Scouts BSA Merit Badge Fair

Geology
Saturday June 8, 2025 10:00-12:00

Chris Englert

Merit Badge counselor Chris Englert, graduated from Colby College in Waterville, Maine with a Geology degree in 2010. He has a background in marine geology, has 8 years of experience exploring the ocean seabed aboard various offshore survey ships. His work has taken him across the globe, contributing to the understanding of offshore mineral resources. Chris has a personal mineral collection, which he uses to educate others.

Geology: Mineral Resources Option

Scouting Clark's Day with Chris Englert will cover all Geology requirements 1,2,3,4b,5C. Mining rough with samples are required in the 5C option. The samples are used for Resource option requirements 1,2,3b,4,5b. Each Scout is required to bring a collection book needed to catalog 15 samples that will be identified with Chris and each other. There will be an additional $14 charged at registration for each person attending the Geology badge for supplies.

The text from the Scouting Book is:

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:
   • (b) Find out about three career opportunities available in geology. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.
5. Do ONE of the following (Clark's Day is option C: Mineral Resources Option):
   (c) Mineral Resources Option
   • Define rock. Discuss the three classes of rocks including their origin and characteristics.
   • 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.
   • Do ONE of the following:
   • (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).
   • 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.
   • Do ONE of the following activities:
   • (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.

Download Geology Merit Badge Workbook [330 KB pdf]

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110 Daniel Webster Highway
Lincoln, NH 03251