Abandoned Mines in Oregon

AMD. Abondoned mine drainage has proven to be quite a problem. This is a creek that flows away from a coal mine in Pennsylvania:

Above picture part of a film, Hope For Polluted Rivers



Above, a copper mine superfund site.

More on abandoned mine pollution


Famous story of Geese landing in the Berkely Pit Mine in Montana and the carcass and fungal remains producing biocontainment organisms. Kinda cool, kinda terribly sad for the geese.

Topographic Maps, An introduction to mining

This one may be a little more recognizable to some of us more than others.

Topographic maps help us recognize changes of elevation. They never cross. Ideally they never touch. They are an excellent plotline for a CSI episode whereby a man kills his competitor by coloring in more topo lines on the map. Super geeky, I know.

Test Questions for Rocks, Minerals, Chemistry

1. What are the four rock processes?
2.What process does a rock undergo to become an igneous rock.
3.What kind of rock is Granite?
4.What kind of rock is galena?
5.A name for a rock made of tiny tiny crushed seashells.
6.If an igneous rock would undergo change and become a metamorphic rock what process would it have to undergo?
7.Describe the change that took place when we made our clay models of the process to make metamorphic rock.
8.What are the two subprocesses of sedimentary rock formation?
9.Name two types of metamorphic rock.
10.Basalt is crushed with a hammer 1000 times and becomes very small particles. What process did it undergo?
11.A rock that is a collection of igneous, metamorphic, and sediment stuck together.
12.Name two sedimentary rocks.
13.Name two intrusive igneous rocks
14.Name two metamorphic rocks
15.Name four types of sediment.
16.How would you describe the appearance of a generic sedimentary rock?
17.How would you describe the appearance of a generic metamorphic rock.
18.How would you describe the appearance of an intrusive igneous rock?
19.What are the characteristics that allow us to differentiate minerals?
20.If the atomic number of Sodium is 11 and the atomic mass is 23 how many protons does Sodium have?
21.If NaCl is the chemical formula of a mineral, what is that mineral..
22.If the atomic number of Sodium is 11 and the atomic mass is 23 how many neutrons does it have?
23.Draw the Bohr model for Sodium
24.If NaCl is the chemical formula of a mineral, what is that mineral..
25.Au is the chemical make up of a mineral, what is that mineral?
26.

Material for upcoming tests, quizzes, and possibly enriching your life experiences:

NEED TO KNOW:

Chemistry:
Atoms are made of protons, electrons, and neutrons

The atomic number is the number of protons and electrons. The atomic mass minus the atomic number is the number of neutrons. See previous posts for information about Bohr's models.


Minerals:
Minerals are: Sold, Inorganic, Naturally Occurring, Definite Chemical Structure
Minerals are differentiated by: color, luster, streak, hardness, specific gravity, texture, taste

Be able to identify galena, potassium feldspar, talc, halite, calcite, hornblende, and quartz

Rocks are made of minerals:

Here is http://www.learner.org/interactives/rockcycle/diagram.html

Meanwhile: The three rock types are sedimentary, metamorphic, and igenous

Be able to identify and sort the following rocks into their respective place on said cycle (i.e. are they metamorphic, sedimentary, igneous, sediment, or a gnome.

Granite, Basalt, marble, gneiss, schist, basalt, obsidian, diamond, gold, limestone, conglomerate, coquina, sand, silt, clay, sand

Rock cycle diagram:

As you all well know, no one draws better than me... however these folks may have figured out how to make a rock cycle diagram:



And... if you thought my diagram was complex:

Assignment due 12-2-10

This assignment is due the Thursday after we come back from thanksgiving break.

Go to this site, read through, complete this quiz: http://www.learner.org/interactives/rockcycle/testskills.html

Print, and bring it to class with your first and last name printed on the top right hand side.

Sites for Mining Research

Your destiny is to describe in detail the mining, the process of refining, and the use of a mineral. For example, if you were assigned Iodine you would find several sources around the globe. Discuss how it is mined and what outcome that mining has in the population around the mine, the refining process and what chemicals or machinery is used to make a usable product, and what it is used for.

Your other option is to do a paper about a mining site and the environmental justice around this particular mineral resource.

One such example if I were doing a report on Uranium mining I might look at this site: http://www.sric.org/Churchrock/index.html and describe everything happening in that political, social, and physical environment.

A rough outline should go something like:

1. The mineral:
The mineral itself, the physical structure and if possible the electron diagram. What is interesting or unique about the mineral, and whether it is a liquid, solid, or gas at room temperature. Also, is it liquid, solid, or gas when originally mined.

