Earth Materials                                           

Overview of “Minerals and Rocks”

            The lithosphere (solid part of the Earth System) is composed of 90 of the 92 natural elements. Although some of these exist by themselves (“native elements”,) most occur as compounds—minerals­—or as mixtures of minerals—rocks. In this session, you can learn more about these substances and how to teach such concepts. You will also have the opportunity to find out more about current scientific investigations by LDEO researchers in significant problems concerning minerals and rocks.

1. Pertinent Readings

            Spaulding & Namowitz, Heath Earth Science, ch. 3 – 6

2. Pertinent E2C Workshops and Resources

 

  • Minerals and Rocks—“Rocks, Minerals, and Crystals”—David Walker (Oct. 2000)

[ http://www.earth2class.org/k12/w2_f2000/agenda.htm]

  • Minerals and Rocks—“Soluble Salts of the Earth: Caves and Nuclear Waste Disposal”—David Walker (Oct. 2000)

        [http://www.earth2class.org/k12/w2_f2001/content.htm]

You will also benefit by looking at the lesson plans and other materials created by E2C participants and posted in the “From Teacher to Teacher” web pages. Important examples include:

Minerals (ppt)
Rocks (ppt)

Brian Hugick: How to Identify Minerals Using the ESRT (ppt)

3. Key General Concepts

    1. Materials of our planet
    2. Important characteristics of minerals
    3. Important characteristics of rocks

4. Questions about the Key Concepts (These are to be answered and submitted.)

  1. Explain differences among elements, compounds, and mixtures.
  2. Describe five key characteristics of minerals.
  3. Explain how to use the "Properties of Mineral Identification" chart in the ESRT (Earth Science Reference Tables)
  4. What characteristics are most important for identifying the igneous rocks shown in the ESRT?
  5. What characteristics are most important for identifying the sedimentary rocks shown in the ESRT?
  6. What characteristics are most important for identifying the metamorphic rocks shown in the ESRT?
  7. What types of rocks can be found in the bedrock of your school’s locality?
  8. What other rocks may be found in the vicinity of your school? How did they get there?
  9. Based on Dr. Walker’s presentation, discuss significant factors that had to be considered in selecting a suitable site for disposal of radioactive wastes.
  10. Subsequent to Dr. Walker’s presentation in 2001, the Federal Government reached a decision on the radioactive waste disposal site. Find more about ther decision, and compare this with what Dr. Walker suggested.

5. Educational Technology

 

6. DLESE review

            Open www.dlese.org. Follow the appropriate prompts to locate at least two web sites dealing with imaging. Send the URLs as part of your course submission materials. If possible, provide feedback to DLESE using the Community Review System.


7. Planning for Your Course

 

     1.  Make a list of essential minerals and rocks that should be available to your students

2.  Identify representative state science education standards pertinent to this session’s theme.

3.  Describe one activity in which students might utilize information or data available through the resources you used for this session.

Optional Opportunity

            Have you visited the American Museum of Natural History lately? The Hall of Planet Earth, new Planetarium, Hall of Gems and Minerals, Hall of Meteorites, Warburg Memorial exhibit about New York’s ecology, and, of course, the fossil halls on the Fourth Floor all deserve another look. Of course, if you happen to be in another city that has a similar museum, you should make a visit there. There’s the National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC, the Field Museum in Chicago, and many others.

            If you can’t make a visit in person, try a “virtual tour” through the institution’s web site.