JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN, HOST:
GEOLOGISTS STUDY THE FORCES

THAT HELP SHAPE OUR WORLD.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE ROLE
GEOLOGY PLAYS IN YOUR LIFE...

(MUSIC)

>> WHAT ARE YOU READING?

>> A BOOK ON GEOLOGY.

>> GEOLOGY?

WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT
GEOLOGY?

>> BECAUSE IT PLAYS A IMPORTANT
ROLE IN YOUR LIFE.

A GEOLOGIST STUDIES HOW THE
EARTH'S CRUST IS FORMED AND WHAT

MATERIALS IT'S MADE UP OF
WITHOUT GEOLOGISTS YOU WOULDN'T

HAVE A LOT OF THINGS YOU USE
EVERY DAY.

LIKE WHAT?

>> LIKE THE FLUORITE IN YOUR
TOOTHPASTE OR THE FELDSPAR IN

YOUR DISHES.

LOOK AROUND YOUR HOUSE, ALL OF
THESE ARE MADE UP OF MINERALS.

MINERALS ARE MADE UP OF THE
BASIC ELEMENTS OF EARTH.

GEOLOGISTS STUDY THE SURFACE
FORMATIONS AND TYPES OF ROCK TO

FIND MINERALS.

ONCE THEY IDENTIFY A DEPOSIT,
THEY'RE EXTRACTED AND PROCESSED

AND MADE INTO THINGS IN YOUR
LIFE.

IDAHO IS CALLED THE GEM STATE
FOR A GOOD REASON.

YOU CAN FIND MORE THAN 240
DIFFERENT MINERALS IN IDAHO.

EVERYTHING FROM ACANTHITE TO
ZOISITE.

EVEN THE STATE GEM IS A MINERAL.

THE STAR GARNET.

>> WHAT ELSE DO GEOLOGISTS DO?

>> THEY HELP TO DEVELOP MAPS AND
STUDY ROCKS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT

PLANTS AND ANIMALS THAT WERE
ALIVE MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO.

AND RESEARCH THE IMPACT OF
FORCES LIKE EROSION AND

INVESTIGATE HOW VOLCANOS FORM
AND ANALYZE FAULTS IN THE GROUND

TO LEARN HOW TO PREDICT
EARTHQUAKES AND THEY DON'T JUST

STUDY THE EARTH.

THEY STUDY ROCKS ON OTHER PLANET
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR

UNIVERSE.

>> HOW DOES THAT AFFECT ME?

>> WELL, COME SEE.

>> IT'S COLD!

>> LOOK AROUND, WHAT DO YOU
THINK WOULD HAPPEN IF A DAM

FAILED?

>> THAT WOULD BE TERRIBLE!

>> GEOLOGISTS FIGURE OUT WHERE
TO PLACE DAM AS BUILDINGS AND

OTHER THINGS.

PLACES WHERE THE GROUND IS
STABLE.

THEY WORK TO KEEP US SAFE.

THAT'S COOL.

SPEAKING OF COOL --
>> OH, YEAH.

>> WHOA!

BECOMING A GEOLOGIST CAN REALLY
BE INTERESTING.

>> YEAH.

>> HEY, YOU TWO COULD BE AMATEUR
GEOLOGISTS RIGHT NOW.

GO OUTSIDE AND EXPLORE, LEARN
ABOUT THE LAND AROUND YOU.

IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE
GREAT ADVENTURE IN GEOLOGY.

IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT GEOLOGY, CHECK OUT THE

SCIENCE TREK WEBSITE.

YOU'LL FIND IT AT SCIENCE TREK
DOT ORG.

(MUSIC)

NARRATOR: PRESENTATION OF
SCIENCE TREK ON IDAHO PUBLIC

TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE
THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT

OF THE LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM
FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO

FULFILLING THE MOORE AND
BETTIS FAMILY LEGACY OF

BUILDING THE GREAT STATE OF
IDAHO; BY THE IDAHO NATIONAL

LABORATORY, MENTORING TALENT
AND FINDING SOLUTIONS FOR

ENERGY AND SECURITY
CHALLENGES, BY THE FRIENDS OF

IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION AND BY
THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC