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Map of the County Rock Locations Information about the County Rocks |
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Rocks from all 44 Idaho counties are matched with buildings
on the ISU campus in their approximate geographic orientation within Idaho.
Each county donated a rock for the rock walk. These rocks are mounted on standardized
circular bases, which are placed at buildings across campus. Each rock has a
plaque, with information about the Rock and its place in Idaho history.
The Idaho Geologic Campus
This project is unique in the United States. With the construction of the Centennial
Rock Walk, Idaho State University has the only State Geologic Campus in the
U.S.A.
Teaching Tool
The rocks and map information are used in ISU geography and geology classes.
Locations of counties can be taught "on the ground" to students (i.e. to get
from Bannock County to Bear Lake County, one goes southeast from the Administration
Building to the Public Safety Building).
Home Base on ISU Campus
Visiting field trips from Idaho schools can find the map on the Web, then come to campus and locate their county's rock. Each Idaho citizen has a rock from their home county on the ISU campus.
Geology of Idaho
Idaho's geology is varied and is directly related to its history and economy.
The Idaho Batholith, a composite body of granitic rock in central Idaho, has formed a barrier to transportation that isolates northern Idaho from southern Idaho. Rich silver and lead ores in the Silver Valley along the Coeur d'Alene River in northern Idaho fueled the wealth of the Inland Empire in the late 1800s.
The irrigated Snake River Plain is underlain by volcanic rock, erupted in the last 15 million years. Rich soils derived from these volcanics grow Idaho's famous potatoes. The complexly folded sedimentary rocks of southeast Idaho are home to rich phosphate deposits near Soda Springs. Most important for population growth in the 21st century, Idaho's complex and youthful geology provides scenic beauty and environmental amenities, which are sought by new residents of our beautiful state.