Concentrating on Copper: An Exploration of Mineral Commodities part of Teaching Activities
Russell Kohrs, Massanutten Regional Governor's School
Introduction Understanding market price fluctuations is difficult for the average consumer as they are not often cognizant of what raw materials are used for various products. The goal of this lesson is to ...

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.

Benefits and consequences of using minerals as natural resources part of Mineralogy:Activities
Geoffrey Cook, University of California-San Diego
In a short research assignment, students learn about mineral resources that are used in common, present-day electronic devices (a cell-phone is used as a prime example). They investigate the environmental and ...

Gold: Its impact on South Africa part of NAGT:Our Resources:Teaching Resources:Teaching Materials Collection
Alan Buss, University of Wyoming

Copper Extraction Demonstration Tutorial part of Starting Point-Teaching Entry Level Geoscience:Interactive Lecture Demonstrations:Examples
Summary This demonstration uses sulfuric acid and crushed copper ore (malachite) to produce a solution of copper sulfate and carbonic acid in a beaker. When a freshly sanded nail is dropped into the copper sulfate ...

Deciphering complex fluid-mineral interactions in the palm of your hand part of Complex Systems:Teaching Activities
Barb Dutrow, Louisiana State University
This exercise uses polished rock slabs containing veins sealed by copper-bearing minerals to understand the feedback effects in complex fluid-rock systems. By determining the minerals and their relative timing, the ...

Mining - Least Cost lab part of Complex Systems:Teaching Activities
Ann Linsley, Bellaire High School
This is an exercise that simulates the basic cost of mining, transportation and manufacturing activities under the concept of Weber's least-cost theory.

Discovering the Effect Mining has on Land part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Debra Olson
This is an investigation where students observe what happens to land after it is mined. Students will create a hypothesis, observe their model, conclude what happens to land after it is mined, and discover the role humans play in land conservation.

Prospecting for Gold part of Quantitative Skills:Activity Collection
James Myers, University of Wyoming
Gold prospecting exercise.