What happens when you tell a geology joke? (You’ve hit rock bottom)  The 6th grade took their geology studies to the field last week to investigate rocks and rock materials in their natural environment at the CT Audubon here in Fairfield. Students hiked the property and observed real evidence of the topics like weathering, erosion and deposition currently being studied. From a stream that flows in a valley between two hills, to a possible erratic boulder left behind from the ice age. The students were able to see first hand some mysteries of how rocks break down from ice wedging to moss and lichens covering rocks and chemically weathering them down. The myriad of stone walls that were sprinkled throughout the 155 acre property told us a story of settlers impact on the land and the frost heaves that unearthed stones when forests were cut down for heat and shelter. The highlight of the trip came when each student used a rock hammer to tap gently on a large stone outcropping to see what possible minerals made up that particular rock.  I hope that if you asked the 6th graders how their day was, I bet they would say it was Gneiss!