 |
 |
 |
 Write to us about anything 'rocky' - why are you interested in geology, what fascinates you about it and what particular area are you attracted to? We'd like to know and so would other Rockwatchers...
 |
Thomas Hadden from Kent sent Rockwatch pictures of his favourite minerals. They are: Calcite, Pyrite, Fire Opal, Gold Opal and Silver and we've displayed them below. Thank you Thomas for writing in - we all agree, they are quite beautiful.
Geraldine
|
|
Sean, 15, from St.Neots in Cambridgeshire has written in to say what he likes about Rockwatch and how it helped him:
 |
"When I joined Rockwatch I thought that the best thing about membership was
the magazine. It is always funny, lively and interesting - even more so now
than it was then. For a long time I didn't appreciate that the best thing
about the club is that it gives you a chance to get involved in real
geology.
This changed in the year 2000, when I entered the Rockhound Challenge and
jointly won my category with a report about my fossil collection, despite
thinking that I didn't have a chance of success. Compiling such a report
sounds like a formidable task, but it was actually quite fun to write and
illustrate.
At the prize-giving I received what is now my favourite specimen from my
collection. It is a beautiful pair of delicate brittlestars in a slab of
German stone about three inches square. Their wavy arms are almost perfectly
preserved, intricately overlapping. It is beautiful enough to inspire anyone
to be a rockhound. I also met Dr. Paul Taylor, who wrote one of my books
about fossils, and Duncan Friend, the Rockwatch officer at the time.
My success in the competition earned me a picture and article in the local
newspaper, which caught the eye of the head of geography at my school. He
happened to be a geology teacher and local expert. He suggested that I help
the Sedgwick Museum in Cambridge with the re-design of their Oak Wing, as
they were looking for young people to act as consultants. He also invited me
to help with the excavation of mammoths at a local gravel pit, which was a
fantastic opportunity.
At the Sedgwick, I had an extremely enjoyable time and met a number of
fascinating people. Our efforts culminated in a grand opening where I met
Dr. David Norman, a dinosaur palaeontologist, and Sir David Attenborough.
The mammoth dig turned out to be less successful, but it was highly
educational and we did find some interesting specimens. I wrote articles
about both events, which were printed in an issue of the Rockwatch magazine.
I continue to help the Sedgwick Museum with displays, and will do my work
experience there later this year, whereas most of my schoolmates will be
stacking shelves and shifting paper around offices!
All these experiences have come as a result of my membership of Rockwatch.
It is strange to think that I was an uninvolved member who thought that the
club was only about a magazine. It isn't - it's about opportunities to meet
people and get involved."
|
|
 |
If you have a 'rocky' article that you'd like to appear on these pages please email it to Geraldine - or see our Contact Us page for full contact details. |
|
|
|
 |
|
Rockwatch
Rockchat
Rockchat
'Rocky' stuff
