The student collected rock samples from Squaw Valley, CA and Malibu, CA to identify their types. From Squaw Valley, they identified limestone, chert, dolomite, and peridotite based on characteristics like texture, grain size, and color. Their final sample from Malibu, CA they identified as serpentinite based on its fine grains, soft texture, and green color. The student referenced textbooks by Tarbuck and Lutgens on rock types and formation processes to aid in their analysis.

1. Jaime Cardenas

2.  I decided to collect my rock samples from Squaw
Valley, CA and Malibu, CA. Squaw Valley is small
community located in South East Fresno County. It
is somewhat of a gateway to Kings Canyon
National Park. According to Uhler, most of the
mountains and canyons within the park consist of
granite, diorite, and monzonite. These rocks, it is
explained, formed when molted rock cooled deep
within the earth. Malibu is a beach city located
along the coast of Southern California. The
following are the samples I collected from the rural
areas of Squaw Valley and the beach of Malibu.

3.  The first sample I collected came from a cliff in Squaw Valley, CA.
I believe this rock to be an example of sedimentary rock.
According to Tarbuck and Lutgens, sedimentary rocks consists of
materials that are derived from rocks that endured mechanical
weathering. The rock is soft compared to the others I collected. It
has fine grains and looks like it consists of calcite. My guess is that
this rock represents Limestone.

4.  The second rock I collected also came from
Squaw Valley, CA. It is hard, with fine grains,
and has a rose-color to it. I believe this is an
example of Chert.

5.  The third rock sample also comes from Squaw
Valley, CA. It has a soft texture, with coarse
grains. It is white in color. I believe this to be an
example of Dolomite.

6.  According to Tarbuck and Lutgens, igneous
rock forms when magma cools and solidifies.
This fourth rock sample also comes from
Squaw Valley, CA. It is coarse in grain texture
and dark in color. I believe this rock to be
Peridotite.

7.  According to Tarbuck and Lutgens, metamorphic rocks
are produced from preexisting sedimentary, igneous,
or even other metamorphic rocks. My last rock sample
was collected from the beach in Malibu, CA. It has fine
grains, is soft in texture, has a green color to it. I believe
this rock to be an example of Serpentinite.

8.  Tarbuck, E. J., & Lutgens, F. K. 2008. Earth: An
introduction to physical geology. Upper Saddle
River, NJ. Pearson Prentice Hall.
 Uhler, J. W. 2007. Sequioa and Kings Canyon
National Parks Information Page.
www.sequoia.national-park.com/info.htm.
Retrieved on October 11, 2011.
 About: Geology. www.geology.about.com.
Retrieved on October 13, 2011.