Physical Geography

~Elements, Minerals, and Rocks~


Important concepts you should know:

  • The definitions, and characteristics of elements, minerals and rocks.
  • The classification of the three types of rocks (igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic) and their relationships with one another.
  • The Rock Cycle and its components.
  • The environmental impacts of mining (the removal of minerals and rocks).

Click here to go to the Work Book section

Blog articles:
Click here for the Con - Tar Sands Article
Click here for the Pro - Tar Sands Article --- read both

1.    Introductory Power Point Presentation.

A. Click here for a show that will take you through the basics of Elements, Minerals and Rocks.

B. How do we get these Rocks and Minerals out of the earth? Click here to see the different types of Mining.

C. Click here for an amazing look at the Rock Cycle.

Media Corner!

Flash
- Foliation and Metamorphic Rock
- How Oil is formed

2.    Formation of Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rocks.

Learn how to make a webpage

Here's what you should do:

  • Create a Folder on your H drive and call it "Lastname_Rocks". Save the four pages (mentioned later) into this folder.
  • You will need at least four web pages. One will be your introduction and the other three will be on the types of rocks (igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic). Another page will be for the Rock Cycle. More pages will involve an explanation as to the importance of some rocks. Name the introduction page "index". This is so that the teacher knows this is the starting page and all the other pages are linked to this index page.
  • For each of the rock pages explain how they are formed. Also provide a picture of that type of rock. Use diagrams wherever possible.
  • One page should be dedicated to the Rock Cycle. The Rock Cycle must be your own creation. Check out the PowerPoint in this unit!
  • Select a rock from each type and do some research:
    • where they are found
    • why are they there
    • how are they mined
    • what are they used for
  • Make your pages interesting, vibrant and dynamic but do not go overboard. Click and learn how to give your page some life! Click here to put some fire into your pages! Click here to get some interesting backgrounds for your pages - watch out for conflicting fonts and colours. Do you want more backgrounds click here.
  • At a later date you will copy this folder to another drive.

Evaluation:
Click here to see the evaluation rubric for the webpage.
 
3.    Website and Questions

http://www.fi.edu/fellows/payton/rocks/create/index.html

Answer these questions:

1.    In what ways is the rock cycle powered by energy from above (the sun) and energy from below (the interior of the earth)?
2.    Give examples of events that could occur on a day-to-day basis that are part of the rock cycle.
3.    If you were a geologist attempting to discover places where oil and gas deposits are found in the world, what key conditions would you use to select possible sites for your drilling crews?
4.    a. Based on the three major rock classes, design a chart to point out the visible differences between rocks which could be used in placing individual rock samples into one of the rock classes.
       b. Search the web for the answers!

4.    For fun, take a Rocks Quiz!

http://www.fi.edu/fellows/payton/rocks/create/index.html

...take the Rock Quiz found at:

http://www.fi.edu/fellows/payton/rocks/quiz/index.html

Evaluation:
On your honour report your score to the teacher.

5.    Classification and Identification of Minerals

Minerals are chemicals. They are chemical elements or compounds found naturally in the crust of the earth. They are inorganic, in contrast to organic chemicals (made mainly of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen) typical of living things. Some minerals have a fixed chemical composition, others are a series of related compounds. Diamond and quartz are two minerals that may look the same but one is much stronger than the other. One physical property  rarely identifies a mineral. Usually more characteristics must be used to clearly identify a mineral. The following is a list of physical and chemical properties (or tests) that are used to identify minerals. Go to this site and  read up on these properties. Make a chart to briefly describe how each of these properties are tested to identify minerals. Here is another site that might help you - click here. Here is another site - click here. USE YOUR OWN WORDS.

COLOR
STREAK
FRACTURE/ CLEAVAGE
HARDNESS
LUSTER
CRYSTAL FORM
TASTE
SPECIFIC GRAVITY
MAGNETISM
EFFERVESCENCE (FIZZ)
BIREFRINGENCE
FLUORESCENCE

6.    Mining and the Environment

  1. The Basics of Mining- Types of minerals, uses, and relationship to rocks (this is a class note).
    Watch video from NRCAN on minerals and mining: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/mms/video/vhp_e.htm

    Click here to see a slide show on Types of Mining. Lots of Pictures.

