Land of Giants

During a recent Desert Wonder Tracker Meetup, we had the pleasure of walking in the midst of giants... giant boulders that is.  Geological processes have graced our area with an abundance of enormous boulders and precariously balanced rocks (PBRs), creating the illusion of being on another planet or an episode of the Flintstones. When trekking through such an area, the puzzled expression associated with wonder always begins to ripple across faces and one burning question invariably comes up.. how did these boulders get here? 

To begin to understand the how, first study the composition of the boulders.  They are all granite, which is igneous rock crystallized from molten magma below the surface of the earth.  Granite has both large and small crystals made of light colored elements and minerals, mostly quartz and feldspar, with some mica and other minerals tucked here and there. The design of earth's rock cycle is quite elaborate as we scratch it's dusty crust to see the wonders below.

Granite boulders such as we see in north Scottsdale are the result of a two stage process. These giants once rested underground in a subsurface that trickled with chemically active water that seeped into joints and fractures, causing weathering and breakdown of rock along those weaker surfaces.  Over time, the remaining stronger rocks became sphere-shaped core stones beneath the land's surface.  Spheres are the only shape that has no single weakest point and no single strongest point, and in the case of these boulders, the more vulnerable edges and points have eroded away.

The second stage began when water, wind and gravity stripped the loose rock material away, leaving the spherical core stones in place.  Some of those core stones happened to be resting on stones beneath them, and because our area experiences very little seismic activity, remain standing today. Scientists are still working to understand how factors such as slope, bedrock properties, spacing of joints, as well as weather, impact these amazing natural sculptures. 

Across Arizona, there are several sites with terrain similar to north Scottsdale. Granite Dells in Prescott, Chiricahua National Monument in southeast Arizona are two excellent examples. Rock fields seen along state route 87 between Phoenix and Payson or along Interstate 10 between Benson and Wilcox also offer good views of precariously balanced rocks. 

When you go, be sure to take a magnifying glass to study the composition of granite. Take time to imagine huge boulders buried underground before they gradually made their appearance as you see them today.  Look for fractures and weak places on the boulders where erosion will continue to shape each one. See how many different sizes of granite boulders, rocks and stones you can find. Most importantly, let wonder take you away.

Geology Terms

Felsic - Descriptive term for igneous rock having light colored elements and minerals, such as Quartz and Feldspar

Igneous - One of three main rock types, the others being sedimentary and metamorphic. Igneous rock is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava.

Intrusive - Body of igneous rock that has crystallized from molten magma below the surface of the Earth.

Porphyritic - Contains both large and small crystals.

References and Resources
Science Kids - Igneous Rocks
Arizona Geological Survey - Nature's Balanced Seismometers
Quora - Why are Spheres so Strong?

Cultivate Wonder... Discover Design

Desert Tracker Meet Up!

Calling all Curious Desert Wonder Trackers!

What: Trek to Balanced Rock through a beautiful area of huge boulders and healthy saguaro cactus stands over a well-maintained trail. This trail makes a gentle elevation climb of 200-300 feet. We will stop as needed along the way with Sharon leading and Paul following to allow each trekker to set his/her own pace. The trail is 4.5 miles round trip.

When: Thursday, February 22 -1:30 p.m. to Sunset?
 AND/OR Thursday, March 1 -1:30 p.m. to Sunset

Where: Balanced Rock via Granite Mountain Trailhead
Directions: East on Dynamite to 136th Street. Turn left onto 136th and travel north to the parking lot for Granite Mountain Trailhead.  The lot aligns with Lone Mountain Rd, is marked by a brown sign and is located right under the power lines seen from 136th Street. Turn left into the parking lot.

What to Bring: We will be traveling over some rocks and loose soil, so good shoes with good tread are a must. Most of the trail is fairly level, but if having a walking stick or poles helps you, bring them. Bring plenty of water and snacks. I encourage trekkers to carry a backpack or fanny pack so that hands are free. I have an extra backpack and we can also pack for each other as needed. Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, camera, etc.

What to Expect: We will hike out to balanced rock and talk a little about the incredible boulder formations in our area. Since there are so many saguaros along the way, we can talk about them as well.  Hopefully, the recent rain may have encouraged some of the wildflowers to pop. Plan to rest awhile at balanced rock, eat, photos, etc. then we'll start back in the golden light of late afternoon. Gorgeous!

