Rockin' the World with Geology

Rocks, rocks and more rocks that was the subject in our lab this week. In class we were outside scavenging for different types of rocks as well as dirt. For our actual assignment there are three things that I must accomplish in this blog.

A) Identify the types of rocks that are in Georgia

B) Discuss the Munsell soil color chart

C) Discuss the 12 soil order

So here it goes......

A)

If I were a Georgia rock I would be.....

Amethyst

Barite
Feldspar (the picture shown)
Granite

Kaoline

Limestone

Marble

Muscovite

Quartz

http://www.rockdale.k12.ga.us/personal/cmoll/Shared%20Documents/Georgia%20Rocks%20and%20Minerals%20research.pdf

B)

The Munsell Soil Color Chart:

The Munsell Chart was developed by Munsell and the U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service. Ussed in field and laboratory for classifying soil color, rocks, and archaeological specimens. This tool, normally found in a huge binder filled with over 322 different shades of colors that help identify rocks.

C)

The 12 soil order:

this order was published in 1975 by the United States Department of Agriculture's Soil Survey Staff. With each order having it's own specific characteristics and traits, scientists are able to categorize each soil into one of the 12 orders. These are the 12 orders:

Alfisols

Andisols

Aridiols

Entisols

Gelisols

Histosols

Inceptisols

Mollisols

Oxisols

Spodosols

Ultisols

Vertisols

My name is Ralph the Tomato Plant

April 3rd 2011

There is breaking news in the world of Ralph today. After surviving a vicious attack by Jasmine's plant, Bob, two leaves have fallen. Personally I blame Jasmine. Ralph was rushed to the plant ICU, aka my bathroom, where he was thoroughly examined. He was diagnosed as a victim of bullying by Bob and was released. The loss of the leaves was very traumatic but with some therapy Ralph should pull through just fine. Other than his brief little encounter with potential disaster Ralph is maturing right on schedule and really needs to be replanted either outside or in a bigger pot. They grow up so fast!

March 25th 2011

So Ralph has been doing really well, two days ago I added some more dirt to his dixie cup and I can see a definite improvement in his health and livelihood. His leaves are getting larger and over the past week three more leaves sprouted from his stalk. Other than that Ralph has been doing great, especially with the new addition to our plant family: Pepper Ann. She is a bell pepper seed that I got in class and decided to add to our family. So I am again growing a plant that I do not eat. Oh well.... Until next time

March 21st 2011

It is time for another life of Ralph update! Ralph has become very photo shy and does not want his picture taken, also I misplaced my camera so..... yeah.... anyways Ralph is really growing. Measuring at an official half a brand new pencil length high he is very proud of the centimeters he has grown. Getting a whole capful of water every ~30 hours Ralph is developing very quickly. Even though his best friend, Bob, Jasmine's plant is standing a little straighter and it only slightly taller that Ralph we know that with time and a corrective brace Ralph will surely out grow that stupid Bob and win. With new little leaves sprouting every day it is getting time for Ralph to move not only to a bigger pot (that will be really pretty) but also to get more soil. His cup now is only half the way full and will not meet the conditions for keeping him alive for much longer! well it is late and past both of our bed times, so until next time!

Love,

Alexis and Ralph

So over the past week Ralph has really grown since my last post. I had to fashion a paperclip to be his support in the dixie cup because he is not growing straight. However I hope this will be fixed by my little innovation. I was told by my grandmother to bury the stem of Ralph so that it would toughen up and sprout more roots. However before this can happen Ralph needs to relocate to a bigger pot (and prettier pot) so that he is not crowded by this mouth wash cup.

So after a weekend away from Ralph I am happy to say that he has made his appearance in the world! When I got back from Savannah from a three day vacation my little seedling was in desperate need for water and love. My sprout is now about an inch high and getting a capful and a half of water per day. Ralph sits on Jasmine's desk with Bob, Jasmine's tomato plant, getting a lots of sunlight everyday.

So it has finally happened, after years of avoiding projects like this, I have been entrusted with a life. I have to attempt to keep this alive long enough to get an "A". So the remainder of the class I will be watering, loving and caring for this little guy in hopes that I will not kill him. For our assignment we are supposed to blog about his life and how much water, sunlight and any other growth factors that occur in the life of Ralph.

On Tuesday 2/15/2011, when Ralph was born he was just a small seed that was put 1/4' into a dixie cup. There I gave him ~1 tsp of water and basically carried him all over campus mainly to show him off and because my apartment was too far away. :)

So for the past day Ralph has been sitting on my windowsill soaking up sunlight for at least 8 hours loving life while I stress over keeping him alive. That is all I have to report on the life and times of Ralph until next time.

As our first hands on lab, we went a Geocaching Adventure. There were eight different containers that had something inside of each container that would help identify that we had made it to that station. This is what was at each site:

#1 - A black magnetic container with a signing scroll

#2 - A clear container with black eyed peas

#3 - A red magnetic container with a signing scroll

#4 - A pill bottle with a small tabasco sauce bottle

#5 - A pill bottle with aluminum pop tops

#6 - A clear container with a piece of chalk

#7 - A clear container with an AA battery

#8 - A pill bottle with a toy police car and 8 round magnets

To get involved with Geocaching you can go to: www.Geocaching.com

Geocaching is an outdoor sporting activity that involves people using GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) to find specific coordinates that contain "treasures". This large game of hide and seek, allows people to find these capsules called "caches" or "geocaches". This is a waterproof container that can hold anything from matches to paper inside so to verify that you found the correct location point. The GPS used to find these locations and there is all sorts of geocaching jargon that can be used if you get into this sport, like "muggle" this is a person that is a non-geocacher. There is over 1.2 million geocaching sites all over the world and is popular in over 100 countries.

In the act of geocaching a GPS receiver is used to find the "caches" you are looking for, but this technology can be used for other things as well. In the environmental world, global positioning satellites, using GPS in this way allows for scientists to have a better idea of the terrain in certain areas as well as helping document areas that of interest. For example, GPS can help pin point a certain species migration patterns as well as help discover their homeland, also GPS helps keep an eye on how industry is effecting the environment. With satellites environmentalists can keep watch on mining operations, logging projects and border protection from becoming over zealous in their land use. Outside of it's "big brother" uses GPS can help show future changes in the weather patterns, tides and can help improve the accuracy of weather forecasts. GPS can be a very helpful tool outside of standard navigational aide, this technology helped environmental scientists track the BP oil spill when the news of a broken oil cap, as well as seismologists find areas in the Pacific Rim that are in danger for Earthquakes. Global Positioning Satellites are getting better and better each year and could have the potential to greatly impact how many things are done in the world.