Exploring Critical Minerals

This class is used in an introductory geology general education class for non-majors with little geologic background.

Students must have some concept of plate tectonics, rock types, and the difference between elements and minerals.

This is a stand-alone exercise, but it takes place after exercises on plate tectonics, rocks and minerals, so it builds on basic knowledge students should gain through typical classes on those topics.

By the end of class, students should be able to:

• Define "critical minerals" and describe some of their common uses
• Differentiate between a mineral resource and a mineral reserve
• Describe common tectonic settings in which mineral deposits form
• Discuss at least one way in which critical minerals require international collaboration

Interpretation of graphs and maps
Integrating new information with previously gained knowledge on plate tectonic settings
Integrate geologic knowledge with knowledge from other disciplines, including economics, international relations, transportation, etc.

Work in groups towards a common goal
Communication of findings

The materials for this exercise comprise the Critical Minerals Prework file, the Critical Minerals class file, the Critical Minerals Student Handouts file and the Instructor Cheat Sheet which includes suggested questions.

The prework is designed to preview what students will be doing in class, by using a similar example of handout, focused on copper, and asking students to answer a series of simple multiple choice questions in a LMS quiz format (for auto-grading). Suggested questions are included in the Instructor Cheat Sheet.

The Instructor Cheat Sheet is intended to give the instructor a little more background on the four metals we consider during this class. It's brief and informal but hopefully helpful!

During class, the instructor walks through the Critical Minerals Class powerpoint to introduce the topic and give a little background knowledge. Optional pre/post questions are included in the slides and the Instructor Cheat Sheet.

The Critical Minerals Class powerpoint introduces the idea that each element has unique properties and is used for unique functions, and that we use countless elements every day without noticing or thinking about the hidden impact that that has on our world. Mining has a terrible reputation, but is also absolutely critical for our current lifestyle. For example, a smartphone contains over 70 different elements, and many of these will be mined from individual deposits, requiring MANY mines (and many countries) to make a single cell phone.

We use a US Department of Energy report to show predictions on how supply chains for different elements will become more risky and which elements will become increasingly important to energy in the USA. We then consider the global nature of critical mineral production for selected critical minerals through a jigsaw-format activity.

Students break into groups and consider one case study per group, exploring the tectonic context of these deposits, how they form, where they are found globally and where they are produced globally. They learn the words 'reserve' and 'resource', and consider why the countries with the highest reserves for a mineral are not always the biggest producers of that mineral. Handouts may be printed or shared electronically (we have tried both and either works). The class reconvenes and discusses each case study as a class.

The class then considers an example of the global supply chain showing that minerals may be mined in one country, shipped elsewhere for processing multiple times, and then eventually shipped to the manufacturers that eventually use it, meaning this really is a global economy, with a high carbon footprint.
Students then go back into their small groups to consider their own mineral footprints, and reflect on how they could reduce those.

Instructor cheat sheet (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 11kB Jul2 26) 
Critical Minerals pre-class homework (PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) 1.5MB Jul2 26) 
Critical Minerals class slides (PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) 4.5MB Jul2 26) 
Critical minerals student handouts (PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) 12.7MB Jul2 26) 

Teaching notes and tips are included in the "Instructor Cheat Sheet" file.

We use a pre/post survey to assess student learning in this activity. Questions are included in the Instructor Cheat Sheet.

References used are included as a separate slide at the end of each file.