Minerals: Building Blocks of Rocks We begin with an overview of atomic structure and mineralogy. There is no substitute for actually holding mineral samples in your hands. I recommend a visit to Dave's Down To Earth Rock Shop in Evanston. They have lots of mineral samples and some very cool bones and fossils in their lower level.
Deepest Hole (pdf) Have you ever wondered just how far we have managed to dig down into our planet? This article tells the story of the Kola Sperdeep Borehole.
Earth's Core (pdf) How do scientists know what is in the core of the earth?