Archive for the ‘Panning for Garnets’ Tag
Students Panning For Garnets In Sabino Creek — Infrared Image by kenne
One of the programs taught by Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists to elementary
school children is geology called “Strike It Rich.” They learn how the Santa Catalina
Mountains were formed and the minerals contained in the “gneiss” rock.
The primary activity is panning for garnets (sand rubies) in Sabino Creek.
The students uncovered the link between the towering granite cliffs
above the Tucson Basin and all that lies below.
— kenne
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One of the subjects we teach is geology, how the Santa Catalina Mountains were
formed, and the importance of water in the formation of Sabino Canyon. Twelve
million years ago, the Santa Catalina Mountains were just a range of hills, but the
earth’s crust in western North America was being stretched. What resulted were
huge blocks with steep vaults forming an up-and-down landscape called the
Basin and Range Province.
Naturalist, Kenne Turner with 3rd Grade Students (Sabino Canyon Dam Area)
— Images by Teacher
Sabino Canyon is composed of a hard metamorphic rock called “Catalina gneiss.”
Gneiss contains rock and five minerals; quartz, mica, feldspar, magnetite, and garnets.
Over time water and earthquakes have eroded the gneiss rock carrying smaller rocks
and minerals down streams like Sabino Creek. The minerals are deposited along the
creek edges, which created a natural laboratory to learn about the minerals by panning
for garnets. Need I say, kids love panning for garnets.
Students panning for garnets in Sabino Creek.
“For many Tucsonans, the canyon is an old friend. We are on a first-name basis.
On a sunny weekend morning, we say, simply, “Let’s go to Sabino.
— from Sabino Canyon: The Life of a Southwestern Oasis by David Wentworth Lazaroff
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Panning for Garnets in Sabino Creek — Image by kenne
“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder . . .
he [or she] needs the companionship of at least one adult
who can share it, rediscovering the joy, excitement, and
mystery of the world we live in.”
— Rachel Carson
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Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists (SCVN) have five Nature Education programs for elementary school teachers from which to select, taught by SCVN members. Up too 60 elementary school children are in one of the five programs each day of the week. On March 26th a 4th grade class participated in a geology-based program, “Strike It Rich.” One of the exercises is panning for garnets in Sabino Creek.
kenne
CLICK ON ANY OF THE TILED IMAGES TO A LARGER VIEW IN SLIDESHOW FORMAT.
4th Grade Students Panning Sabino Creek in Sabino Canyon
Naturalist, Ms. Becky with 4th Grade Students
Naturalist, Mr. Ed with 4th Grade Students
Mr. Ed with 4th Grade Students
Naturalist, Ms. Debbie with 4th Grade Students
Ms. Debbie with 4th Grade Students
Ms. Debbie with 4th Grade Students
Ms, Debbie Panning
4th Grade Students
Panning for Garnets In Sabino Creek (March 26, 2015) — Images by kenne
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