Extension offers rock and mineral identification workshop
April 20, 2012
907-474-5406
4/18/12
The University of Alaska Fairbanks will offer a daylong basic rock and mineral identification workshop April 28 at the Tanana District Cooperative Extension Service office at 724 27th Ave.
Extension community development agent Mara Bacsujlaky, who has worked as a field geologist in Pennsylvania and Alaska, will teach the workshop. It is designed for beginner rock hounds or those with basic knowledge of rock and mineral identification.
The workshop will run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and focus on the primary rock-forming minerals and some of the more common metallic minerals that are of economic or collecting interest. Participants will learn the basic mineral classification systems and how to identify mineral specimens based on physical characteristics such as color, crystal shape, relative density, magnetism, hardness and luster. The workshop will emphasize rock types that are commonly associated with minerals such as gold, diamonds or garnets.
The class fee of $15 will pay for a field identification tool kit. Sign up online at http://bit.ly/ak-rock-id or call Bacsujlaky at 474-5741. The workshop is geared to adults but students in middle and high school may participate with an adult. Participants are asked to bring a rock or mineral they find interesting and a small pocketknife.
ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Mara Bacsujlaky, Extension community development agent, at 474-5741 or mcbacsujlaky@alaska.edu.
ON THE WEB: www.uaf.edu/ces
DC/04-18-12/219-12