Geology Rocks !

Glaciers to Great Lake:  Ohio would not be what it is today without the impact of glaciers during the Ice Age. Glaciers left behind more than just till deposits in Ohio, glaciers also helped make Lake Erie.  Check out this video and learn more about Ohio's Ice Age:
http://www.pbs.org/video/wptd-our-ohio-glaciers-great-lake/​
(Running time: Approx. 2 minutes) - WCET Cincinnati, Our Ohio series

Kelley's Island, Ohio

Glacial Grooves State Park, Kelley's Island

These glacial grooves were carved out during the Pleistocene Epoch (the last Ice Age).

Stories in the Stones
Underneath the soils of Ohio lies a vast record of history embedded in
rocks and minerals:
​http://geosurvey.ohiodnr.gov/news-events/multimedia-library

Etched section of hand sample of Columbus Limestone from quarry on Kelley's Island.
​The circular feature is a crinoid columnal.

Ohio's Bedrock & Geographical Maps

Glacial Map of Ohio:  ​​geosurvey.ohiodnr.gov/portals/geosurvey/PDFs/Glacial/glacial.pdf

http://geosurvey.ohiodnr.gov/portals/geosurvey/PDFs/Education/el07.pdf

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Flint is Ohio's official gemstone. Flint Ridge Flint is renowned for its color and beauty. In  pre-historic times, flint was used by American Indians for tools, including knives and spear points.  The flint polished stone is valued in jewelry making today. Licking and Western Muskingum Counties are known for having the most famous deposit of flint in Ohio; this area is better known as Flint Ridge. Flint Ridge Flint became Ohio's official gemstone in 1965.

Ohio Flint
http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Minerals_of_Ohio

Making arrowheads was one of the most common uses of flint by prehistoric people. Flint arrowheads were hard, tough and very sharp.
https://geosurvey.ohiodnr.gov/portals/geosurvey/PDFs/Education/el06.pdf

​ODNR Division of Geological Survey

Ohio's Geological Walk Through Time
Located at the Natural Resources Park on the Ohio State Fairgrounds, this exhibit offers a unique learning experience for anyone interested in Ohio's natural history, including fossils, rocks & minerals, and more.  www2.ohiodnr.gov/ohio-state-fair/geological-walk

Ohio Geology Crossword Puzzle

Geology.com

Geoscience News and Information - more on rocks, minerals...geology.com/

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Learning about rocks and minerals gives a deeper appreciation of the story
behind the scenery in our National Parks. - National Park Service 

Yellowstone National park

​Rocks and minerals are all around us and used in our everyday lives. They also help us to develop new technologies. Rocks and minerals are used in building material, cars, roads, appliances and even in cosmetics. Humans need to consume minerals on a daily basis in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes strengthening the body. Abiotic features,  like rocks and minerals, play a valuable role in our natural systems such as providing soil nutrients in Redwood where the tallest trees in the world grow or provide habitat like the cliffs at Grand Canyon National Park where endangered condors nest. We can learn more about Earth's materials, structure, and systems through studying rocks and minerals.

"Natural objects, such as rocks and minerals, contribute to the beauty and wonderment of the National Parks and should be left, as they were found, so that others can experience a sense of discovery." - https://www.nps.gov/subjects/geology/rocks-and-minerals.htm

Yellowstone National Park

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Glacier National Park, MT

Waterton - Glacier International Peace Park World Heritage Site

Glacier's pristine forests, alpine meadows, rugged mountains, spectacular lakes
and wildlife are truly spectacular sites.

Glacier National Park

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dEATH vALLEY nATIONAL pARK, ca, nv

Hottest, Driest, and Lowest National Park:  Steady drought and record summer heat make Death Valley a land of extremes in this "below-sea-level basin". Each "extreme has a striking contrast":  towering peaks are frosted with winter snow, rare rainstorms bring vast fields of wildflowers, lush oases harbor tiny fish along with refuge for wildlife and humans. "Despite its morbid name, a great diversity of life survives in Death Valley."

Death Valley National Park

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Not only a prestigious valley, but a "shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra." First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, one can explore deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area and much more.

Firefall over Glacier Point (left) and Horsetail Fall illuminated by sunset (right). 

Yosemite National Park

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Educators and Volunteers - "Natural Parks are America's Largest Classrooms!"
https://www.nps.gov/teachers/index.htm
Science in your National Parks:  https://www.nps.gov/nature/index.htm

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