So that we know to wait for you, please let me know if you plan to join us for either trek. See you on the trail!  speganydesign@gmail.com

Resources 

McDowell Mountain Preserve - North Area Map
Arizona Sonora Desert Museum - Saguaro Cactus Fact Sheet
Arizona Geology - Nature's Balanced Seizmometers

Poop Tales

It all began with an afternoon walk in the desert.  For some reason, I kept noticing animal poop. Rabbit poop, coyote poop, bird poop and even insect poop. All different in shape, size, color and even content. As much as I tried to resist it, I could feel the unmistakable stream of wonder begin to trickle through my mind. Sometimes, controlling wonder is a tricky proposition.

As I trekked through an area with lots of wild rabbits, I noticed two kinds of droppings, one light and one dark. It seems that rabbits do indeed excrete two varieties of droppings. The lighter colored one is simply waste, but the darker dropping is actually a nutrition-packed pellet that rabbits eat to remain healthy.  In fact, both wild and domesticated rabbits deprived of them will suffer from malnutrition.

Many of the granite boulders in the area  have the white-stained streaks of bird droppings, triggering another wonder response... why is bird poop typically white and not dark like most animals?  Birds do not urinate.  Instead, their bodies go through a similar process of gathering waste, but when it comes time to get rid of it, the waste is released from just one place instead of two.  This all-purpose passageway is also where eggs exit the bird's body. Like mammals, bird's kidneys filter blood to extract waste. Since birds do not urinate, the extracted uric acid waste combines with solid waste, dissolving much of the solid mass and turning it white. The final "product" is one white blob with specks of darker solids here and there. This no frills design may help birds retain water, as well as keep their bodies lighter for flight.

The orb web spider, Cyclosa Ginnaga actually builds a spot in their web that resembles a splat of bird poop.  The spider itself sits in the center to add to the illusion. This ingenious trick helps protect the spider from would-be predators, such as wasps, who are not much interested in a bird poop lunch.

Animal scat or droppings are not fun to look at, but if you can get passed the gross-out factor, scat can tell us a story about who is in the area, how healthy they are and what they are eating, among other things. Trackers look for bird droppings on rocks and cliffs to find perches and nesting sites. Small mammal scat can tell us about predator/prey relationships. Large mammal scat from bear and cougar can serve as a warning.

When you are trekking and tracking wonder, be aware of animal scat and see if you can "read" the tales it tells. Help children develop a healthy curiosity about all aspects of nature. Learning to understand every process, no matter how unpleasant it may be, is just part of cultivating wonder and discovering design.

Questions for Young Trackers:

• Who does this scat belong to? Bird, Mammal, Retile, Insect? How can you tell?
• Did the scat come from an herbivore, carnivore or omnivore? How do you know?
• Do you see evidence of bird perches in the area?
• How many different kinds of scat can you find?
• What can you learn about an animal by studying its droppings?

References and Resources
mentalfloss.com- Why is Bird Poop White?
The Mystery of Rabbit Poop
peta.com - Living in Harmony with Wild Rabbits
thedodo.com - 9 Quirky Animals with Very Special Ways of Pooping
nbcnews.com - Spiders Pose as Bird Poop to Evade Predators

Images: Sharon Pegany

Cultivate Wonder... Discover Design

Spot the Station Alert!!

Scottsdale, Arizona

Time: Tuesday, February 13 @ 7:03 p.m.
Visible: 6 minutes
Max Height: 64 degrees
Appears: 10 degrees above NW
Disappears: 10 degrees above SE

If you do not live in the Scottsdale area, go to Spot the Station to enter your location. You can also set up an auto alert that will send you an email when the station will be flying over your area.

Remember the International Space Station (ISS) circles the earth every 90 minutes.  It travels 17,500 miles per hour, which gives the crew 16 sunrises and sunsets every day. You can learn more about the ISS on the NASA International Space Station site.

e-Bird

Stop what you are doing and go outside.  Close your eyes and concentrate on listening to individual sounds. My guess is that you will hear at least one bird voice in the cacophony of sound. Birds are a part of our everyday auditory experience. The world would be a strangely quiet place without their calls, chirps, whistles and screeches.

Birds amaze us and delight us, but did you know that they play a significant role in understanding ecosystems and environmental health? Birds are critical to the process of pollination, as well as insect and rodent control. Scientists have learned about environmental dangers by observing the changes in bird populations.  For instance, declining populations of bald eagles and peregrine falcons revealed the problem of DDT and heavy metals in the environment.  Coal miners once carried small cages containing canaries to detect the presence of carbon monoxide and other gases.

If you or your child/grandchild have an interest in birds, you may consider starting a free account with ebird.org.  This amazing site/app enables bird trackers world-wide to create sighting lists as well as upload images and sound recordings into a personal account.  The information you provide becomes a part of an enormous database of information that helps scientists and other birders track birds and understand their impact. It is easy and fun to have a place to record your own experiences while also watching your data become a part of something so useful to others.

Using eBird also builds many important life skills. Information provided by bird trackers merges to create interesting charts and maps that can be studied and analyzed to answer your questions.  Challenge children to organize a bird tracking expedition by identifying species, where they are in each season and how to navigate to each location. Critical reading comprehension, data analysis, map and navigational aptitude are just a few of the skills used to plan a trip.  Observation, photography, data collection and report writing are skills used to gather and upload information to the site.

Bird tracking can become a life-long passion and enjoyed no matter where life takes us. Tracking birds often leads to other interests and connects us with a vast community of people all over the globe. If nothing else, it triggers a delicious sense of wonder on a daily basis and keeps us gazing heavenward.

Cultivate Wonder... Discover Design

Resources and References
ebird.org
The Institute for Bird Populations
Desert Birding in Arizona Lessons

Image- Pixabay

Valentine Birds

It's almost spring here in the southern deserts... earlier sunrises, later sunsets, and a slight warmth wafting through the air are all signs of a change.  Another unmistakable mark of spring is the boisterous sound that fill the mornings.  Birds, seen or unseen, become very chatty and seem to be trying out new songs for a new mating season.

Bird watching has long been associated with groups of senior citizens tip-toeing through marshes and woodlands, but the practice can be a natural skill builder for both adults and children, especially when they are exposed to it early.  Consider just some of the benefits of bird tracking.

Birds can be found everywhere, from open farmland to crowded inner cities.  Their ability to thrive in such diverse settings is in itself an incredible design feat.  From a messy nest high in a sprawling tree to a lone metal perch outside an urban high rise window, birds are present near all our homes. The natural world can sometimes seem stagnant and slow to change, but birds offer us a constantly shifting view of life in the animal world.

There are so many different kinds of birds. The American Museum of Natural History estimate there to be as many as 18,000 species of birds worldwide. Learning to identify size, shape, plumage designs, calls, movement, behavior, nest building habits and migration patterns offer endless ways to hone precise observation skills. Wild birds must be quickly analyzed from a distance before they vanish from sight and earshot. Children can be taught to pay attention to main features, as well as subtle details as they sharpen their observation skills.

Bird tracking builds vocabulary. Think of all the comparative adjectives even young children can learn in the process of describing their feathered friends. Is it large or small, slender or compact, spotted, striped, plain or mottled? What are their beaks and tails like? Is their flight smooth or choppy?

Tracking birds teaches us about design.  Books and online resources can help children understand the unique design of birds; light-weight bones, feather and beak design according to function, hunting and defensive behaviors.  There is no end to the weird and wonderful design features found in the world of birds.

People learn from birds. Why did it take people so long to figure out how to copy flight? What design features did people duplicate in order to create flying machines? We are still learning about the navigational skills of birds.  How can some fly for hours without stopping over thousands of miles to land at a specific destination?

Birds are generally harmless to humans.  We can enjoy these feathered wonders without fear of being attacked, gored, bit or sprayed. Some birds will warn us to back off with loud calls or gutsy swoops, but for the vast majority, birds would rather take to the air than interact with humans. Do practice caution when handling anything that belongs to a wild bird due to the parasites, bacteria and viruses that can be carried.

Can you think of more benefits to bird tracking? This week try to be aware of the birds around you. Turn off artificial sound makers and tune into the sounds of birds. Scan your surroundings for bird activity. This time of year, you will catch birds collecting nesting material or acting strangely as they carry out their mating rituals. Some will delight you with what looks like joy. The joy of riding the breeze as only a bird can.

Happy Valentine's Day!

References and Resources
American Museum of Natural History - Estimate of Bird Species
How Birds Makes Us Sick

Image: Public Domain Pictures

Marcus Landslide

The Valley of the Sun is home to many interesting rock formations forged long ago by heat, cold, water, pressure, wind and weathering.  One unique area is on the east side of the McDowell Mountains where you can climb into the middle of an ancient landslide known as the Marcus Landslide, which also happens to be the second largest landslide in Arizona.

