Yosemite National Park Interactive Classroom

Yosemite in Depth: Geology

Yosemite is full of rocks and minerals. As you hike along the Mirror Lake trail, you will find lots of specimens on the ground just like those in the pictures below. John Muir once said of Yosemite Valley that "every rock in its walls seems to glow with life." Such an interesting claim might make you want to take a closer look at some of these rocks!

Geology
Habitat

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Overview Geologic Timeline Field Journal Activities Glossary Reference	.	Activity #1: Know Your Rocks and Minerals You are now going to be a geology detective! Closely examine the photo and its close-up picture to the right. Are you looking at a rock or a mineral? Rock Mineral
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		Yosemite National Park Home Page http://www.nps.gov /archive/yose/education/depth/geology/activities/activity1.htm Last modified Wednesday, 22-Dec-2004 10:14:43 Eastern Standard Time Yosemite National Park Web Manager

That is correct. This is a picture of a rock, which is composed of minerals. The close-up shows the different minerals that make up this rock.

Continue to the next page for more activities about this rock!

This is a rock, which is composed of minerals. So you are correct in that you are looking at several minerals, but together they make a rock.

Continue to the next page for more activities about this rock!