How to Identify Rocks in Colorado
Colorado has some of the most beautiful rocks. Some rocks are used as tourist attractions and have developed into such large and extraordinary sites. We know them today as the Garden of the Gods and the Red Rocks Ampitheatre. Colorado would be a great place to develop a rock collection.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Look in southern Colorado. There you will find many of the most unique rock formations. Garden of the Gods is made up of horizontal sedimentary rocks that were elevated and tilted upward. This is when the Rocky Mountains pushed towards the sky. The wind and the rain stripped away many soft layers and in turn sculpted the rocks in various forms.
-
2
Notice landscaping usage of water fountains or waterfalls in northwestern Colorado. There are many companies or individuals that will use waterfalls or fountains made up of basalt, which is volcanic rock. These rocks were found within the earth and developed as part of landscaping. Due to their strength and beauty, many have chosen to use basalt for decoration.
-
-
3
Look in Denver and you will find a lot of red rock. There was an amphitheater made up from the red rocks that developed from the earth's movement. These rocks stand 200 to 300=feet high and are one of the largest displays in the world. The name of the rock comes from its color, a burnt red.
-
4
Search for smaller rocks, such as intrusive igneous rocks. These rocks were formed when they were forced into another older rock during the shifting of the earth and tides in the ocean. Some samples of these rocks are granite, gabbro, and diorite. Granite is formed of primarily quartz and feldspar. It is black, gray, orange and white. Gabbro rock is a coarse-grained rock that is composed of ferromagnesians and plagnioclase. It is green with white speckles. Diorite is another coarse-grained rock that is composed of plagioclase feldspars and ferromagnesians with andesite. This rock is light or dark gray combined with white.
-
5
Look for one of the lightest rocks that exists. You can find the pumice rock throughout Colorado, especially near rivers. It is red in color and was formed from lava. When the lava cooled, the rock was formed. It is so light that it can float on water. The pumice rock is usually used for decoration and landscaping. When it is ground into powder, it is used in compounds and in Lava-brand soap.
-
1
