Earth Science Extras (ESE2)

Title: Braided river in Alaska

Module 4: Miscellaneous Advanced Extras

This module includes lab-like online lessons in mineralogy/petrology and mapping, including 1) hand sample identification of minerals, 2) identification and interpretation of rocks in hand sample, 3) identification and interpretation of rocks, minerals and fossils under the petrographic microscope, 4) 2-D and 3-D crystal systems, 5) mineral chemistry, 6) Topographic Maps, and 7) Geological Maps. Some of these are advanced lessons without curricular context and consequently they do not provide all of the introductory material that is pre-requisite for doing them--thus, Caveat Emptor! Material in the previous lessons of this course, as well as ideas presented in Earth Science Essentials (ESE1) accessed from Earth Science for Teachers homepage, are helpful, but may not be sufficient prerequisite.

Individual lessons will open in a new page--simply close the page when done and return here.

Mineralogy and Petrology

Mineral Chemistry

Note: The lessons below provide exercises in mineral chemistry, including relation between chemistry, structure, and properties, including mineral groups, silicate types, substitution rules (Goldschmidt's Rules), and the relationship between Gibb's Free Energy and ease for refininng metals such as CuS, SnO2, Fe2O3, Al2O3

Mineral Identification in Hand Sample:

Note: The mineral exercises below provides an opportunity for you to gather some of the observational evidence that allows for the identifcation of minerals in hand sample, but it provides that opportunity through the use of video in an online environment. You will need to know the properties of minerals and understand how to use those properties to identify minerals before engaging in these exercises.

Introductory Mineral Lab

Introductory Mineralogy Lab

Advanced Mineral Test

Petrographic Identification of Minerals, Rocks and Fossils: Lab

Note: The online labs below provide you with the opportunity to gather some of the observational evidence that allow for the identification and interpretation of minerals, rocks, and fossils in thin section under a petrographic microscope, including allowing rotation of the stage to observe interference colors and extinction angles. These exercises are appropriate for an introductory college mineralogy or pertrology course.

Phase Diagrams and Equilibria: Problems and Exercises

Note: The lessons below provide problems in phase equilibria and phase diagrams, adding to our previous lessons on Phase Diagrams in Aqueous Geochemistry and Aqueous Geochemistry and Ore Deposits but with greater relevance to igneous rocks. This material ranges in difficulty from introductory college mineralogy and petrology to more advanced concepts and provides deeper understanding of the connection between geological systems and chemistry.

Rocks and Stories Lab: Describing, interpreting, and naming rocks in hand sample

Note: The lessons below provide practice in recognizing important textures and minerals in hand sample, in interpreting ('telling the story") of those rocks, and finally, naming the rocks. This builds on previous petrological skills developed in Earth Science Essentials (ESE1) which can be accessed from the Earth Science for Teachers homepage

Rocks and Stories: Problems in Petrology

Note: The lesson below provides practice in understanding a few basic concepts of petrology and interpretting published research

Case Studies in Petrology: Igneous and Sedimentary Rocks

Crystal Systems: Exercises in Identifying Symmetry Patterns

Note: The lessons below provide challenges in understanding symmetry, unit cells, lattices, point groups, and crystal systems. The first lesson ranges in difficulty from material appropriate for elementary students to fairly complex symmetry appropriate for college mineralogy. The use of symmetry examples from artwork offers an opportunity to link geology with art concepts. The second lesson on 3-D symmetry and crystal systems provides exercises in spatial thinking, with some parts appropriate for middle or high school and others being fairly challenging for a college intro mineralogy class.

Geographical, Geological and Topographic Maps

Note: The lessons below provide overviews of geographical map uses (including weather, landscapes and natural hazards), an introduction to topoographic maps (appropriate for an introductory course in physical geography or geology), and exercises in geological mapping (appropriate for a more advanced class and building on ideas from previous lessons on Structural Geology: Plate Tectonics and Structural Geology: Spatial Thinking and Mapping). The analytical map interpretations provide both conceptual and numerical challenges with geological and topographic maps.

Mapping Exercises, Reviews, and Tests