Rocks and Minerals with Karen

Heliodor is the yellow variety of the mineral, beryl and like emerald and aquamarine have a hardness of 8. #mohshardness #heliodor #beryl #mineralogy #virtuallearning #kidsaresofun #learningisfun #geologistsbeingcreative

For Cinco de Mayo, let’s talk about Mexico- top silver producer in the world. Silver can occur as a native element in the earth or in a variety of minerals. Silver, like gold is a soft metal... 2.5-3 on the Mohs hardness scale. #silver #cincodemayo #silverproducer #nativesilver #mineral #mineralogy #mexico #mining #softminerals #grade3science #grade4science #grade7science #scienceiscool #sciencerocks

A controversial topic in Alberta, Alberta is one of the top producers in Canada for metallurgical coal. At one time, Edmonton had 153 mines. #mining #mininglife #alberta #albertacanada #coal #organicsedimentaryrocks #coalminersday2021 #miningalberta #albertageology #rocks #albertahistory

An explosive ash and gas eruption of La Soufriere volcano on the Caribbean island of St Vincent, was the 5th eruption on record! Learn more about volcanoes in Module 2 Rock Cycle (elementary) or A (junior high) #volcanoeruption #pyroclastic #igneousbuilt #volcano #igneousrocks #rockcycle #rocksarecool #volcanoes #virtuallearning #fieldtrips

Although we do have some occurrences of emerald in Canada, the main producers are Columbia, Zambia and Brazil. #emerald #greenberyl #miningincanada #birthstone #birthstonejewelry #virtuallearning #mineralogy #educator #educatorsofinstagram #homeschoolcurriculum #petrology #homeschool

Birthstone for May is the lovely emerald. This what you get when chromium +\- vanadium get added to the mineral beryl, #8 on the Mohs hardness scale #beryl #emeraldgreen #maybirthstone #chemistrychanges #mineralsarecool #birthstonesaremyfav #mineral #learningaboutminerals #emeraldsareagirlsbestfriend #emerald

Maybe a fun activity this summer? #gold #goldpanning #goldpanningadventure #edmonton #edmontonalberta #explorealberta #goldpanningisfun #goldisawesome #panningforgold #mineralgold

The Pu’u ‘O’O eruption of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii lasted for 35 years, ending on this day in 2018. #volcanoeruption #volcanoes #hawaiivolcanoes #kilauea #kilaueavolcano #hawaii #volcanoes #volcanology #igneous

Ever wonder why pencils are different hardnesses? #graphitepencils #graphitemineral #mineraldetective #virtuallearning #artpencils #mineralogyisfun #geologistsloverocks #geologyrocks

Biggest diamond found in Canada was larger than an egg. Want to know more? #mineraldetective #diamond #spectacularnwt #geologyisawesome #virtuallearning #teachers #mohshardness #aprilbirthstone #kids #scienceiscool

How can a diamond be blue? The secret is trace amounts of boron replacing carbon in the crystal structure. Find out more by being a Mineral Detective! #hopediamond #bluediamond #diamond #aprilbirthday #aprilbirthstone #virtuallearning #students #kidsareawesome #fieldtrip #mineral

All of these minerals are varieties of quartzSiO2! What versatility #quartziscool #mineralvariety #mineralchanges #mineraldetective #grade3 #grade4 #grade7 #virtuallearning

Although graphite, like diamond, is made of carbon, it forms at low temperature and pressure and has a hardness of 1-2 on the Mohs hardness scale. #graphite #softmineral #mohshardnessscale #mineraldetective #virtualfieldtrip #geologyisawesome #geologyrocks

For Random Acts of Kindness Day, why not have your students paint a pet rock with a nice message to give to someone special #randomactsofkindness #iloverocksandminerals #beekind #rocksrock #teachingrocks #teachingrocks #rocksarethebest #paintingrocks #teachersareawesome #appreciatingteachers #showyourkindness

Although chemically the same as amethyst and quartz, agate forms differently and has this banded appearance. #teachersareheroes #virtualfieldtrip #bandedchalcedony #agatehunting #mineralspecimens #minerallover #microcrystalline #gradethree #gradefour #grade7science #scienceisawesome

On Valentine’s Day, we should love our provincial gemstone- ammolite. Teachers, Module 5 for elementary and Module B for junior high will tell your students more #ammolitelovers #provincialgemstone #aragonite #albertafossils #alberta #fossils #grade4 #grade3 #grade7 #provinceofalberta #virtuallearning #fieldtrips #virtualfieldtrip #virtualgeologists

Love, this would have really kept me organized in the field #exploration #rocksack #cruiservest #rockcollection #explorealberta #geologistsofinstagram #teachorganizationskills #collections #strongwoman #rockhammer #teachrocks #loverocks

Gold or fools gold, that is the question? Be a Mineral Detective in Module 1 and learn how to tell them apart. #gold #foolsgold #minerals #virtuallearning #geology #geologyrocks #fieldtrip #fieldtrips #grade3 #grade4

It’s amazing that millions of years later you can tell that a volcano erupted underwater. #igneous #lava #pillowlava #virtuallearning #grade3 #grade4 #grade7 #fieldtrip #geology

Amethyst is considered a heal all crystal. Egyptian soldiers used to wear them so they would not lose courage in battle . More about birthstones in elementary Module 1: Mineral Detectives #februarybirthstone #februarybirthday #crystallization #healingcrystals #gradethree #gradefour #grade7science #grade7 #birthstone #notfluorite #mineraldetective

Enjoy an outing and try gold panning! #gold #grade3#goldpanning #northsaskatchewanriver #exploration

First fossil I ever found.... less than 10 years old... my father says age 5 #fossil #fossils #fossilhunting #grade3#grade4#virtuallearning

Why were different birthstones picked? Learn more in Module 1 Mineral Detectives#minerals #birthstones#crystals #fieldtrip #grade3#grade4 #virtuallearning #virtual#mohshardnessscale