This document summarizes information about the town of Three Rivers, California and samples of different rock types. It provides background on Three Rivers, located in the Sierra Nevada foothills, and its history. It then describes the three main types of rocks - igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary - including their formation processes and examples. Samples are then analyzed and identified as granite, marble, sandstone, limestone, and shale based on their compositions and characteristics.

1. Field Assignment Part One
By Art Miguel

2. Three Rivers California
• Three Rivers California is a small Sierra Nevada foothill village, with businesses
and residences following five forks of the Kaweah river. The name Three Rivers
should have been called “five rivers” but since two of the forks are smaller than the
others the name Three rivers won out.
• It is the gateway town for the Ash Mountain Main entrance to Sequoia-Kings
Canyon National park of the largest living things on earth, the giant Sequoia trees.
• It has been nominated as one of the top twenty coolest small tows in America.
• Before the mid-1850’s the area was populated by the Yokut Indian tribe who found
the native oak trees, plants, fish, small animals, ECT to be a veritable Eden for their
survival. 1856 saw the first documented appearance of the white man into the area.

3. Igneous Rocks
• Igneous rocks are formed when magma cools and Solidifies. Extrusive or volcanic,
igneous rocks result when lava cools at the surface.
• There are two types of igneous rocks: Intrusive Igneous Rocks are diorite,
pegmatite, gabbro, and granite.
• Extrusive Igneous Rocks are Andesite, Basalt, Obsidian, Pumice, are just a few that
are found on earth’s surface.

4. Sample # 1
This I believe is Granite. Granite you can get from any rock place that sells dirt or
gravel and you can get big chunks of it. This is composed of little particles and is
very smooth on the edges.

5. Metamorphic Rocks
• Metamorphic rocks are formed by the alteration of preexisting rock deep within
earth.
• It says in its solid states by heat, pressure and or chemically active fluids.
• There are two types of metamorphic rocks: foliated metamorphic rocks are
gneiss, phyllite, schist, and slate.
• Non foliated metamorphic rocks are marble, and Quartzite which do not have a
layered or banded appearance.

6. Sample # 2
This Second sample is Marble. I’m not sure but this is a rock that is old
and comes from making Limestone. This is a non-foliated metamorphic
rock. It is composed of calcium Carbide.

7. Sedimentary Rocks
• Sedimentary rocks are formed from the weathered products of preexisting rocks that have
been transported, deposited and lithified.
• There are three types of Sedimentary rocks: Clastic sedimentary rocks are Breccia,
conglomerate, and mechanical weathering debris.
• Chemical Sedimentary rocks are when irons in solution are precipitated by either inorganic
or biological processes.
• Organic sedimentary rocks are examples of coal, and some limestone rocks which come
from animals and other sediments.

8. Sample # 3
The sample Number 3 is Sandstone. Sandstone is a rock that is mainly made of sand
size weathering debris. You can locate this rock at beaches or the desserts.

9. Sample # 4
The sample # 4 is Limestone composed of primarily of calcium carbonate
in form of the mineral calcite. It forms in shallow marine water.

10. Sample # 5
Sample # 5 is Shale. Shale is a sedimentary rock that is made up of clay
size weathering debris. It breaks into flat pieces of rock.

11. Reference Page
HTTP://threerivershistory.org/
HTTP://WIKIPEDIA.ORG
HTTP://EARTH, (TARBUCK AND Lutgrens 2010)
Researching this project has really made me think really hard and do some very
interesting research about the town that I have lived in for many years and also has
made me appreciate the surroundings that made the earth so very precious to all of us.