  2. Mining in Canada: Proposing a Mining Site
    In the following lesson, you will relate ideal mining sites to the geology existing in the layers of the earth. You will decide where to locate different types of mines according to the rock layers found below. 
    Click here for the instructions.

  3. Environmental Impacts of Mining:  
    Go to this page to learn about the environmental impacts of mining. Find out what Acid Mine Drainage is!

  4. Acid Mine Drainage Sites in Canada: 
    Do this ArcView activity that deals with nature of acid mine drainage sites in Canada.
  5. Case Study: The Ugly Canadian - Part 1
    With increased competition, exploration, costs and decreased Canadian reserves, Canada has started exploration internationally. Canada's mining companies have been at the forefront of controversy several times regarding environmental damage and lack of regulations internationally. Read the following case studies and begin to formulate your own opinion; economics or environmentalism?

    Case Study 1: The Ugly Canadian
    Go to this site and learn about why we are called "The Ugly Canadian".  Summarize the basic story in 2-3 pages of your own writing.  What are tailings? What happens to them? Why are they dangerous? Why is cyanide used? What should Canada do? Be sure to look at both sides of the issue. How did Canada get involved in this issue? 

    OR

    Case Study 2: Argentina: Strip Mined
    Download this recent article about a proposed gold mine in Argentina. Summarize the basic story in 2-3 pages, find out what strip-mining is, why in Argentina? why is cyanide used, what should Canada do? Be sure to look at both sides of the issue. 

    Click here to see the evaluation rubric.

    Note: You will need at least two evenings to do a good job. Formulate your ideas into organized and and well developed paragraphs. 

  6. Methods of Mining
    There are three main methods of mining:
    1. Strip - Mining
    2. Open-Pit Mining
    3. Underground Mining 

    You have found a deposit of gold! You and your geology team have done some drilling and sampling to determine that this site is worth mining. Your next step is to determine what type of mining you will use. You must consider the environmental impact of each type of mine.

    a)      Research each type of mine to determine how each works. Include diagrams.

    b)      Research each type to determine the potential environmental impacts of each type of mining. Rank the types according to environmental impact (1 being the least)

    c)      Determine which type of mine would be most useful for gold mining.

    d)   Provide a real world case study of one of the types of mining above.
     

  7. Locating a Mining Site: (similar to B)
     Click here to view an activity created by ESRI Canada on Mining. This activity has you locate specific mines in Ontario. You are to create one map with these sites. There is some excellent background information and some links to sites that will help you make your decision. Hint:  You may wish to put the map into a portrait layout.  Another hint: Scroll through the pages until you get to the student instructions.  There is a lot of extra material here that you needn't worry about.

    The only written work you need to do is to provide a one page/paragraph that provides a general explanation of your reasoning behind choosing the sites you did.  Do not answer any of the questions in the actual activity.  To submit this work, you are to export the map and place it into a PowerPoint.  Place your written answer on another slide.

    Don't do the "Extension Exercise" part of this activity.  Instead, please do the extension below.

    Extension:
    Using ArcView open up the following themes located in the ArcCanada\Disk2\world\ directory:

    • Cntry_95.shp
    • Minerals.shp
    Create a map that clearly identifies countries that contain large mineral concentrations. Label the mineral rich countries of the world.  Add this to your Powerpoint and then email the show to your teacher.  The final show should have three slides, plus a title slide: two maps and one written answer.

    Evaluation:

    Click here to see the rubric that will be used to evaluate you on this activity.

7.    Rock Collection

  • Collect a representative sample of rocks from where you live
  • Display them on a board or in some way.
  • Try and identify them and classify each one as an igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic rock. Give your reasons why.
  • Using the properties you learned in #5 above give the properties for each sample.
  • Try and alter one of the rocks in some way. Have some students try and guess how you altered it.

Book Work - Chapter 6 "Earth's Treasure Trove : Elements, Minerals and Rocks" pages 84-98

  1. Do the Case Study "Ekati Diamond Mine" pages 94-95
    Answer #1,2,3
  2. Do #1,2,3,4,5,7,10,11,14,15 on pages 99-100

Click here for the test review page for this unit.

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