A. Soft; spongy when wet; very lightweight when dry; forms in swampy places 1) Fine mass with coarse plant fragments; dark gray to black Peat (13) 2) Plant fragments small and not easily recognized; fine-grained; black to dark gray; earthy Muck B. Hard but can be scratched with a knife 1) Black; contains bands of shiny and dull material; burns well Coal (14) 2) Dark gray to black; does not contain shiny bands; splits into thin sheets; burns poorly or not at all Bituminous shale EQUIPMENT FOR COLLECTING 1. Hammer (bricklayer’s) with one chisel or pick head. 2. Cold chisel about 6 inches long with an edge about ½-inch wide. 3. Dilute hydrochloric (muriatic) acid (10 percent solution) in a dropper bottle for testing the presence of carbonate minerals. Mark the bottle POISON. If acid is spilled on skin or clothing, wipe immediately and, if possible, rinse with water. 4. Magnifying glass or hand lens—10 power is probably most useful. 5. Hardness testers—penny, square of window glass, pocket knife, or nail. 6. Streak plate—piece of unglazed white porcelain (such as the back of a tile) for testing the color of the streak of minerals. 7. Notebook and pencil for keeping records of the locality and bed from which specimens are collected. 8. Collecting bag—a musette bag, a knapsack, or similar bag of strong material. 9. Heavy gloves and goggles to protect hands and eyes. 10. Labels and wrappings. Field identification of specimens may be written on adhesive tape and attached to the specimen or on a slip of paper enclosed in the wrapping. Newspaper, brown paper, or paper bags can be used for wrapping specimens. Label the outside of the wrapped specimen too. Take only the best specimens home with you. Trim specimens to hand size (about 2 by 3 inches). All specimens should be labeled with the following information: name of mineral or rock type, where found, collector’s name, and date. As your collection grows, you may want to set up a system of cataloging. List specimens and assign a number to each one. Place a small amount of white enamel on a corner of each specimen; when the enamel dries, number the sample with India ink; coat number with lacquer. Corresponding numbers should be entered on your list of specimens. EDUCATIONAL EXTENSION PROGRAM