Anyone's kid into geology? What do I need?

[NewYearSameOldMeButFatter]

Dd is 7, always been into dinosaurs, which I knew, and as such we read a lot of books about them.

The last couple of times we have been walking along the beach she's been rattling off facts about some of the rocks and formations and whatever, which was a bit surprising to me, she suddenly seems really into it.

I really don't know a lot about this stuff, but want to encourage her, so I thought I would buy her a little kit, but there are so many options I don't know where to start or what I really need. Also if anyone can recommend and age appropriate books I would be so grateful. TIA

I don't know about books but I would get her a proper hand lens.

www.geologysuperstore.com/product/geo-hand-lens-10x-21mm/
Something like this. Not a toy, a real piece of equipment.

Oh that looks amazing, I'll go order that now, thank you.

When ds was that sort of age, DH got him some holiday geology guides from BGS (DH has a degree in geology and loves it), and it was fun to look at what the guide said and what was going on.

National Geographic ‘gemstone dig kit’ and
‘My first rock and fossil collection’ have had a lot of love in our house.
My dc get Whizz Pop Bang magazine and there was an issue about rocks. You can buy back issues and I’ve managed to find it here. My DS got this sticker book on his last trip to the Natural History Museum.

Hand lens, fossil identification guide and a geological map of the UK, folllowed by climbing lessons! Better not to buy a hammer - there's a lot of etiquette about where you should hammer and you risk destroying outcrops for everyone if you hammer indiscriminately. If she does ever want a hammer, make sure you buy safety glasses too because it does often go wrong (better not to buy a hammer though!)

Take her on a trip to the jurassic coast, or to the Peak District if it is geology rather than paleontology. My kids love both. They are always asking to go back to the mining museum.

Hi, I'm a geologist, if you let me know thought what part of the country you live in, maybe I could suggest some places to go for field trips?

If you are anywhere near Lyme Regis, go fossiling there! And check out the new statue to Mary Anning, which was tye idea of a local girl, who raised the money fir the statue with her mum, got planning permission and worked with the artist on it Mary Anning Rocks

Dd1 is in her 1st year of a combined Masters in Geology and started off much like yours!

We've been to the Jurassic coast with her, Arran, Anglesey, Peak District (bluejohn caves!) and Dumfries area.

There's a great Rock centre in the Peak District, Lapworth Museum at Birmingham University is free as is Wren's Nest in Dudley.

She's got a much more comprehensive kit now but started off with a hand magnifier and a grain/silt size ruler (?), A few books and a geode kit. Good walking shoes were important too!

Also a geologist :)
I'd suggest good waterproofs, a decent day sack, good walking boots, a hand lens, possibly a grainsize card if you want, and a few holiday guides from the British Geological Survey.
I'd also recommend a trip to the geopark at Fforest Fawr:
Geoparc

A former geologist here, still passionate about rock formations, particularly on the coast.

You could get her a basic geoligical map of UK, even print it off internet so she could see what type of rocks are near you and if any fossils might be around.

At uni someone had lookalike "rocks" made of foam that looked totally like a real thing until u touched them, that was quite a laugh.

You could also get her interested in gemstones, eg to research how they get created rather than buying them (your ring stones? diamonds?).

Or even where gold comes from. There is a small old fashion ned gold mine in Wales where I believe royal rings are made from (and Catherine Zeta Jones').

Visiting any mines is interesting mostly for the historic aspect as they are usually museums.

I was blown away by cliffs of North Devon for rock formations (Hartland Quay) , any cliffs are interesting but avoid rock falls!

Charmouth beach in Devon is full of fossils and they also organise fossil walks at some weekends from the local museum.

Observing rivers is cool too, eg finding a source of Thames.

PS. Geologists have a specific type of a hammer, u might see it around, I no longer have mine. Probably not worth buying yet unless u are heading for cliffs.

I think it had 30cm long handle and apart from the obvious, it's used in rock photos for scale.

Hammering outcrops is really not encouraged. The is the Geological Society of London's* guidelines for Hammering etiquette

Beginner's Guide to Fossil Hunting

Holiday Geology Guides

• the professional body for Geologists

I did geology a long time ago at university and never turned it into a career, but I can still be found scrambling up outcrops or on my hands and knees in the Bullring looking at the polished stone floors. Which leads me neatly onto building stones. Birmingham does, and I guess many other major cities will also have, publications that are walking guides that look at the building or facing stones that have been used.

If your daughter is inquisitive then she will love the subject because there's lots of questions to ask. Why in a polished granite do crystals of one particular mineral point in the same direction? How many different minerals can you see that granite ? What order did they crystallise in. What is it that makes it a granite and not a gabbro. Get her out on the street with a hand lens. Good luck