Table of Contents
What are these things called Links?
Links are connections to other web pages. Some links take you to other sites on the Internet but most will take you somewhere within the site you are currently browsing. Links are anything on a web page that makes your arrow pointer turn into a hand (such as the navigation buttons on this site). Text links are often represented in a different color to immediately inform the user that they may click on the link to obtain more information on it. You can go to (or follow) a link by pressing once on your mouse button.
Back to topWhat Is A Browser and How Do I Use One?
A web browser is a tool that helps you 'surf' or navigate through the Internet. The row of buttons at the top of your web browser help you travel through the web, keeping track of where you've been. Since the buttons for Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer differ slightly, we will discuss what the buttons in common do:
The BACK button, usually represented by an arrow that points to the left will return you to the previous page that you have visited.
The FORWARD button, commonly pictured as an arrow that points to the right will return you to the page you just came from.
The HOME button, usually diplayed as a house, will take you to the browsers default home page. It is important to not get this button confused with a HOME button on a web page. They are very different. The HOME button on a web page will take you to the start (or home) page of the WEB SITE where as the HOME button on the browser will take you to your browsers home page.
The RELOAD or REFRESH button (shown as a curved arrow pointing up or two arrows in a cycle) will do just that, it will reload the current web page. Why would you want to do this? Sometimes all the elements (ie pictures or text) maybe don't load the first time, perhaps due to the transfer being interrupted. The easiest way to remedy this problem is allow the user to click REFRESH or RELOAD to go grab the missing information so it may be displayed properly.
The STOP button, commonly shown as a circle with an 'X' in it will stop a page from loading if it is taking too long. This can happen as a result of too many people trying to view web pages at the same time. Try to REFRESH the page or try again later when the web traffic quiets down.
Just under these buttons is what is called the 'Address Bar' or Location Bar or sometimes the Go To Bar. Think of this as just that, an address. This is where you tell the browser the address of where you would like to go on the Internet. There are two ways to use this bar, directly and indirectly. You may just type the address into the bar (if you know it) or you can indirectly get the address by searching the web for it.
Back to topHow to Think of Web Pages
I started my career in computers not knowing anything about the Internet or what a web page was. Through much trial and error I learned that the easiest way to think of them is by relating them to something familiar to us all...a book.
A web page is exactly like reading a book. The first page on a web site is called the HOME page, this is roughly equivalent to the Table of Contents in a book. The HOME page has links to other pages in the web site much like a Table of Contents has page numbers corresponding to chapters in the book. If you wish to read chapter 2 in a book, you find the page number and turn to that page and begin reading. On a web sites HOME page, you click on a link (usually located on the left side of the page) to go to the page you are interested in.
If you go to a web page (like going to chapter 2 in your book) and you actually wanted to go to a different web page but clicked on the wrong one you have two options. First, you could simply press the BACK button in your browser (see What Is A Browser and How Do I Use One?) to get back to the HOME page so you may make another selection. Your second choice is that you could press the button or link called HOME on the web page you are on, that will also take you back to the web sites HOME page.
Admittedly all this finding your way around a web site can initially be quite confusing. The more familiar you become with what information each page contains, the more comfortable you will become in navigating through web sites and finding the information you require. Just like the more times you read through a book, the easier it is to find information you need without having to search for it.
Back to topBoomarks and Favorites
Now that we are all thinking in terms of web pages being like books (see How to think of Web Pages). Your browser will let you set a bookmark (Netscape Navigator) or favorite (Internet Explorer) so that you do not have to remember those long addresses for web sites. Simply go to the web sites HOME page and then (for Internet Explorer) click on Favorites (at the very top of the browser) and then click Add to Favorites. For Netscape Navigator you click on Bookmarks (at the very top of the browser) and then click Add Bookmark. Now anytime you start your browser, you just click Favorites (Internet Explorer) or Bookmarks (Netscape Navigator) and click on the web page you would like to go to......you can bookmark many sites for future reference.
Back to topMaking the text bigger!
In Internet Explorer click on view at the very top of the browser then scroll down to text size and click from largest to smallest to increase or decrease the size of the text on the screen (the default is medium). In Netscape Navigator click view at the very top of the browser then scoll down to text zoom and click on larger to increase the size or smaller to decrease the size of the text (default is 100%).
Back to topRock & Mineral 101
Color - Color is often the first thing someone will notice when they look at a mineral. Color often influences peoples attraction to minerals. Mineral color often fools novice collectors into making an incorrect identification. The streak property of the mineral demonstrates its true or inherent color (often shows up as being white). The actual visual color of the rock or mineral may in fact be totally different (ie green or black).
Specific Gravity - Is a measure of the density of a mineral. More specifically this measurement compares the density of a mineral to the density of water. The formula is: SG = D/([D-W]L) where L is the density of the liquid (L=1 if water is used), so the formula is simply SG = D/(D-W). The mineral being tested must be homogenous and not contain other minerals. It is best to test single small crystals that are not attached to a host rock.
Moh's Hardness - Hardness can be tested through scratching. Moh's Hardness Scale was established to account for the differences in hardness by seeing which mineral scratches another. Starting with Talc at 1, then moving up to Gypsum, Calcite, Flourite, Apatite, Orthoclase, Quartz, Topaz, Corundum (ruby & sapphire) and ending with Diamond at 10, the scale is used worldwide as a way of distinguishing a minerals hardness. To remember Mohs scale try memorizing this catchy phrase: The Geologist Can Find An Ordinary Quartz, (that) Tourists Call Diamond!
Cleavage - When a mineral breaks it does so either by fracturing or by cleaving. The tendency for minerals to cleave (or not) and in which direction(s) is very characteristic to each minreral and vital to its identification. Cleavage can be described in terms of how easy the cleavage is produced. For example, minerals with perfect cleavage will often have a stairstep effect around a broken section of the mineral.
Fracture - Is described as the way a mineral tends to break. Minerals break in unique ways and leave surfaces that can be described in familiar ways. For example, is the broken area uneven? Smooth? Splintery? or Fibrous?
Luster - Describes the way light enteracts with the surface of crystals. This property has nothing to do with color or shape of the crystal but is related to surface conditions, transparency and index of refraction. Most luster properties are self explanatory (and have been explained beside the selection where confusing).
Rock & Mineral IdentificationMS2 Fatal Error: Invalid username
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