Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences

Earthworks
Earth System Science for Secondary Teachers

Lynda Nicholson

Mining, Mapping and Mercury

Learning Objectives: Students learn history, culture and significance of cinnabar mining. Locating and plotting information on topographic maps. Use of GPS equipment to locate and gather data. Identify specific rock types in local area

Where: Classroom (prep), New Almaden Quicksilver Mine/Park in San Jose, CA

Who: 9-12 grade Earth Science and Integrated Science students

What:

• Introduce students to a variety of maps and practice reading, locating, and plotting school site.
• Rock and mineral identification and mineral properties.
• Economic and cultural uses of rocks and minerals.
• Environmental concerns/impacts/remedies.

When: Field trips after class and school site transects, map familiarity and rock/mineral ID and uses. GPS if/when equipment is obtained.

Potential Barriers:

• Money for equipment, fieldtrips
• Student motivation
• Number of students allowed at museum/park at one time
• Number of adult/parent chaperones
• Transportation

Possible Strategies: Requests for outside funding/equipment and for parent volunteers.

Earth System connection/Extensions:

Space Science - How do we locate things in space? From space?
Plate Tectonics - why certain rocks are located where they are.
Social/Economic - WWII, mining, Native Americans, site deposits, what makes a deposit an ore?
Environmental Issues- Mercury in local setting, water pollution/toxicity.