Starting a rock collection

Why not start a rock collection? You can find stones and small pieces of rock almost everywhere. You can find different rocks and stones when you go away on holiday.

If possible, try to identify what kind of rock it is.

There are lots of books available to help you to identify rocks. You can look in your local library, you can search the internet or contact us and we will see if we can help!!

Things to ask yourself!!

Where might it have come from?

How old is it?

What colour is the rock?

Is it hard rock or soft?

Soft rocks such as chalk or sandstone will often leave a line if you scratch with them.

Is the rock solid or is it made up of a mixture of rocks?

Are there fossils in the rock?

What are they?

How to keep your collection

Stick the rock or pebble onto a large sheet of white paper and write underneath the type of rock you think it is.

You can store your collection in a cut-down shoe box. Cover it with cling film so you can see your collection without it getting dusty.

Some common rocks are:

Granite

Basalt

Quartz

Pumice

Sandstone

Clay

Limestone

Chalk

Coal

Slate

Marble.

Things to think about!!!

How do rocks affect the landscape?

Is the landscape in an area of limestone rock lighter or darker than in an area of granite?

How do you think this happens?