Rocks & Minerals B Rules

## Description

Participants will demonstrate their knowledge of rocks & minerals.

## Overview

**A TEAM OF UP TO:** 2

**APPROX. DURATION:** 50 minutes

**EYE PROTECTION:** None

## Event Parameters

* Each team may bring one three-ring binder of any size containing information in any form and from any source attached using the available rings. Sheet protectors, lamination, tabs and labels are permitted. If the event features a rotation through a series of laboratory stations where the participants interact with samples, specimens, or displays, no material may be removed from the binder throughout the event.
* If the event features a rotation through a series of stations where the participants interact with samples, specimens or displays; no material may be removed from the binder throughout the event.
* In addition to a binder and a field guide, each team may bring one copy of the 2024 Rocks & Minerals List or the corresponding SciVitational List for that year (if Rocks & Minerals is run as a trial) and one magnifying glass which does not have to be secured in the binder. Teams are not permitted to bring samples or specimens to the event.

## The Competition

* Emphasis will be placed upon task-oriented activities such as identification of rocks and minerals based on observations of properties and characteristics, interpretation of graphs and charts, and analyzing data.
* Where possible, participants will move from station to station, with the length of time at each station predetermined and announced by the event supervisor. Participants may not return to stations, but may change or add information to their original responses while at other stations.
* Identification will be limited to specimens appearing on the Official Science Olympiad 2024 Rocks and Minerals List or the SciVitational Rocks and Minerals List for that year but other rocks or minerals may be used to illustrate key concepts. Tournament Directors may include up to five additional specimens important to their own state. If additional specimens are to be included, all teams must be notified no later than three weeks prior to the competition.
* If identification of a specimen is not possible through observation, key characteristics/properties of the specimen will be provided.
* Written descriptions as to how a specimen might react were it to be tested with HCl may be provided. HCl will not be used or provided nor will participants be allowed to do a taste test.
* Participants are expected to be able to answer questions about the following Mineral topics:
	+ Identification - specimens or images used should show observable properties. Where observable properties are insufficient to identify a specimen, other diagnostic characteristics will be provided.
	+ Physical Properties - color, hardness, luster, streak, cleavage/fracture, density/specific gravity/ heft, diaphaneity, tenacity
	+ Other properties - reaction with acid, fluorescence, magnetism, smell, taste, double refraction, piezoelectricity, radioactivity, etc.
	+ Mineral habit - limited to acicular (needlelike), bladed, botryoidal, cubic, dendritic, dodecahedral, doubly terminated, druzy, geodic, hexagonal, hopper, massive, micaceous, octahedral, pisolitic, prismatic, radiating, rosette, stalactitic, twinning, and tabular