Boulders the size of a small house dot the landscape, haphazardly situated in the path of the slide.  Tracing the jumble of boulders up the slope, it is easy to spot the concave basin where the rocks originally broke away from the mountain. The break away scar begins almost at the top of the mountain, where rocks and debris broke off and fell down a steep 300 foot fall zone.  The momentum, coupled with the finer matrix material beneath, allowed the boulders to slide an additional 4,000 feet to the east.

One of the most notable boulders in the area is "submarine rock," aptly named by those who originally studied the landslide. Erosion has hollowed out a little open grotto at the base of the rock, accessible by a short trail and a great place to stop for lunch or a snack. Many of the boulders in this particular area are cylindrical in shape and are lying in an east-west direction. Scientists still do not understand how the boulders lined up during the slide.

The Marcus Landslide trail starts at the Tom's Thumb Trailhead in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale. It is a relatively flat trail, sloping southeast past a magnificent stand of chain fruit cholla and many interpretive signs about the interesting geology of the area.  At about 1.5 miles, a .7 mile loop trail climbs into the heart of the landslide.  Be sure to take plenty of time to complete the 4 mile roundtrip trek and take lots of water as there is no water at the trailhead. As always, good shoes with good traction are a must.

Exploring this area will trigger a land slide of wonder and questions about geologic processes.

Questions for Young Trackers

• What are these rocks made of? Study the composition up close.
• What caused the strange formations? Why do some rocks look like mushrooms?
• Why do you think such a huge chunk of rock broke off the mountain?  What would cause that to happen?
• Why did the geology researchers name this rock "submarine rock?" Can you think of names for other rocks in the area?
• Why is there a crack in submarine rock?
• Why are some boulders so large? What kept them from breaking apart during the landslide?
• Can you make up a mythical story about the geological events that happened here?

References and Resources

Arizona Geological Survey - Marcus Landslide

McDowell Sonoran Conservancy - Marcus Landslide

Informational signs on the trail

Images: Sharon Pegany

Lunar Eclipse

August, 2017 saw a total eclipse of the sun. Although not quite as show-stopping, 2018 has some gems in its line up too.  To kick off a new year of wonder and design tracking, be sure not to miss the total lunar eclipse in the early hours of Wednesday, January 31. It is also a super moon and a blue moon. It is easy to watch, requires no special eye protection, and has an off the charts wow factor.

There are at least two lunar eclipses each year.  This heavenly wonder event occurs when the moon's orbit takes it into the earth's shadow. As the moon slips into the earth's shadow, it takes on a reddish hue, giving it the creepy moniker of "blood moon." Due to predictable order and patterns in space, we know that two or three eclipses tend to occur within a short period of time.  A solar eclipse always happens two weeks before or after a lunar eclipse.

The only problem with the January 31 eclipse is that it begins in the Phoenix area at 3:51 a.m., so you will have to pry your warm bones out of bed to see it the earth's shadow begin to sweep across the moon. However, complete coverage will occur at 6:29 a.m. so take your breakfast outside and start your day with a magnificent wonder. Look to the north/northwest low on the horizon. If you do not live in Phoenix, check the eclipse map to see if the eclipse will be visible in your area. As expected and right on schedule, also watch for the partial solar eclipse on February 15, 2018.

Wonder Questions for Young Trackers

• What causes the light we see coming from the moon?  
• Why does the moon's appearance change each night?
• What causes the moon to look red during an eclipse?
• What do you think people a long time ago thought was happening when they watched  a lunar eclipse?
• Do you think animals notice the changes in the moon?
• Does a lunar eclipse help us or hurt humans in any way?
• What do you wonder about a lunar eclipse?

References and Resources
timeanddate.com - Total Lunar Eclipse

Image: Public Domain Pictures

Gold!

If you are brave enough to venture back into Arizona's wild and shady history, go no further than Vulture City, about 12 miles outside of Wickenburg. The Vulture mine and surrounding property has changed hands a couple of times and is currently being renovated in hopes of restoring it to within squinting distance of its original state.

The place is an eclectic museum of gold mining in the mid 1800s with buildings and original artifacts telling the story of desperate men clamoring after the southwest's king of rocks - cold, hard, glittering gold. Visitors see remnants of the actual tools and machinery used to collect and process gold. They can also sense the danger surrounding gold operations of that time as they behold the "hanging tree," which quickly dealt with those who attempted to steal the bright treasure.

