3.9

yesterday afternoon I drove a dozen or so cub scouts down to the limestone quarry behind the temple in Manti. we were working on the Geologist activity badge and wanted to get a look at where oolite comes from. after a few of them piled out from the cab, and then like another ten from the back of the pickup, we all walked past the no trespassing signs, climbed over the entry gate and looked around a little.

on Monday afternoons they're pretty bored of listening all day in school. so I let them run around for a while, climb on rocks, wander off to pee on things, chase rabbits around and throw stuff at each other. then eventually I rounded everyone back up so we could start checking the boxes.

requirement 1: collect 5 geological specimens that have important uses.
"OK, OK. who can tell me what some of these rocks could be used for?"

"RUBBING TOGETHER TO MAKE FIRE!" "FIRING IN SLINGSHOTS!" "SMASHING!"

requirement 5: explain how mountains are formed.
"OK.OK. good. now, see those mountains over there? how do you think they got there?"

"VOLCANOOOOOS!" "erosion!" "EARTHQUAKES!"
and that's about when the big corrugated steel warehouse to our north shook itself like a wet dog. weird.*

requirement 7: describe what a fossil is.
"hey, alright. now, what's a fossil?" and before I can even finish the question…
"A DINOSAUR!" "TRILOBITES!" "SHELLS!" "METEORS!" "BONES AND SKULLS AND FISH BONES" "I FOUND A FOSSIL BY MY DRIVEWAY!"
of course they're really into fossils. it's their favorite. this is especially the case with Ricky C. Ricky C names his rocks. once, when making a pile of rocks, he asked whether he was to pile the boy rocks or the girl rocks. it was decided that he make two piles.

requirement 2: rocks and minerals are used in metals, glass jewelry, road-building products and fertilizer. give example of minerals used in these products.
well, one example is lead, which turned up in over a million of these things.there was a recall last month on the plastic totem badges from China. in other news, the marquee outside the elementary school tells us that it’s time again for picture retakes.

* just this morning I heard that it was an earthquake that hit yesterday afternoon.