Curated OER
Arkansas State Mineral: Quartz Mineral
The quartz crystals found in the mountains of Arkansas are among the purest and clearest in the world! This lesson has middle schoolers focus on this state mineral of Arkansas as they study the state's geography. A fun game is...
Curated OER
Crystal Painting
Young scholars investigate crystalline solids. In this crystals lesson, students observe samples of natural crystals and compare and contrast each. They draw pictures with crayons and then paint over their picture using crystalline...
Curated OER
For Creative Minds
Students study pictures of plants, animals, and minerals. Students classify the pictures into the three groups. For this rock identification lesson, students complete a rock finding lab experiment by finding, cleaning, identifying, and...
Curated OER
Uses of Minerals
In this minerals worksheet, students read an excerpt about gold and then respond to the questions that follow. They explain how the weight of gold affected the history of some western states and why gold is expensive.
Curated OER
The Rock Cycle
In this rock cycle activity, students copy the table illustrated for data and observations of rock samples. Then they examine the rock samples observing the characteristics and the arrangement of grains in each. Students then record...
Curated OER
Chemical Weathering
Eighth graders comprehend the effects of chemical and mechanical weathering. They comprehend the differences between the two forms of weathering and the various agents involved in both forms of weathering. Students complete a...
Curated OER
Quartz DBQ
In this quartz worksheet, students read about the chemical composition of quartz and its commercial applications. Then students complete 7 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Sand Hunt
In this earth science worksheet, students identify and locate various rocks and minerals listed on the sheet. Then they describe each one in the boxes given.
Curated OER
Comapring New Jersey Sediments
Students identify various types of sand by its uniformity of grain size. Students use a microscope to graphically compare particles by their degree of roundness and sphericity. Students compare their observations recorded in the table...
University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky: Kentucky Agate
Has information on agate which is Kentucky's official state rock. There are links to different close-up pictures of Kentucky agate.
Province of British Columbia
B.c. Ministry of Energy and Mines: Common Rock Forming Minerals
There are six common minerals most often found in rocks. They are quartz, feldspar, olivine, mica, pyroxene, and amphibole. This website provides photos and information on each, and discusses their importance when identifying rocks.
James Madison University
James Madison University: Clastic Sedimentary Rock Classification
An upper-level explanation of clastic sedimentary rock classification. Charts, diagrams, and review questions are included. Be sure to click on the PDF Clastic Identification key.
Other
The image.com: Gem Gallery
Learn all about gemstones at this site. Here you can view gem images and read the very detailed descriptions and general information facts pertaining to select gems.
Other
The image.com: Minerals
This is a very large list of minerals complete with image and physical descriptions, chemical descriptions, and classification.
Other
Webmineral: Quartz
This site is filled with information on the mineral quartz. General information, images, physical properties, and resources are also included.
Vision Learning
Visionlearning: Earth Science: Minerals Iii: The Silicates
Instructional module focusing on the Silicate minerals. Discussion includes the most common minerals on Earth such as quartz, feldspar, mica, amphibole, pyroxene, and olivine. Site also includes an interactive practice quiz and links...
Amethyst Galleries
Amethyst Galleries: The Mineral Quartz
This resource provides a description of the mineral quartz, including physical characteristics and color images.
PBS
Nova: America's Stone Age Explorers: The Fenn Cache
A close-up look at ten beautiful Clovis points made from several different materials found in what is known as the Fenn Cache.
US Geological Survey
Usgs: Production of Specific u.s. Gemstones
Photos of the principal gemstones produced in the United States, including an introduction to historical and other background information for each one.
University of Oregon
Museum of Natural and Cultural History: Rocks and Minerals: Everyday Uses
Click on the shelves in this virtual exhibition to learn about the many rocks and minerals that we use in our everyday lives.
University of Oregon
Ask Geo Man: Igneous Rock Forming Minerals
Ask GeoMan lists Olivine, Pyroxene, Amphibole, Feldspar, Mica and Quartz, as five common rock forming minerals. Characteristics of each are also given.
James Madison University
James Madison U.: Bowen's Reaction Series & Igneous Rock Forming Minerals
If you're interested in learning about the igneous rock-forming minerals in seeing multiple pictures of each sample, then this is your site. It also includes the chain that these minerals follow. Click on the PDF link for a printable...
Other
Chemeketa Community College: Igneous Rock Identification
This resource contains detailed summaries of eight different igneous minerals. It also has enlarged pictures of the minerals as they appear embedded in igneous rock.
Other
Rockhound Arkansas: Quartz as Gems
This article discusses different varieties of quartz that are used as gemstones. A general description of each is given, including its historical background and physical makeup. This page is part of an excellent, detailed website about...