Introduction to the properties of clay minerals
Stephen Guggenheim
, University of Illinois at Chicago
Summary
These laboratory experiments are designed to show the cation exchange capabilities of clays and how these exchanges affect physical properties.
Context
Audience
This lab exercise could be used in undergraduate courses in mineralogy, sedimentology, hydrology, environmental sciences, geomorphology, physical geology, or civil engineering.
Skills and concepts that students must have mastered
none
How the activity is situated in the course
This activity is a stand alone exercise.
Goals
Content/concepts goals for this activity
In this activity students learn about the physical properties of clays.
Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity
Skills developed include the analysis of data and the application of experiments to environmentally relevant problems.
Other skills goals for this activity
Students also learn to work with a partner or a group.
Description of the activity/assignment
This activity explores how clay affects the permeability of sands, the effect of chemical differences of the clay (cation exchange), and how these results may be applied to low-level radioactive waste disposal sites.
Determining whether students have met the goals
Class discussions are used to establish whether students have met the goals.
More information about assessment tools and techniques.Download teaching materials and tips
- Activity Description/Assignment (Acrobat (PDF) 31.1MB Jul17 06)
- Instructors Notes (Acrobat (PDF) 56kB Jul17 06)
