Division: Div C – High School

Event Rules: See the National Rules Manual

National Event Page: Here

Description:

Teams will identify and classify rocks and minerals and demonstrate knowledge of how rocks and minerals help to understand geologic processes, interpretation of earth’s history, the development of natural resources, and use by society.

Materials:

One three-ring binder of any size containing information in any form and from any source. Sheet protectors, lamination, tabs, and labels are permitted. No material may be removed from this binder. Teams may also bring one magnifying glass, one commercially produced field guide which may be tabbed and annotated, one copy of the 2026 National Rocks and Minerals List which can be annotated and does not have to be secured in the binder, and one stand-alone non-programmable, non-graphing calculator. Teams are not permitted to bring samples or specimens to the event. 

Scoring:

High score wins. Predetermined questions will be used to break ties.

Common Mistakes:

None

Recommendations:

– Check out this link to find a Rocks and Minerals club near you

Resources

• Science Olympiad Event Pages https://www.soinc.org/rocks-and-minerals-c
  • the c at the end is the same as b

 

• Practical reference info
• https://www.nps.gov/subjects/geology/rocks-and-minerals.htm
• great resource for basic info

 

• https://scioly.org/wiki/Test_Exchange_Archive#Rocks_and_Minerals
• older test exams

 

• Mineral, rock, and testing kits
• https://www.carolina.com/physical-earth-sciences/earth-and-space-science/earth-science-rocks-minerals/10695.ct
• mineral test kits are a copper penny (pre-1982), glass plate (buy them), streak plate (piece of plain unglazed porcelain tile), and a hardened steel nail

Additional Past Resources:

Digital Rock Kit – NC State Minerals Research Laboratory
2018 Specimen List
NC State GeoSciences YouTube channel.  Lots of great information on this channel!
Mineral Information Institute (Great website with lesson plans, student help, information, pictures, and more)
University of Texas Geology (introduction and explanation of mineral properties)
Mineralogy Database
NASA – Rocking the Rock Cycle
Chocolate Rock Cycle Lab
Helpful Quizzes
The Tar Heel Gem and Mineral Club was formed in 1974 as a nonprofit educational organization for people who enjoy the lapidary arts, earth sciences, and related subjects. The main objectives of the club are to investigate, preserve, and share knowledge of rocks, minerals, and precious stones, and to promote interest in mineralogy, paleontology, earth sciences, and lapidary techniques, among club members and among the general public. The club pursues these goals through publications, meetings, lectures, field trips, exhibits, demonstrations, and other activities.

FAQs

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