Geology Merit
Badge Requirements
1.
Define geology. Discuss how
geologists learn about rock formations. In geology, explain why the study of
the present is important to understanding the past. 2.
Pick three resources that can be
extracted or mined from Earth for commercial use. Discuss with your counselor
how each product is discovered and processed. 3.
Review a geologic map of your
area or an area selected by your counselor and discuss the different rock
types and estimated ages of rocks represented. Determine whether the rocks
are horizontal, folded, or faulted, and explain how you arrived at your
conclusion. 4.
Do ONE of the following: a. With your parent’s
and counselor’s approval, visit with a geologist, land-use planner, or
civil engineer. Discuss this professional’s work and the tools required
in this line of work. Learn about a project that this person is now working
on, and ask to see reports and maps created for this project. Discuss with
your counselor what you have learned. b. Find out about three
career opportunities available in geology. Pick one and find out the
education, training, and experience required for the profession. Discuss this
with your counselor and explain why this profession interests you. 5.
Do ONE of the following
(a OR b OR c OR d): a.
Surface and Sedimentary Processes Option 1.
Conduct
an experiment approved by your counselor that demonstrates how sediments settle
from suspension in water. Explain to your counselor what the exercise shows
and why it is important. 2.
Using
topographical maps provided by your counselor, plot the stream gradients
(different elevations divided by distance) for four different stream types
(straight, meandering, dendritic, trellis). Explain which ones flow fastest
and why, and which ones will carry larger grains of sediment and why. 3.
On
a stream diagram, show areas where you will find the following features: cut
bank, fill bank, point bar, medial channel bars, lake delta. Describe the
relative sediment grain size found in each feature. 4.
Conduct
an experiment approved by your counselor that shows how some sedimentary
material carried by water may be too small for you to see without a magnifier.
5.
Visit
a nearby stream. Find clues that show the direction of water flow, even if
the water is missing. Record your observations in a notebook, and sketch
those clues you observe. Discuss your observations with your counselor. b.
Energy Resources Option 1. List the top five Earth resources
used to generate electricity in the United States. 2. Discuss source rock, trap, and
reservoir rock - the three components necessary for the occurrence of oil and
gas underground. 3. Explain how each of the following
items is used in subsurface exploration to locate oil or gas: reflection
seismic, electric well logs, stratigraphic correlation, offshore platform,
geologic map, subsurface structure map, subsurface isopach map, and core
samples and cutting samples. 4. Using at least 20 data points
provided by your counselor, create a subsurface structure map and use it to
explain how subsurface geology maps are used to find oil, gas, or coal
resources. 5. Do ONE of the following
activities: a.
Make
a display or presentation showing how oil and gas or coal is found,
extracted, and processed. You may use maps, books, articles from periodicals,
and research found on the Internet (with your parent's permission). Share the
display with your counselor or a small group (such as your class at school)
in a five-minute presentation. b.
With
your parent's and counselor's permission and assistance, arrange for a visit
to an operating drilling rig. While there, talk with a geologist and ask to
see what the geologist does onsite. Ask to see cutting samples taken at the
site. c.
Mineral Resources Option 1. Define rock. Discuss the three
classes of rocks including their origin and characteristics. 2. Define mineral. Discuss the
origin of minerals and their chemical composition and identification
properties, including hardness, specific gravity, color, streak, cleavage,
luster, and crystal form. 3. Do ONE of the following:
a.
Collect
10 different rocks or minerals. Record in a notebook where you obtained (found,
bought, traded) each one. Label each specimen, identify its class and origin,
determine its chemical composition, and list its physical properties. Share
your collection with your counselor. b.
With
your counselor's assistance, identify 15 different rocks and minerals. List
the name of each specimen, tell whether it is a rock or mineral, and give the
name of its class (if it is a rock) or list its identifying physical
properties (if it is a mineral). 4. List three of the most common
road building materials used in your area. Explain how each material is
produced and how each is used in road building. 5. Do ONE of the following
activities: a. With your parent's and
counselor's approval, visit an active mining site, quarry, or sand and gravel
pit. Tell your counselor what you learned about the resources extracted from
this location and how these resources are used by society. b. With your counselor, choose two
examples of rocks and two examples of minerals. Discuss the mining of these
materials and describe how each is used by society. c. With your parent's and
counselor's approval, visit the office of a civil engineer and learn how
geology is used in construction. Discuss what you learned with your
counselor. d.
Earth History Option 1. Create a chart showing suggested
geological eras and periods. Determine which period the rocks in your region
might have been formed. 2. Explain to your counselor the
processes of burial and fossilization and discuss the concept of extinction. 3. Explain to your counselor how
fossils provide information about ancient life, environment, climate, and
geography. Discuss the following terms and explain how animals from each
habitat obtain food: benthonic, pelagic, littoral, lacustrine, open marine,
brackish, fluvial, eolian, protected reef. 4. Collect 10 different fossil
plants or animals OR (with your counselor's assistance) identify 15 different
fossil plants or animals. Record in a notebook where you obtained (found,
bought, traded) each one. Classify each specimen to the best of your ability
and explain how each one might have survived and obtained food. Tell what
else you can learn from these fossils. 5. Do ONE of the following: a. Visit a science museum or the
geology department of a local university that has fossils on display. With
your parent's and counselor's approval, before you go, make an appointment
with a curator or guide who can show you how the fossils are preserved and
prepared for display. b. Visit a structure in your area
that was built using fossiliferous rocks. Determine what kind of rock was
used and tell your counselor the kinds of fossil evidence you found there. c. Visit a rock outcrop that
contains fossils. Determine what kind of rock contains the fossils and tell
your counselor the kinds of fossil evidence you found at the outcrop. d. Prepare a display or presentation
on your state fossil. Include an image of the fossil, the age of the fossil,
and its classification. You may use maps, books, articles from periodicals,
and research found on the Internet (with your parent's permission). Share the
display with your counselor or a small group (such as your class at school).
If your state does not have a state fossil, you may select a state fossil
from a neighboring state. Note: These requirements are reprinted from the 2016 edition of the Geology Merit Badge Pamphlet. This website is not affiliated or officially sponsored by the Boys Scouts of America. Any questions should be addressed to webmaster@geologymeritbadge.com. |