Middlesex Fells V2

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The Mystery of the Fells

With Dr. Misra

Welcome to the Middlesex Fells! We are at the bottom of our hike to the top of the mountain. Let's zoom out to see the Fells from the highway.

These cliffs are actually man made! They were cut through to make a highway. We can now see the inside of the tall rocks. The Fells tower over the highway, taller than anything else.

As a geoscientist, it's my job to figure out the history of the earth. I do this by making observations and predictions. We can use what we can see as well as what we know from past discoveries to talk about ancient geological history!

I use a field book to help track my observations and insights. I like to draw, write, and take pictures in my book. Take a look!

You can make predictions too based on what you can see here. I'll help you with some extra clues too. During this hike, we will be paying attention to three rocks: gabbro, basalt, and felsite. These rocks will help us determine why the Fells formed here. They give us clues!

I have a challenge for you! What rock in the Fells came first and why? This is something you can figure out yourself by inspecting the landscape and using previous geological research.

Book

You'll need a field book too! Use your field book to draw, write, ask questions, and answer questions. There are questions for you to answer. You can also add whatever you like!

I'll guide you through the hike, pointing out details and giving you clues. I'll also tell you what geoscientists do when working in the field!

We'll start going up the mountain to see a view of Boston! Let's go!

Start using your field book now! Click on the blue pencil icon to access your field book. Click on it every time you see it.

Geologists use a hand lens to look at rock's finer details in the field. This is much faster than a microscope.

Gabbro is made up of bunch large crystals. Geologists also use microscopes to look at rock's details.

Take a closer look!

When geoscientists look at rocks without a microscope or a hand lens, we notice the rocks' color, layers, and texture. Texture is the size of the minerals in the rock. We use these words to describe different rocks.

How do you know this rock has been weathered? What kind of rock do you think it is?

We know that Basalt and Gabbro both formed from magma deep within the earth's crust. How did this magma find it's way to the earth's surface?

Sometimes scientists need to rely on each other to get the full story. We can make predictions based on what we see, but sometimes it's helpful to learn more about what we can't see.

Geoscientists sometimes work to determine the ages of rocks. Think about basalt, gabbro, and felsite. Which one was here first? Keep thinking about this question as we finish our hike.

We can see all of Boston from up here! Let's take a closer look at the cliffs from the highway.