It is believed that there is a lot of gold in the core of the earth. Over time, with seismic activity and the movement of molten liquids, it has been pushed to the surface of the earth's crust.  Along with other minerals like sulfer, it flowed into underground cracks and cavities, forming veins of ore as it cooled.  Natural processes of erosion carry specks or nuggets of gold into streams and rivers, and because it is one of the heaviest minerals, gold sinks to the bottom when panned.

Arizona has some of the most widespread gold deposits of any state in the US, as gold has been found in almost every county. Small prospecting ventures have been popular here with supposedly lots of gold yet to find. Even today, there is an active group of gold prospectors and pan handlers who track gold, particularly in washes, where gold flakes tend to appear.


Finding real gold takes effort, but other rocks that sparkle and shimmer are also fun to find, from mica to pyrite to hematite. Sparkling flakes of mica are common in rocks found in the desert. Pyrite is also called "fool's gold" due to its resemblance to the real thing. It is inexpensive and a must for any rock collection. Tracking interesting rocks and minerals often leads to learning about historical figures who also tracked wonders of our earth's crust.No matter where you live, the earth provides beautiful treasures underfoot, so be sure to take time to look down as you track wonder.

Wonder Questions for Young Trackers

• What causes rocks and minerals to sparkle?
• What is the difference between a rock and a mineral?
• Are some rocks harder than others? Can you easily scratch or break the rocks you find?
• Why do you think people get excited when they find gold? What is special about gold?
• What happens when you wet the rocks you have found? Do they look different?
• Can you find a rock that has sparkles in it?
• Why are some rocks jagged and some smooth?  

References and Resources

raregoldnuggets.com - The Best Mining in Arizona
factslides.com - Gold Facts
goldrushnuggets.com - How Does Gold Form?
UCSB Science Line - Ask a Question
American Museum of Natural History - Gold Facts
minerals.net - The Mineral Gold

Documentary
history.com - Gold Mining Documentary

Bonus: Trekking Opportunity Near Vulture City

On the road out to Vulture City, there is a wonderful hike up to Vulture Peak.  Watch for signs directing travelers into a parking lot.  It is rated as moderate, but does become more strenuous at the top. Be prepared to do some rock climbing to reach the very top. Not recommended for very young trackers.

alltrails.com - Vulture Peak Trail

Images - Sharon Pegany

Rocks that Talk

You've probably heard of nature preserves, mountain preserves and animal preserves, but did you know there are rock preserves?  Preserved rocks are not your average rock specimens, but rather special stones etched with images known as petroglyphs that once served as canvases for expressing and preserving ideas.  Due to the enduring properties of rock, these ancient works of art can still be found in arid regions all over the world, but can be easily missed if you haven't got your best tracking eyes wide open.

At first glance, petroglyphs appear to be rock paintings with a lighter medium brushed over a dark substrate.  In reality, light rock is hidden under a dark outer layer known as desert varnish.  The dark varnish is a combination of clay, dust, and other minerals cemented to the rock by bacteria as it slowly builds up on the lighter surface of volcanic and sedimentary rocks.  Desert varnish can be black, brown or reddish, depending on mineral content. Interestingly, scientists still do not understand exactly how it forms.


Ancient people pecked, scraped and pounded pictures into the hard surface, revealing the lighter colored rock just below the varnish.  After surviving thousands of years of weathering, we still have this cryptic symbol language dotting caves, hillsides and shorelines. They are truly treasures and cause us to wonder about the role of rocks in the past.

In the Phoenix area, one collection of over 1,500 petroglyphs can still be viewed undisturbed on the rocky hillside just south of the Adobe Dam at the Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve. Visitors learn about the history of the area and the people who spent time there over the centuries, then proceed to the actual rock strewn hillside where dramatic images appear to glow from the jumble of huge basalt boulders. When you go, plan enough time to stand before the rocks from different angles and let your eyes adjust to the ancient language before you.

Wonder Questions

• Are all the rocks in the preserve the same color?  Do they have the same amount of shine?
• What makes these rocks good for creating pictures?
• What pictures do you see?
• What do you think they mean?
• Are some petroglyphs older than others?  How can you tell?
• Do you think the same person created all petroglyphs in this area? 
• If you could scratch a picture into desert varnish, what would you create?

References and Resources
Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve
National Park Service - Desert Varnish
Live Science - Mysterious Desert Varnish

Images - Sharon Pegany

Superstition Mountains

The southwest deserts are notorious for dramatic rock sculptures and it does not take trekkers long to wonder how such wild formations were formed. As it turns out, heat, water and wind have done their work over time, and continue to weather and shape the land today.

