Smith_Minerals

Minerals Unit: 

Minerals Unit This unit lasts 2-3 weeks

Activity 1: 

Activity 1 5 Minutes Locate items in the classroom and classify them as living or nonliving with your partner Living Nonliving

Activity 1: 

Activity 1 Living Nonliving Wood products Most items Plant fibers (clothing) Minerals Plastics (petroleum-fossil fuel Graphite - pencils Clay - paper Metal – screws, stools Gypsum - wallboard Silica – Cement & glass Calcite – concrete slab foundation

Activity 2: 

Activity 2 Look at your list of Nonliving items. How would you describe them? Pretend you are a scientist and it is your job to create a definition. Record your ideas below.

Minerals-Definition: 

Minerals-Definition There are over 4,000 minerals on Earth We have a 5 part definition Naturally occurring Solid substance Inorganic Definite chemical composition Crystalline structure

PowerPoint Presentation: 

Which question do you think is usually hardest to answer?

1, 2 & 3. Naturally Occurring Inorganic Solid: 

1, 2 & 3. Naturally Occurring Inorganic Solid Naturally occurring a. Must form through natural process, not man-made Solid a. No liquids or gases Inorganic Formed from non-living materials

4. Definite chemical composition: 

4. Definite chemical composition It has a definitive chemical composition Quartz (SiO 2 ) Si and O Salt Na and Cl

5. Atoms arranged in a Crystalline structure: 

5. Atoms arranged in a Crystalline structure Crystalline structure Atoms are arranged in a repeating pattern that determines structure Structure is unique to each mineral Minerals can be grouped in classes based on how they form

Atoms, Elements, and Compounds Review: 

Atoms, Elements, and Compounds Review Atom The smallest part of an element that has all the properties of the element Element Pure substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by ordinary chemical means 92 naturally occurring Compound A substance made up of 2 or more elements chemically joined or bonded Atom Element Compound

Hexagonal Crystal Structure example - Quartz: 

Hexagonal Crystal Structure example - Q uartz

Cubic Crystal Structure example – Galena and Halite (salt): 

Cubic Crystal Structure example – Galena and Halite (salt)

Activity 3 -More on Crystal Structure: 

Activity 3 -More on Crystal Structure How big do you think the crystals can get? As big as your hand? Your arm? Let’s find out. Log onto: http://www.classzone.com Download the word document from schoolspace

Mineral v. Mineraloid: 

Mineral v. Mineraloid Mineraloid Lacks definitive crystalline structure Amorphous Opal, obsidian, flint Cooling rate faster than ability to organize into thermodynamically stable crystal

Activity 4- Applying the Definition of Mineral : 

Activity 4- Applying the Definition of Mineral Let’s Practice Identifying Objects as Mineral or Non-Mineral Record your answers below, we will review as a class. Amber - Coal - Water - Ice - Ivory – Glass

Metallic Minerals: 

Metallic Minerals Bright, reflective Light does not pass through Good Conductors Malleable Used for: Electronics Communication Transportation

NonMetallic Minerals: 

NonMetallic Minerals Semi-shiny to dull May let light pass through Good insulators Used for: Building materials Communications

2 Major Mineral Groups : 

2 Major Mineral Groups Silicates – Si & O 2 most common elements in Earth’s crust - 90% of all minerals 2. Nonsilicates – No Si - C, O, Fl , S

Non Silicates: 

Non Silicates Native elements Carbonates Halides Oxides Sulfates Sulfides

1. Native elements: 

1. Native elements Only composed of 1 element Au, Cu, Ag Used for: Communications & Electronics

2. Carbonates: 

2. Carbonates C & O Calcite Used for: Cement & Building Stones Fireworks

3. Halides: 

3. Halides F, Cl , I, Br Fluorite Used for: Chemical Industry Detergents

4. Oxides: 

4. Oxides Al or Fe or Ti Corundum Used for: Abrasives Aircraft parts Paint

5. Sulfates: 

5. Sulfates S & O (Oxidized Form) Gypsum Used for: Cosmetics & Toothpastes Cement Paint

6. Sulfides: 

6. Sulfides Pb , Fe, Ni (Reduced form) Galena Used for: Batteries Medicines Electronic Parts

Activity 5 – Portfolio Project: 

Activity 5 – Portfolio Project Download Mineral Use Project from schoolspace . We will investigate Mineral Uses and their Importance in society in this project. It will take 2 days to complete and you and your partner will present your projects on the 3 rd day

How Do Minerals Form?: 

How Do Minerals Form? 1. Cool from hot liquid magma Garnet, graphite, hematite, magnetite 2. Precipitate out from saturated solutions Calcite, Dolomite, Au, Cu, S, Pyrite 3. Dissolve in liquids and evaporate Gypsum, Halite

Identifying Minerals: 

Identifying Minerals Color Luster Streak Cleavage / Fracture Hardness Density Diaphaneity Special Properties Minerals may be identified by their physical properties: 8 ways

Color: 

Color NOT a good mineral identifier The same mineral may exhibit many different colors

Luster: 

Luster The way the surface reflects light Metallic Shines like a metal Nonmetallic Dull, muted shiny or glassy

Streak: 

Streak The color of a mineral in powdered form Not always the same color as mineral Use a streak plate to get the sample Unglazed porcelain

Cleavage: 

Cleavage Describes how a mineral breaks Determined by arrangement of atoms Refers to the break along a flat surface

Fracture: 

Fracture Describes how a mineral breaks Usually curved or irregular surface, random breakage

Moh’s Hardness Scale: 

Moh’s Hardness Scale A minerals resistance to being scratched 1 = Soft = Talc 10 = Hard = Diamond Higher numbered minerals scratch lower numbered Reference Material Fingernail = 2; copper penny = 3.5; steel file = 5; glass = 6

PowerPoint Presentation: 

Talc Hardness =1 Diamond Hardness = 10

Hardness Test : 

Hardness Test Which is the harder Mineral? Which has a higher number?

