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Rocks and Minerals of Salt Lake County

Observation vs. Interpretation

An observation is something you can see, feel, taste or hear. It is learning by using your senses. Everything beyond that is interpretation. Take the following quiz to see the difference. There may be more than one correct answer for each question.

Try this quiz . . .

  1. You find a rock near a mine with some red streaks in it. Which of the following is a statement of observation?

    This rock could have iron ore in it.

    I see red streaks in this piece of sediment.

    This rock probably came from the mine.

  2. You find a rock in a stream bed. Which of these is an observation?

    I see it has rounded edges.

    It feels very smooth and rounded.

    This rock probably came from way up the canyon.

  3. You pick up a very flat rock with sharp edges. Which of these is an interpretation

    It splits along the layers.

    This could be a piece of stream bed.

    I see a fossil when I split the layers.

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