Minerals in Our Daily

Lives

Jack Groppo, groppo@caer.uky.edu

University of Kentucky,

Center for Applied Energy Research

2540 Research Park Dr., Lexington, KY 40511

859-257-0254

4th grade science experiment

Overview

• Experiment Objectives• Materials• Procedure• Conclusions• General Observations and Helpful

Hints• Resources

Experiment Objective

To demonstrate how minerals are used in our daily lives.

Materials Needed• Various mineral specimens• Common household products• Sheet of paper listing all of the

minerals used with a blank space next to each mineral listed.

Procedure1. Place an appropriate sticker on each of the

mineral specimens to identify each mineral with a letter (e.g. A. B. C, etc).

2. Place and appropriate sticker on each of the products to identify each with an appropriate number (e.g. 1,2,3, etc.).

3. Randomly arrange the minerals and products on a table.

4. Provide each student with a sheet of paper listing the minerals.

5. Have students match the minerals with each of the products they are used to produce.

Conclusions

• The purpose of this demonstration is to illustrate that minerals are essential to our daily lives.

• Just about everything that we use, from computers to energy to common household products was derived from minerals.

• Recycling products and not being wasteful are ways we can reduce the amount of minerals that we need to mine.

General Observations and

Helpful Hints• Use mineral specimens that have

interesting properties such as color, crystals, softness, etc.

• Use common products that the students recognize.

• Describe each mineral and allow the students to guess which product is used to make it.

Suggestions for Minerals and Products

Mineral ProductQuartz Mason jarBauxite Soda canGraphite PencilSpodumene Watch batteryMalachite Copper pipe or wireFeldspar Dinner plateSphalerite Zinc nails or U.S. pennyTalc Baby powderMica Cosmetic make-upGold Computer componentsStibnite FireworksGalena Fishing sinkersCoal Electricity (light bulb)

Resources for Materials

• Mineral Information Institute (www.mii.org/commonminerals.php)This is an excellent source of information with pictures and description of minerals and their uses.

• Ward's Scientific (www.wardsci.com)• State Geological Surveys• Ward's Scientific (www.wardsci.com)• Local rock and mineral trade shows