Here is some information and activities for Pebble Pups and those who work with Pebble Pups. We will be adding more on Mineral Properties, Sand Art, Making Fossils, Rock Folklore and Collecting Tips!
Contact Pebble Pup Chairperson,
Lorraine Edwards, 403-981-6432 and add your suggestions.
Pebble Pups include more than a dozen members age 5 to 15 who meet in a classroom setting for "hands-on" learning about Lapidary and the Earth Sciences. Some of their projects include Soapstone Carving, Mineral Identification, and Scrimshaw.
lorraineiedwards@hotmail.com
| Month | Official Birthstone | Alternates |
|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Chalcedony |
| February | Amethyst | Hyacinth, Zircon |
| March | Aquamarine, Bloodstone | Jasper, Ruby |
| April | Diamond | Sapphire, Crystal |
| May | Emerald | Agate, Chrysoprase |
| June | Pearl, Moonstone, Alexandrite | Emerald |
| July | Ruby | Pearl, Turquoise |
| August | Peridot, Sardonyx | Carnelian, Alexandrite |
| September | Sapphire | Beryl, Lapis Lazuli |
| October | Opal | Tourmaline |
| November | Topaz, Citrine | Pearl, Garnet, Cat's-Eye |
| December | Turquoise, Zircon | Blue Zircon, Ruby |
| Mineral | Hardness |
|---|---|
| Talc | 1 |
| Gypsum | 2 |
| Calcite | 3 |
| Fluorite | 4 |
| Apatite | 5 |
| Feldspar | 6 |
| Quartz | 7 |
| Topaz | 8 |
| Corundum | 9 |
| Diamond | 10 |
| Hardness | Common Tests |
|---|---|
| 1 | Easily scratched with finger nail |
| 2 | Scratched by fingernail (2.5) |
| 3 | Scratched by a penny (3.0) |
| 4 | Scratched easily by a knife, but will not scratch glass |
| 5 | Difficult to scratch with a knife; barely scratches glass (5.5) |
| 6 | Scratched by a steel file (6.5); easily scratches glass |
| 7 | Scratches a steel file and glass |
Grow a Crystal Garden !
BE SURE YOU HAVE AN ADULT SUPERVISING YOU!
First you will need to gather the following articles:
Wash the pieces of rock and arrange them in the glass bowl while still wet. In a separate glass container mix 4 tablespoons of water with 4 tablespoons of ammonia. Pour the mixture over the wet rocks making sure to dampen them all. Cover one rock with undiluted blueing and sprinkle the others with food coloring - red, yellow and green, with a drop of blueing added here and there. Now sprinkle 4 tablespoons of salt over all the rocks.
- a shallow glass bowl
- broken pieces of porous brick or pumice
- household ammonia
- liquid laundry blueing
- food coloring
- salt
Within a few hours crystals will begin to form. If you watch closely, you can actually see them grow. After two days, add more water and ammonia mixture and this will start your crystals growing again. The crystals are very fragile and will break if you bump the bowl. With all the colors you have added, you will have a beautiful bowl of crystals.
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