Earth and Earth Materials II Worksheet
From Visualizing Earth Science, by Merali, Z., and Skinner, B. J, 2009, Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Copyright 2009 by Wiley. Adapted with permission.
Part 1
After viewing the Cooper Pedy Video in Section 2.2., please answer the following questions in 150 to 200 words. Support your answers with referenced documentation.
1. Does mining cost more than it's worth?
2. How is searching for diamonds different than searching for opals? Consider both where they are found and what types of equipment are needed to mine opals and diamonds.
Part 2
Complete the mineral Drag and Drop in Section 2.1.
1. What is Moh's scale of hardness used for?
2. If you have an unidentified mineral sample, what tests can you apply to determine what the mineral is?
Part 3
A map similar to this appears in Chapter 2 of your textbook.
1. In the following table, identify some of the minerals that are extracted from each region next to the corresponding letter.
2. Discuss the economic and environmental impacts of extracting any two minerals that you identified in the table. (Additional resources may be necessary.)
Part 4
In the following table, summarize what scientists have learned from the fossil record. Include the type of fossil evidence scientists used in their research. Add one more type of evidence with a summary to the table.
Note. You may need to do outside research to complete the table. Cite any references used and provide a References page.
Area of information
Climate change
Continental drift
Extinct species: dinosaurs, early mammals, and so on
Evolution
Meteor strikes
Mass extinctions
Wandering poles
Other