Activity Option 6.2 - Gold Mining and Impacts part of Humans Dependence on Earths Mineral Resources
Leah Joseph, Ursinus College; Joy Branlund, Northeastern Junior College
This activity asks students to investigate different aspects of gold mining and think critically about the perceived and real needs for this mineral resource as well as the impacts (both positive and negative) that ...

Activity 4.3 - Mining Salt part of Humans Dependence on Earths Mineral Resources
Joy Branlund, Northeastern Junior College
Students will research two types of salt deposits: solar salt (e.g., facilities in Bahamas) and rock salt (e.g., Heber City, Utah). Students will be able to compare and contrast the two types of salt deposits by ...

Activity Option 6.1 - Phosphorus Mining and Impacts part of Humans Dependence on Earths Mineral Resources
Joy Branlund, Northeastern Junior College
Mined phosphorus is considered essential for agriculture, especially with the need to feed the ever growing population. However, there are consequences of phosphate mining and use, including pollution at mine sites ...

Activity 3.1 - Muffin Mining part of Humans Dependence on Earths Mineral Resources
Leah Joseph, Ursinus College
This activity is intended to fill the first part of a class period on mining and mining impacts. It is a hands-on activity in which students, in small groups, "mine" the blueberries or chocolate chips out ...

Pre-Unit 3 Homework - Abandoned Mine Lands & SuperFund/National Priorities List part of Humans Dependence on Earths Mineral Resources
Leah Joseph, Ursinus College
This optional homework asks students to investigate some of the impacts of previous mines, mining, and/or mineral resources processing on the surrounding environment and human health. Many of the sites were ...

Activity 3.2 - Ore Grades, Waste, and Remediation part of Humans Dependence on Earths Mineral Resources
Leah Joseph, Ursinus College
This activity focuses on the interrelationships of ore grades, economics, mining impacts/decisions, and other factors. It is intended as a small-group activity, where different groups of students work on one of ...

Activity 4.2 - Mining Sand part of Humans Dependence on Earths Mineral Resources
Joy Branlund, Northeastern Junior College
Students will analyze data and answer questions regarding the weathering, erosion, and deposition responsible for concentrating shoreline titanium placer deposits in Florida.

Presenting science to the public: The ethics of outreach part of GeoEthics:Activities
Joy Branlund, Northeastern Junior College
Joy Branlund, Southwestern Illinois College Summary This case study involves class discussion about (a) the environmental concerns of developing a new industrial project (in this case, a new mine in Minnesota), ...

Environmentally Sustainable Mining part of Integrate:Workshops and Webinars:Systems, Society, Sustainability and the Geosciences:Activities
Stephen Kissin, Lakehead University
A field trip that illustrates a contrast between environmentally sustainable mining activity and a case of a lack of environmental planning in mining operation and closure.

Transport of heavy metals in the Clark Fork River part of Integrate:Workshops and Webinars:Teaching the Methods of Geoscience:Activities
Kathleen Harper, The University of Montana-Missoula
This is an activity about transport of sediment contaminated by copper, arsenic, and other heavy metals that was deposited into the Clark Fork River channel as the result of historical mining activity. The Clark Fork River between Butte and Milltown, Montana has been the focus of several large superfund projects designed to address the impacts of this legacy of mining in the watershed. This activity is used in an introductory physical geology lab (primarily non-majors) with students who may have limited experience working with quantitative analysis and analyzing graphs.