Activity 6 – Hardness Brain Teaser : 

Activity 6 – Hardness Brain Teaser You will practice using the hardness test. Go to schoolspace and download the Hardness Brain teaser. You may work with a partner to complete this task. We will review as a class.

Density: 

Density Measure of amount of matter in a given amount of space 2 ways to calculate Specific Gravity Ratio of objects density to density of water Au = 19 g/cm 3

Diaphaneity: 

Diaphaneity Ability to see through a mineral Degree of transparency Examples Transparent Translucent Opaque

Special Properties of Minerals: 

Special Properties of Minerals

PowerPoint Presentation: 

Taste Halite Salty Na, Cl Table salt Radioactivity Radium or Uranium Detected by Geiger counter

Magnetic Properties Example = Magnetite Pyrrhotite: 

Magnetic Properties Example = Magnetite Pyrrhotite

Double Refraction example = Calcite: 

Double Refraction example = Calcite

Acid Test example = Calcite reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid: 

Acid Test example = Calcite reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid

Fluorescence minerals glow while under ultraviolet light example = Calcite Fluorite: 

Fluorescence minerals glow while under ultraviolet light example = Calcite Fluorite

Strong Smell Sulfur : 

Strong Smell Sulfur

Activity 7 -Mineral Identification Lab: 

Activity 7 -Mineral Identification Lab You will have 1 entire class period to practice identifying 20 minerals using the 8 different methods to identify minerals & their special properties. Grab a lab sheet and meet me in the back of the classroom Close your computer, you will not need it for the rest of the class.

Importance: 

Human wealth & welfare Fluorite in our teeth http:// www.basf.com/group/corporate/en/news-and-media-relations/podcasts/chemical-reporter/fluoride Malnutrition capsules http:// www.basf.com/group/corporate/en/news-and-media-relations/science-around-us/food-fortification/story Industry Concrete animation & podcast http:// www.basf.com/group/corporate/en/news-and-media-relations/science-around-us/concrete-components/story Economic Silica (sand) to computer chip podcast & animations http:// www.basf.com/group/corporate/en/news-and-media-relations/science-around-us/silicon-disks/info-box Ores & Gems http:// player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=D0A7021C-30E1-4314-B8CC-7C5D5D2C59C8&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=DSC http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL4fluj004o Importance

Gems: 

Gems Gemstones Rare Beautiful Durable Examples Diamond Diamond v. graphite podcast http:// www.basf.com/group/corporate/en/news-and-media-relations/podcasts/chemical-reporter/carbon Ruby Sapphire Emerald GOLD

Ores: 

Ores A mineral is an ore if it contains a useful substance that can be mined at a profit

Mining: 

Mining Surface Deposits at or near the surface Open pits Surface mines Quarries Subsurface Deposits deep within Earth http:// science.discovery.com/videos/how-do-they-do-it-coal-mining.html

Activity 8- Discover Mining: 

Activity 8- Discover Mining You will do a quick internet investigation. Click on the links below, look at the pictures & scan the content. Strip Mining – Mountain Top Removal http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/mountaintop/wb/71722 http://www.ohvec.org/newsletters/woc_2003_12/article_13.html http://www.ohvec.org/galleries/mountaintop_removal/007/

Activity 8- Discover Mining: 

Activity 8- Discover Mining Next go to the class Blog and reflect on the 3 questions posted.

Optional Activity 9 -Quarries Near Us: 

Optional Activity 9 -Quarries Near Us Here are some websites of quarries near us . Google Map of Quarries in Virginia h ttp :// www.mapquest.com/maps?cat=Quarries&state=VA Luck stone http :// www.luckstone.com/index_flash.php Vulcan - see short video about their company http://www.vulcanmaterials.com/vmc_flash/about.html What differences did you notice between the Mountain Top Removal sites and these mining companies?

Responsibility: 

Responsibility Mine Reclamation Land must be returned to original state or better Mid 1970’s Recycle Reduce Reuse

Building Blocks of Rocks: 

Building Blocks of Rocks

Some minerals…: 

Some minerals…

PowerPoint Presentation: 

Visit this cave at the link below. Your group will draw a number and answer 1-2 of the questions on the following slide Record your answer on the slide and we will share our information about the mine. http://www.naica.com.mx/english/index.htm Activity 10 – Visit this Unique Wonderland.

Questions to Answer: 

Questions to Answer Where is the mine? How old is it? How many caves? What type of mineral? How did it form? How big are the crystals? Is it open to the public? Why or why not? How was it discovered?

Activity 11 – Cookie Mining: 

Activity 11 – Cookie Mining Now that you have investigated different types of mines and seen the effects of mining; you will now get to do some mining yourself. You will mine chocolate chip ores! I will dismiss your table to the back to wash your hands. Close your computer, you will not need it for the rest of the class.

Activity 12 – Virtual Mineral Identification Lab: 

Activity 12 – Virtual Mineral Identification Lab Click on the link below to begin your virtual mineral lab if you missed the hands-on lab. Record your answers on paper or a Word Doc. http://facweb.bhc.edu/academics/science/harwoodr/geol101/labs/minerals/