Arizona, Alabama, Utah, Utah, and California
Arizona
Now that we are in Arizona I can tell you about a rock that is located in this area. This rock is called Garnet, Garnets are used as beautiful gemstones in jewelry, but the lower grade stones have other uses. Garnet is ground to a variety of sizes to be used as an abrasive. Garnet sandpaper, sanding belts, discs and strips are some ways garnet abrasive is used.
Garnet is classified as a metamorphic rock Metamorphic rock is formed when sedimentary rocks, igneous rocks, or a combination of both are subject to years of great pressure and high heat. This causes the minerals and material that makes up these rocks to reorganize and become new rock. Metamorphic rock can be broken down into sediment or pushed deep into the Earth through tectonic activity where it will be melted and become molten rock.
Garnet is classified as a metamorphic rock Metamorphic rock is formed when sedimentary rocks, igneous rocks, or a combination of both are subject to years of great pressure and high heat. This causes the minerals and material that makes up these rocks to reorganize and become new rock. Metamorphic rock can be broken down into sediment or pushed deep into the Earth through tectonic activity where it will be melted and become molten rock.
Alabama
Alabama is where we are now and in this area a great mineral called Barite is located. Barite is barium sulphate. It is either colorless, white, light yellow, light blue, light green, light red. Can be used medicinally as an indicator, as a filler in paper and playing cards, as a paint pigment or as a lubricant when added to drilling mud.
Utah
We are back in Utah because of another finding of a rock called Potash. Potash has been used for centuries in the manufacture of glass, soap and soil fertilizers. It is a term that covers several different substances, but all are some form of Potassium Carbonate. Also potash is used for is helpful for those who use fertilizer. The most common use for potash is as plant food. It is very beneficial for plant growth.
This rock is classified as a Sedimentary rock
This rock is classified as a Sedimentary rock
Utah
Still in Utah but in a different part we can find the mineral called Chromium. Chromium is a mineral our bodies use in small amounts for normal body functions, such as digesting food. Chromium exists in many natural foods including brewer’s yeast, meats, potatoes (especially the skins), cheeses, molasses, spices, whole-grain breads and cereals, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Drinking hard tap water supplies chromium to the body, and cooking in stainless-steel cookware increases the chromium content in foods.
California
Here we are as we travel back to California as our last stop on our trip. Here we find the mineral Feldspar which can compose an Igneous rock. Feldspar is a powdery mineral that is mostly used in making ceramics and pots. It is also used in household cleaners and medications like anti constipation drugs. It is the chalky tasting stuff in certain liquid medications.
Feldspar is a common rock-forming mineral that is a major constituent of many igneous and metamorphic rocks. Feldspar has a hardness of around 6, a white streak, and two directions of cleavage that are at about a 90° angle to one another. The two major groups of feldspar's are alkali
Feldspar is a common rock-forming mineral that is a major constituent of many igneous and metamorphic rocks. Feldspar has a hardness of around 6, a white streak, and two directions of cleavage that are at about a 90° angle to one another. The two major groups of feldspar's are alkali