visualize the following scenario:
As you drive west from Rapid City, you notice a jagged stretch of sandstone peaks called the Hogback Ridge. After a short descent from those sandtone peaks, you come to an area comprised of another sedimentary rock, red shale, which makes a "Racetrack" around the Black Hills. If you keep driving west, there is a gradual incline made of limestone. This limestone formed 100-500 million years ago, from the shells of ancient marine animals. (Yes, we are still in the Black Hills of South Dakota.) Keep driving still, past this limestone plateau, and you will see the Central Crystalline Core of the Black Hills. This area is made of schist (a metamorphic rock) and granite (an intrusive igneous rock) that have aged for up to 2.5 billion years. The apparent color of this Central Core and the groves of Ponderosa Pine gave this area its name, the Black Hills. You might want to get out of the car and take a hike up to Harney Peak, the highest peak in between the Rocky Mountains and the Alps of Switzerland.
What are the events that led to the formation of these Black Hills? Why does it look the way it does? Like geologists, we will explore these questions today.
Please watch the "Formation of the Black Hills" vodcast at our wikispace (It's on the Unit 7 Page). Then answer the following questions in your blog response.

1. Write a summary of how the Black Hills formed. What are the events that led to their formation?
2. Would the Badlands exist if weathering/erosion had not taken place? Why/Why not?
3. The major uplift of the Black Hills occurred 70 million years ago. What do you think that area of South Dakota looked like 40 million years ago? What do you think the Black Hills and Badlands will look like in another 40 million years?

Badlands Geology

In science, it is our duty to ask "Why?" and "How?" questions about things that are around us (like rocks). Then it is our duty to blog about it. I have a couple of those questions for you, Crazy 8s:

This is a picture taken in the Badlands of South Dakota (there are other "badlands", too). The rocks that you see are sedimentary rocks, and they have NOT always been there. Use your knowledge of the rock cycle to answer these questions: (If you need a refresher, view the rock cycle prezi in the blog post below this one.)

1. How did these sedimentary rocks get here? (What are some of the events that could lead to the formation of sedimentary rocks?) Be specific.
2. Some of the layers of sedimentary rock have a dark, reddish color. This is due to the oxidation (rusting) of the iron present in those rocks. Oxidation/Weathering happens the fastest when the air is hot and humid. However, the current climate of the Badlands is often cold and dry. How can this be explained? What can scientists conclude about the history of this region?
   

The Rock Cycle

Remember to turn in your "Life Cycle of a Grain of Sand" assignment... This prezi might help you recall the types of rock it might become. Be sure to explain the processes as well.

Rocks.... on Prezi

Identifying Minerals

In the past few days in science, your view of minerals has likely changed. You've discovered that there are many different classes/types of minerals -- each with a unique set of properties that allows us to identify one mineral from another.
In your comment, completely answer the following questions. If you don't want your comment to be published, that is fine! Just let me know in the comment you leave.

1. Minerals are identified by their properties. What are some of the properties you used to distinguish one mineral from another? Why is it best to use more than just one or two of these properties?
   
2. Did some of the properties "work" better than others? Which ones were the most effective? Which were the least effective? Explain.
   
3. What was the most difficult part of identifying minerals?