EveryDay Earth in the Classroom

 

We had the chance to demonstrate EveryDay Earth in a 6th grade classroom recently and it was a hit!  Later, we were able to talk to the teacher, Ms. Cook, about here experiences with using EveryDay Earth.  Here's a quick video about it:

This Week in Earth Science 08/08/21

This Week in Earth Science 04/19/21

This Week in Earth Science 03/21/21

Devin takes a look at some of the earth science news fo the past week

Latest Shoot: 650 Feet Below Kansas

 

 
We headed north for our latest shoot, all the way to the Sunflower State.  Kansas welcomed us back but it wasn't its flat plains we were looking for, it was underneath them.  Strataca, the Underground Salt Museum is a part of a still-working mine owned by the Hutchinson Salt Company and they were nice enough to let us come by and get some footage for EveryDay Earth!

 In addition to several tours, the underground museum has tons of exhibits on mining, history and science, all inside the old mine.   It only takes 90 seconds to descend the 650 feet into the mine/museum but hours to take it all in.  It was great to get shots of the walls of the historic tunnels.

There were also plenty of old mining equipment on display as well as tons and tons of empty dynamite boxes.  Apparently "what goes down into the mine, stays in the mine" including artifacts like old food packages, tools and even old footprints from the miners.

As you can probably imagine, the life of a miner was hardly glamorous.  The tours provided a good look into their working life including this seat of honor, left untouched for years.  Again, "what goes down into the mine, stays in the mine."  Due to the nature of the enclosed mine, everything inside it is well-preserved. 

And because of this, lots of old films and stored here as well as famous film costumes and props.  Our favorite was "Dorothy II" from the movie "Twister" but there were plenty of other stuff from movies like "Batman & Robin," "The Matrix, " and others.

Those were great but we were there for the rocks, of course.  We were able to get some great shots that will end up in future Missions of EveryDay Earth, so soon you'll be able to virtually experience Strataca yourself.

Oklahoma Rocks! Online

 All four parts of the Teacher's Edition of our documentary "Oklahoma Rocks!" are now on YouTube and you can stream them for free!  Here's all four in a YouTube Playlist:

EveryDay Earth Transmissions #2

The quarantine continues and EveryDay Earth Headquarters is on lockdown! But don't worry, Devin is broadcasting a steady stream of transmissions.   Let's start with some information on coquinas:

Next up is some valuable info on granite.  Pay close attention, there's a lot to learn about this valuable rock:

And finally, here's one about the beautiful and mysterious barite rose rocks of Oklahoma:

Stay tuned for more!  You can get more information on our Facebook and Twitter!

EveryDay Earth Transmissions #1

Just like everyone else, we're in lockdown these days due to the global pandemic.  But don't worry, while Devin is quarantined at EveryDay Earth Headquarters he can still get messages out.  We plan to provide daily (or semi-daily) updated about rocks, minerals, fossils, science or just about anything else.  The first transmission is about petrified wood:

Up next we have some information about Chemical Sedimentary Rocks:

Stay tuned for more updates and don't forget to stay home yourself.  We'll bring the science to you!

Latest Shoot: Checking Out Some Rocks at the Library

It takes a lot of footage to make a project like EveryDay Earth.  Like all our projects, the kind of shots we typically need are of rocks.  We get plenty of footage in the field but since there's no such things as "too many rocks," we're always trying to get more.

Luckily our friends at the Oklahoma Mineral and Gem Society were kind enough to loan us some of their best specimens to shoot.  A few days before they had just taken down a display at the Metropolitan Library in downtown Oklahoma City so the timing was prefect.

We needed a space to set up and our friends at another library, the Piedmont Library, let us use some of their space (and show off some rocks).  Here's what the setup looks like...

...to get a shot of native sulfur that looks like this:

We spent several hours shooting and had access to some great specimens.  There were even several that were so big we couldn't fit them in the light box.  That didn't stop us from getting footage of them though. 

All in all, it was a very productive day and we'd like to thank everyone who helped out.  Be on the lookout for the great shots we got in EveryDay Earth!

Oklahoma Mineral & Gem Show

We visited the Oklahoma Mineral & Gem Show in Oklahoma City last weekend so here's a look at some video we shot of the great event:

EveryDay Earth Trailer

Here's the trailer for our new project "EveryDay Earth!"  It's an interactive video curriculum supplement that lets students go on adventures, make choices and gather data as they learn about earth science and STEM concepts.  We'll be rolling it out to Oklahoma public schools this year!

Geology Kitchen #14 - Mineral Formation Methods

Devin takes a look at a few of the methods of mineral formation in this new episode of Geology Kitchen:

Geo-Walk: St. Mary’s Glacier

We recently braved the cold and hiked up the trail to get a look at St. Mary's Glacier near Idaho Springs, Colorado.  Here's a quick video:

Geology Candy Part 5

Previously:

Part 1 - - Part 2 - - Part 3 - - Part 4

From time to time the ol' sweet tooth demands satisfaction.  But just because it's "cheat day" on the diet doesn't mean your snack can't be educational.  With that, we dive into another installment of our "Geology Candy" series!

Oil may be "Texas Tea" but it looks like it can also be "Texas Oil Drops", A.K.A black licorice jelly beans.  Black licorice can be a divisive issue so this one might not be for everybody.

This one takes the rock candy concept and mixes in crystals and caves to create "Crystal Cave Candy."  They look like they'd make a great addition to your pack during field work.

The holiday season is always good about providing a new round of coal candy.  Unlike past versions we've seen before, these are cinnamon flavored.  What's the connection between cinnamon and coal?  Maybe coal burns and sometimes cinnamon does too?  Maybe?

People like to eat rocks in North Carolina as much as they do everywhere else.  And it wouldn't be a list of Geology Candy without candy rocks making an appearance.  Here you get your choice of jelly bean rocks or gold/silver chocolate.  Bon appetite!

Talkin' Rocks

Recently, EMI's own Devin Dennie did some Earth Science outreach with some young Oklahoma students/aspiring scientists.

Here's what Devin had to say about it:

"I had the opportunity to show off the fantastic rock kits provided by the Oklahoma Geological Foundation last Friday, March 10th 2017, at the Piedmont Intermediate School in Piedmont, Oklahoma. Special thanks to Ms. Rebecca Tyberg for her invitation to come speak to about 300 of Piedmont's finest up and coming students!"

"We talked about the history of Oklahoma, the Rock Cycle, and many other fun facts about the Earth in their lives. I even showed them a Geology Kitchen video or two!  It was a great experience and a lot of fun!"

Geology Kitchen #13 - Feldsparty

Good news! It's time for an all new Geology Kitchen!

Feldspars are the second most common group of minerals on Earth. The are important contributors to soils as they weather relatively easily to form clays. Potassium, Sodium and Calcium are the most common elements in Feldspars passed on to plants and animals, and are all elements critical to human life.

Geo-RoadTrip 2014

Here it is!

SluiceMobile! - Mobile Gem Mining Sluice

A quick look at the Mobile Gem Mining Sluice from JNE Lapidary: