Asbestos: Mineralogy, Health Hazards, and Public Policy

Helen M. Lang and Sid P. Halsor
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West Virginia University and Wilkes University
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Summary

In this laboratory exercise students will have an opportunity to examine the crystal structures, optical properties and health hazards of the common asbestos minerals. The laboratory will reinforce optical microscopic skills that students have learned in mineralogy and show them how mineralogy can be critical to understanding a current public policy issue.

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Context

Audience

This activity is designed for an undergraduate required course in mineralogy and is adaptable for undergraduate and graduate level geology students.

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

Students should have a basic understanding of mineralogy and crystallography. An understanding of optical properties and techniques to analyze crystals would also be useful for this activity.

How the activity is situated in the course

This activity is a stand-alone exercise, but is part of a larger volume of classroom and laboratory activities from "Teaching Mineralogy," a workbook published by the Mineralogical Society of America, Brady, J., Mogk, D. W., and Perkins, D., (editors), 1997,406 pp.

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

The laboratory will reinforce optical microscopic skills that students have learned in mineralogy and show them how mineralogy can be critical to understanding a current public policy issue.

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

Other skills goals for this activity

This activity should strengthen students' writing skills.

Description of the activity/assignment

In this laboratory exercise students will have an opportunity to examine the crystal structures, optical properties and health hazards of the common asbestos minerals. The laboratory will reinforce optical microscopic skills that students have learned in mineralogy and show them how mineralogy can be critical to understanding a current public policy issue.

Determining whether students have met the goals

Students have met the goals of this activity if they completely and accurately answer the questions and complete the tasks embedded in this activity.

More information about assessment tools and techniques.

Teaching materials and tips

Other Materials

Supporting references/URLs

Brady, J., Mogk, D. W., and Perkins, D., (editors), 1997, Teaching Mineralogy, a workbook published by the Mineralogical Society of America, 406 pp.

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A further list of resources is included in the associated downloaded document for this activity.