Weathering of Minerals

Wendy Van Norden

Harvard-Westlake School

Summary

This activity is part of a collection under development by participants in a June 2006 workshop. Tested versions will be available in Spring 2007.

Students determine the % change in mass of mineral samples that have been placed in a rock tumbler. They graph the relationship between the hardness of the mineral and the % change in mass. They then consider why some of the mineral samples do not conform the the relationship they graphed. They investigate the physical properties of the outliers and consider how the physical properties contributed to the rate of weathering, and what kind of weathering occured in the rock tumbler.

Learning Goals

The goal is to promote understanding of physical and chemical weathering and the physical properties of minerals that affect the rate of weathering.
Graphing and analysis of graphs
Massing and simple calculations

Context for Use

Introductory geology- taught to high school students.
Graphing on Excel, understanding of the physical properties of minerals, kinds of kinds of mechanical and chemical weathering.
It is included in a unit on weathering and sedimentary rocks.

Teaching Notes and Tips

Instructor's Notes (Acrobat (PDF) 25kB Jun1 06)

Teaching Materials

rock tumbler
beaker with acidic water, pH of 4 or 5
beaker of water, pH of 7
mineral samples: calcite, halite, quartz, and any variety of minerals that are available and expendable.
balance

Assessment

Student hand in their lab for a grade.

References and Resources

Controlled Vocabulary Terms

Subject: Geoscience:Geology:Sedimentary Geology:Weathering, Geoscience:Geology:Mineralogy:Physical Properties
Resource Type: Activities:Lab Activity
Quantitative Skills: Graphs, Algebra
Ready for Use: Ready to Use
Topics: Earth surface

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