WELCOME TO THE GITCHE GUMEE MUSEUM WEB PAGE!
March 2013
As many of you know I have been working on developing Online Rockhounding Adventures for the past two years. This project ended up being much more difficult than I ever imagined. The first draft I designed in Microsoft Word. Then, last spring I researched available e-learning software and began working with Qarbon’s ViewletBuilder7 Enterprise software. I still thought I could convert the first draft to this new format in time for the International Agate Show that took place last July. Well, despite working as many hours as I could on the project, that didn’t happen. I resumed work on the project after the incredibly busy summer in October, thinking I would be able to finish in a month or so. Well, during the design I decided to develop more movie clips, rather than using static slides. Although I am happy with this decision because I think the movie clips communicate information much more effectively, it took me a few more months to complete the third draft of the project. I finished the design on January 24th, but it took another week to check all the links and timing on each slide. Then it took a few more days to design the logistical pages to house the Online Rockhounding Adventures on this web page.
So I would like to thank everyone for their patience. If you have been waiting and want to check out “the project,” click on the agate link in the banner at the top of this home page. For your information, the Pilot Program Launch includes:
- Two adventures with nine segments.
- 710 slides.
- 86 movie clips
- 25 Fun Facts
- Almost 2,600 graphic elements included on the slides and in the movies
The Adventures and Segments included in this launch are:
Adventure 1: The Basics – Big Bang Through Earth Formation This adventure is different than all the rest. Adventure 1 describes what matter is, where It came from, and how the Universe, Solar System, and Earth formed and developed. This information provides background that is useful in helping participants to better understand the scientific information that is included in all of the other adventures.
4 segments -- 295 slides -- 1,080 graphic components -- participant time = 6.5 hours
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Segment A: Building Blocks of Matter This segment describes what scientists feel happened during and just after the Big Bang. It also summarizes what constitutes matter and how our perspective of what we believe Matter to be has changed over time. 45 slides – participant time = 1 hour |
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Segment B: Universe Formation This segment covers how the Universe formed, expanded, and developed. Information is presented about nebulae, supernovae, and galaxies. 56 slides -- participant time = 1 hour |
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Segment C: Solar System Formation This segment describes how our Solar System formed after the explosion of a supernova. It reviews details about our Sun and all of the planets. 92 slides -- participant time = 2.5 hours |
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Segment D: Earth Formation This segment covers the details of how the Earth formed and developed. The geologic and biologic development is covered for each of the eons including the Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic, and Phanerozoic. 102 slides -- participant time = 2 hours |
Adventure 2: Lake Superior Agate – Grand Marais, Michigan This adventure features the Lake Superior agate found in Grand Marais, Michigan. The segments cover local geologic history, agate formation, beach rock classification and identification, and how to find agates.
5 segments -- 415 slides – 1,481 graphic components participant time = 6.5 hours
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Segment A: Local Geologic History This segment traces the geologic history of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It revuews Earth formation, the development of the Superior Craton, and the Canadian Shield, Midcontinental Rift, Plate Tectonics, glaciation, and other geologic events. 67 slides -- participant time = 1.5 hours |
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Segment B: Agate Genesis This segment describes how Lake Superior agates developed . Details are included about vesicle pocket formation, agate formation influences, source of silica, agate banding, and agate distribution. 50 slides -- participant time = 1 hour |
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Segment C: Rockhounding in Grand Marais, Michigan To improve the chance of finding a Lake Superior agate, it helps to have a general understanding of beach rocks. This segment describes the three types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Information is presented about how each type of rock formed, as well as how to differentiate and classify Lake Superior beach rocks. 72 slides -- participant time = 1.5 hours |
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Segment D: Beach Rock Identification Guide This segment is different than all the others. It has been developed to help participants identify and classify the top 22 rocks found on the Lake Superior beach. It is arranged as a dichotomous scientific key with a series of 30 questions. There are 30 YES and NO questions as well as photos to facilitate the decision tree. Then there is detailed information and several photographs about each of the 22 rocks. In the future information will be added about rarer rocks and minerals found on the beach as well as about beach specimens that are made up of different types of rock. 103 slides -- variable participant time (interactive exercise, minimum .5 hours) |
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This segment has been designed to train participants to find the elusive Lake Superior agate. Rather than depend on textual descriptions, the segment uses photographs to train your eye to spot the most common agate characteristics including translucency, red color, pit-marked husk, waxy luster, dense gray color (chalcedony), conchoidal fractures and irregular shape, and organized structure (banding). 123 slides – participant time = 2 hours |
Happy rockhounding!
Karen Brzys
Gitche Gumee Museum
E21739 Brazel Street, PO Box 308
Grand Marais, MI 49839
kbrzys@Jamadots.com or Karen@agatelady.com
906-494-3000 Museum
906-494-2590 Home number
906-450-5033 (Cell phone -- not always turned on. I use it only when I travel.)
Regular webpage www.agatelady.com
Photo Blog www.agatelady.blogspot.com
The museum's hours are:
| Last half of May | Sunday thru Friday | 2-5 pm |
| Saturday | 12-5 pm | |
| June | Sunday thru Friday | 2-5 pm |
| Saturday | 12-5 pm | |
| July | Monday thru Saturday | 12-7 pm |
| Sunday | 2-5 pm | |
| September | Sunday thru Friday | 2-5 pm |
| Saturday | 12-5 pm | |
| October - Mid May | I am travelling a lot during these months exhibiting my mineral art at shows. Please call 906-494-2590 at least a week in advance of your visit. A donation or purchase is requested for all private appointments. | |
Art and Mineral Show and Agate Talk Schedule
The show schedule has not yet been decided for 2013. I will be making the decisions and applying to shows over the next month. I must admit that I am hoping that the Online Rockhounding Adventures generates enough revenue for the museum so that I can cut down the show schedule. Sales at shows have declined over the last two years for a multitude of reasons, but mostly because people are being more careful with their spending. Given the amount of time and effort that it takes for each show, it makes more sense to go in a different direction. I will probably still exhibit my mineral art at Moose Lake Agate Days (mid-July), the Muskallunge Rock On show (mid-September), and the Mason show (end of October). I most likely will also exhibit at Eagle River (early October), and some of the TV6 U.P. shows. The next web page update (April 2013) will have more information about the 2013 show schedule.
Because of the success in setting up the agate talk with mineral art sales at the nature center in Holland, MI last year, I plan on setting up more of these events. I will be contacting nature centers in Michigan and northern Wisconsin. If there is a nature center in your area, or if you would like to sponsor a Gitche Gumee Gathering, please send me an email at Karen@agatelady.com.
March 2013 Update
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Mineral of the Month Jacobsville Sandstone |
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On-line Gift Shop A new deck of playing cards featuring 52 different images of Lake Superior scenes is now available. |
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Gitche Gumee Gatherings Information about scheduling private, in-home private art shows |
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Rockhounding and Adventure Trip Arizona Trip 2012 |
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Media Coverage Petoskey News |
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Correspondence Testimonial from a Mineral Art customer |
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Copyright All rights reserved.
Gitche Gumee Museum.
E21739 Brazel Street
Grand Marais, Michigan 49839