2. Mining:

a. Where in the world
b. What is the original product
c. Who mines it
d. Any health effects on those people
e. Any effects on the environment
f. How is it refined
g. What chemicals are used in the refining process and what happens to those chemicals after they are used.

3. Products

a. How are they used
b. What country or industry is the biggest consumer.

Conclusion: What you've learned, ways that the process can be improved.

We have not yet agreed as a class on a rubric, however, I hope to use something along the lines of this: Rubric for Paper

Mineral Identification

Minerals have the four following characteristics:

Solid
Inorganic (was never alive)
Naturally occurring (not man made)
Definite Chemical Structure

We differentiate minerals by their:

Streak, Color, Hardness, Specific Gravity, Luster, Cleavage

Galena - PbS


Halite - NaCl


Feldspar - KAlSi3O8
or

Also know Hornblende, Quartz, Talc, Olivine, Calcite, Biotite,

Radioactive Dating

http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/radioactive-dating-game

In above website
Go to : radioactive dating game, go to measurement, watch the real time line graphs of original isotope, to next isotope. Note the shedding of subatomic particles.

In above website
Go to: Alpha decay, click add 10 , watch the demo. Not exciting enough? Add 10 about 10 times. There is a nuclear reaction not to stand around for....

Periodic Table, Bohr's Models

We're studying chemical elements, atomic structure, and electron diagrams to learn about how and why chemicals bond to make the rocks they do.


We're studying Bohr's models to learn about how and why chemicals bond to make the rocks they do.

Here is a link to the basics of atomic structure. http://web.jjay.cuny.edu/~acarpi/NSC/3-atoms.htm
Here is a short power point of how ALL OF IT it works:

Bohr Diagrams

View more presentations from Paul Cummings.

Safety Contract

See the Safety Contract

Geology Poetry

A geology professor writes amazing geology poems, none of which I could put on your syllabus as he copywrited them : (.... But you can peak at them here

New Course Catalog, Home Visit Packets

Home Visit Forms
New Course Catalog

First Semester Scope and Sequence

Minerals:
Introductory crystallography and crystal chemistry are used to explain the properties of minerals. Each of the major mineral groups is studied in the laboratory with a focus on developing competency in the identification of the ore minerals and the rock-forming minerals.

Rock Cycle:
Through the earth's dynamic changes driven by plate tectonics rocks are formed, eroded, formed again, melted, crystalized, and formed into yet another rock. This process continues through erosion, compaction, cementation, lithification, and metamorphisis. These processes form sediment, sedimentary rock, metamorphic rock, and igneous rock. We'll learn about each and examples of each. Students will be able to identify a rock samples by sight, by using dichotomous keys, and through laboratory testing.

Mining:
The most valuable mineral resources on our planet are dug in sometimes dangerous environments where miners are put at great risks. The more valuable the minerals sometimes the more danger people are willing to put miners through. Mining also has environmental implications that can wreak havoc on local populations. Students will each research a mineral ore and how it is used and mined. Students will present the social economic and political implications.

Soil:
We'll work with the roof top garden caretakers to learn about soil types, soil amendment, plant nutrients, and more. We'll evaluate soil types by trying to grow plants in several substrates.

Mapping:
Students will use topographic maps to interpret terrain. We'll learn to use maps for driving, wilderness orienteering, and learn about how geologists map the stratigraphy of the earth to inform us of mineral ore locations, landslide risks, earthquake faults and soil types that may exacerbate the effects of an earthquake.

Local and International Management of Natural Resources:
Students will explore an independent project that may explore the use and management of local and international mineral and rock resources. Other projects possible with instructor approval.

Course Descriptions

First Semester
Have you ever wondered how gems and crystals are formed? Have you ever found a rock and wondered what processes shaped it? In the this course we'll watch crystals form under a microscope. We will learn how to identify rocks, gems, and minerals. We'll learn how minerals are used and map the sources of important mineral resources. We'll hear about environmental, social, and political implications of local and international mining. We'll grow plants in various soil types to evaluate nutrients and drainage.



Second Semester
The Earth's surface is a dynamic changing place with exciting events such earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and sink holes that can swallow a house. It is also a dangerous place which is all to easy to forget. We'll learn how and why these events happen. We'll look at examples of how people have been prepared, not prepared, and the architecture that can protect us. We'll collect oral histories of natural disasters and the affects on survivors. We'll learn to prepare ourselves and our families to prepare and survive through a disaster. Topics will include plate tectonics, mountain building, volcanism, earthquakes, natural disasters, and natural disaster survival. We'll explore the local geology of our area through a series of optional Saturday field trips to be arranged by students, parents, and instructor.