Mineral Properties, Uses and Descriptions Diamond Diopside Dolomite Enstatite Epidote Fluorite Fuchsite Galena Garnet Glauconite Gold Graphite Gypsum The Life Cycle of a Mineral Deposit—A Teacher’s Guide for Hands-On Mineral Education Activities This teacher's guide defines what a mineral deposit is and how a mineral deposit is identified and measured, how the mineral resources are extracted, and how the mining site is reclaimed; how minerals and mineral resources are processed; and how we use mineral resources in our every day lives. Included are 10 activitybased learning exercises that educate students on basic geologic concepts; the processes of finding, identifying, and extracting the resources from a mineral deposit; and the uses of minerals. The guide is intended for K through 12 Earth science teachers and students and is designed to meet the National Science Content Standards as defined by the National Research Council (1996). To assist in the understanding of some of the geology and mineral terms, see the Glossary (appendix 1) and Minerals and Their Uses (appendix 2).
Caribbean VR (Read the explanation below, while you wait for the animation to load.) This animation shows the breakup of Pangea and the pattern of seafloor spreading that created the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans during the last 150 million years. Plate tectonics is the theory that describes how the outermost, rigid layer of the Earth has moved through time. When plates converge they collide and a one plate dives back down into the Earth in a region called a subduction zone. The colors in the animation illustrate both the age of the ocean floor and the symmetry of sea floor spreading. You can control this animation by dragging the mouse across the map. The information show in this animation was originally compiled by researchers at the Paleoceanographic Mapping Project, University of Texas at Austin. This animation is available on CD-ROM in Quicktime format. This page uses a java applet that displays a VR model. (c) PALEOMAP Project, 2002.
Videos - Geology Geology may be a science that moves very slowly, but a number of videos bring the subject to life for students. Education World compiled some great videos that will get kids excited about the topic. For each one, we include a description and grade level. The Geology and Formation of the Western Land of U.S. Source: World-earthquakes.com. Grade level: Sixth grade or higher Run time: 44:59 Description: This rather dramatic video shows geology in action—specifically, how the western part of the United States came to look the way it does. Cool factor: Not as cool as some, but dramatizations of geologic activities add interest. National Geographic Colliding Continents Source: National Geographic Grade level: All ages Run time: 50:05 Description: This video is a documentary of the Earth’s violent past and the movement of the tectonic plates. Cool factor: The video offers all the necessary drama to get students excited about Earth’s geologic changes. Geology Kitchen: What is a Mineral? Run time: 5:44
Rock Key The Rock Identification Key - by Don PeckRock Key Table of Contents What Are Rocks? Rocks are what the crust of the earth is made of. They are the mountains and the bottom of the ocean. They are everywhere on earth, but often buried under soil. Rocks are made of minerals, like quartz, calcite, feldspars, and micas. [ Return to Rock Key Table of Contents ] What Minerals Form Rocks? Wegener's Puzzling Evidence Exercise (6th Grade) Although Alfred Wegener was not the first to suggest that continents have moved about the Earth, his presentation of carefully compiled evidence for continental drift inspired decades of scientific debate. Wegener's evidence, in concert with compelling evidence provided by post World War II technology, eventually led to universal acceptance of the theory of Plate Tectonics in the scientific community. The following files are needed for this exercise and can be downloaded in pdf format (Teacher Overview, (For Teachers) Wegener's Key to Continental Positions for grade 6, Student Puzzle Pieces, Key to Wegener's Evidence sheet, and Student Map of the World Today). Objectives Students will observe and analyze scientific evidence used by Wegener. The Student Puzzle Pieces and Legend To start this activity the teacher will present background information on Wegener. Time frame 1-2 class periods. National standards references The National Science Standards: The National Geography Standards: Materials