Ore Minerals

Dexter Perkins

University of North Dakota

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Initial Publication Date: August 7, 2006 | Reviewed: October 18, 2012 (see revision history: 2 events)

Summary

Introduction to sulfides and other ore minerals.

Physical Properties, Environmental Mineralogy, Mineralogy, ...(more) | College Lower (13-14), College Upper (15-16)

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Context

Audience

This exercise is designed for a mid/upper-level undergraduate geology course on the principles of mineralogy.

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

Students should have knowledge of basic chemistry and of minerals equivalent to what they would learn in an introductory geology class.

How the activity is situated in the course

This activity is the 21st of 36 mineralogy exercises and is used around the middle of the course.

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

Learn to identify key ore minerals in hand specimen.

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

Identify key properties useful for mineral identification.

Other skills goals for this activity

Description of the activity/assignment

This three part lab introduces sulfides and other ore minerals.

Part one - Ore Minerals: Students fill in a table giving the metal, formula, and mineral group of several ore minerals.
Part two - Box of Rocks: Students examine trays of ore minerals and record their physical properties, composition, habit, occurence, economic value, and use and answer questions about color, luster, density, transparency, and availability.
Part three - Famous Digs: Students answer a series of questions related to famous ore deposits.