When most of us think of volcanoes, we imagine exotic places like Hawaii or the doomed ancient city of Pompeii. Rarely do we associate volcanic activity with the deserts, but much of Arizona was forged by volcanic activity.  Rising from the eastern edge of the Valley of the Sun stand the majestic rocky wonders known as Four Peaks Wilderness and the Superstition Mountains.

The Superstition Mountains are the remains of a volcanic caldera*, which is a bowl-like formation caused by a major collapse at the very heart of the molten volcano.  As the volcano emptied its contents outward, it created a huge underground cavity. As the weight above the cavity increased, it eventually collapsed back into the hollow cavity. The cooled remnant is what we see today.

Tracking wonder in the Superstitions is an awe-inspiring workout.  To think that you are climbing among the treasures of an old sunken "ship" is wondrous enough, but the unusual, time-weathered rocks provide instant objects of curiosity and wonder. Hoodoos and PBRs (precariously balanced rocks) line the canyons. How did they come to rest where they are, stacked up like a child's blocks just begging to be toppled?

There are many trails in the Superstitions. The Siphon Draw Trail is a popular, yet challenging trek. The trail is rocky and rugged, so wear sturdy hiking boots with good traction.  Cross the relatively flat area leading up to the mountain and into the draw. If you are able, climb as far as the smooth rock basin where water flows off the steep walls during rain. It makes a good destination for a picnic and provides good views of the rocky wonders above. Climbing beyond the basin is very strenuous and tricky, not recommended for inexperienced hikers.  While there, fire up your imagination with tales of the ancient geological and historical secrets contained in the steep walls. Descending in the light of a setting sun is magical, a wonder long remembered.

* In geographic terms, a caldera is a formation in which the outline of the volcanic collapse is presently visible.  Cauldron is the term given to a caldera whose borders are no longer seen.  Crater Lake in Oregon is actually a good example of a well defined caldera.

Wonder Questions

• How did the rock in the basin become so smooth?
• What colors do you see in the rock?
• Make up a story about the origin of the hoodoos.
• Why are the canyon walls so steep?
• When you study a rock, what elements and forces do you think can change it? Heat? Water? Wind? Pressure? 

References and Resources

Arizona State Parks
Arizona State Parks - Legend of the Lost Dutchman
Gemland - Caldera Complex
Science Daily - Caldera Formation

Images - Sharon Pegany

Arizona Rocks!

Say what you will about our dry, brown landscape, but no one can deny that where the Arizona desert falls short in lush foliage, we excel in rocks and minerals.  This is rock hound country.  I have been studying rocks since I was a wee little one, digging in the driveway gravel.  The desert is a treasure trove for people like me.  I can't say that I have found anything valuable, but I have picked up thousands of rocks in my life, turning them over in my hand, wondering and wondering some more.

Arizona is one region where the earth bares her bones - we can easily see the design that gives the land structure, plants a medium for running down roots and raw material with which we build and create.  It is home to the famous Grand Canyon and numerous mining towns.  Here, we easily see caverns, meteor craters and ancient landslides, massive boulders stacked up like a child's blocks and bright flashes of mineral glitter in common piles of dirt.

Clear and colored crystals formed by heat and pressure never cease to amaze us.  Some are so stunning that even a master jeweler could not compete with their wild beauty.  Geodes are spherical rocks that contain a hollow cavity.  What makes them such treasures to rock hounds is that crystal formations are often found inside, but only after the rather homely looking "rock" is cracked or sawed open.  They are formed in various ways, but at some point, minerals dissolved by the heat of a volcano or the water in sedimentary layers became trapped as an outer layer of rock cooled around them.

Most children are fascinated by interesting rocks and showy crystals.  This is the time of year to take advantage of all the rock hound events around the state or just examine common rocks found close to home.  The cooler temperatures are more conducive to searching landscapes for special rock and mineral treasures.  One of the most noteworthy destinations is the huge meet in Quartzsite. About 3,000 rock, mineral and gem vendors from all over descend on the little town during the first two months of the year.  All shows are free and the prices are notoriously cheap, especially when compared to other shows in the state.  It is a true rock hounder's paradise.  Children as well as adults marvel as the magnificent wonders found in the earth's dirty crust. 

Start the new year with a good strong dose of rock-hard wonder!  

References and Resources
Rock hounding
Burro Creek Recreational Area
Kartchner Caverns
Mineral Discovery Center

Desert USA - What is a geode?
geology.com - Geodes