June 11,2001. My name is Travis. I live in Collingwood On. Canada. I am in grade 4. I would like to know which sedimentary rock has an odour and what does it smell like?

Ps. It's for school

-- Travis Fergueson (geferg@canada.com), June 11, 2001

Answers

Travis,

There are sedimentary rocks that contain gas and oil -- that we use to heat our homes and drive cars and all that -- that often contain hydrogen sulfide gas, which smells like rotten eggs. So, it's not exactly the rocks that smell, but gas in the rocks. Minerals that contain sulfur can also smell "earthy" or rotten, so the rocks those minerals are in also stink. I know the thing about the gas in the rocks because when geologists go to oil fields they have to be careful about hydrogen sulfide gas that seeps to the surface, which is just stinky in small amounts, but can be poisonous in higher amounts.

I hope you read this in time for your school project! Let me know how it turns out.

-- Sharon Gabel (gabel@oswego.edu), June 11, 2001.