AGAMS Monthly Geology News July 2026
🪨 Mineral of the Month
Gem of the Month Garnet
Garnet is January’s birthstone, but its fiery sparkle makes it a fun mineral to explore in July! Garnets are formed under high temperatures and pressures, primarily in metamorphic rocks, but they can also occur in some igneous rocks. Garnets have a hardness that ranges from 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. Garnets are known for their wide range of colors. Garnets are found in several notable locations around the world including the United States, Australia and India.
Fun Facts
- While red garnets are the most commonly recognized, they can also appear in nearly every color except blue.
- Garnet is the state gemstone of New York
- The largest polished garnet (5,696 carats) was discovered in Orissa, India, and carved into a spectacular Fabergé-esque egg by master lapidarist Manfred Wild in 2014.
🦴 Fossil of the Month
Fossil of the Month: Ammonite
Ammonites were ancient marine predators with coiled shells that lived from about 416 million years ago until they went extinct 66 million years ago alongside the dinosaurs. Scientists have identified over 10,000 species, and their shells ranged from less than an inch to over nine feet wide.
Did You Know?
- Ammonites survived three major mass extinctions, including the Permian extinction, which wiped out 96% of marine species.
- The term “ammonite” is derived from the Egyptian god Amun, who was often depicted with ram’s horns, resembling the coiled shape of ammonite shells.
- Scientists love finding ammonite fossils. This is because they are excellent “index fossils.” This means they help scientists figure out the age of the rock layers where they are found.
🌎 Earth Science News Roundup
- Illegal gold mining has destroyed over 4,000 hectares of Amazon rainforest in just four Indigenous territories in the past two years — According to the report by Greenpeace Brazil, national action to combat this destructive activity is not delivering a decrease, but rather a shift in the Indigenous territories affected. Read Here
- Myanmar’s Enormous 11,000-Carat Ruby Discovery in 2026
— The ruby unearthed near Mogok in Myanmar’s upper Mandalay region in mid-April 2026 weighs 11,000 carats, equivalent to 2.2 kilograms or roughly 4.8 pounds. For context, a standard engagement ring ruby typically weighs between 0.5 and 2 carats. This single rough stone contains the equivalent of thousands of such gems within its mass. Read Here
- A newly discovered “fishing raptor” from Patagonia may have hunted like a giant prehistoric heron 70 million years ago.
— Paleontologists have identified a new species of raptor-like dinosaur that lived about 70 million years ago in what is now southern Patagonia. The animal, named Kank australis, appears to have been a fish hunter whose feeding habits may have resembled those of modern herons. Read Here
🎒 Kids Corner Activity
Make your Own Garnet Crystal:
Supplies: • Red tissue paper or red cellophane • Aluminum foil • Scissors • Flashlight
Steps: 1. Tear a small square of aluminum foil. 2. Crumple it gently into a roundish crystal shape. 3. Wrap it with red tissue paper or cellophane. 4. Shine a flashlight on it — watch how the “crystal” glows like a real garnet. 5. Turn it around and notice how the light changes.
What’s happening? Real garnets sparkle because light bounces around inside the crystal. Your foil does the same thing.
🏠Try This at Home
• Look for garnet sandpaper in a hardware store — it’s usually dark red.
• Hold it in the light and see if you can spot tiny sparkles.
• Those sparkles are real crushed garnets.
đź“… Upcoming Events
- Meeting — July 17, 2026 — 7:00 P.M.
