This fact sheet from the U.S. Geological Survey shows ore minerals that are sources of mineral commodities used to make cell phones and a map of the countries that produce some of these minerals.
Topic: Copper
The Life Cycle of a Mineral Deposit – A Teacher’s Guide for Hands-on Mineral Education Activities
Information, a glossary, and activities on finding, identifying, and extracting mineral resources used in our everyday lives.
Rio Tinto Kennecott Utah Copper Virtual Tour
Take a virtual tour behind-the-scenes of Rio Tinto’s Kennecott Bingham Canyon Mine in Utah. The mine is the largest excavation on Earth and over its history has produced more copper than any other mine. The Kennecott Bingham Canyon Mine also produces gold, silver and molybdenum. Visit the mine, concentrator, smelter, refinery and other facilities through captioned narration, 360° images, and videos.
Learn about environment and sustainability efforts that include the “cleanest smelter in the world,” reusing 80% of their water, and creating the 3000 acre shorebird preserve, LEED buildings and a sustainable community. Content is aimed at grades 6-12, though all ages will enjoy the Virtual Tour.
Note: The tour requires sign-in with name and email. The virtual tour works best with the latest version of modern browsers Firefox, Explorer and Chrome.
From Ore To More Video
This fun 6-minute video from Rio Tinto’s Kennecott Utah Copper tells the story of copper from start to finish, through the mining, processing and end uses of copper, complete with great mathematical analogies for the scale of giant sizes and weights.
Content aimed at grades 4-8, though all ages will enjoy the video. [5:59]
Nevada Mining Association Hands-On Mineral Education Activities
Conduct learning activities all about mining, processing ore, and the properties, chemistry and importance of minerals and their uses. The activities can be filtered by Grade Level.
The Mining Industry and Minerals Primer
This eight-page publication has information about the common mineral groups, how a mine is made, mineral exploration, concentrating, smelting and refining, and related simple activities.
11″ x 17″ two-color newspaper-format
Suggested Grades: K – 8
Electricity Primer
This eight-page National Energy Foundation publication provides background information on electricity, a glossary and related hands-on activities.
This is a good companion piece to the Iron In Our Electrical World Video and Coal Poster.
11″ x 17″ two-color newspaper-format
Suggested Grades: 3 – 8
Dig Into Mining: The Story of Copper Activities
Uncover the use of metals such as copper, gold and molybdenum in everyday life and gain a deeper understanding of today’s hard rock mining industry. Discovery Education and Freeport-McMoRan have created an interactive program for grades 6-8 and 9-12 that equips educators, students and families with dynamic resources – including a virtual field trip, interactive digital learning tools, school-to-home connections, exploration activities and STEM resources.
STEM Pro Live – Freeport-McMoRan, Miami Mine, CO – April 2015 — Video
Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM subjects) are used by mining professionals throughout the industry. Listen to these interviews to see how interest in STEM subjects can lead to a rewarding career in the mining industry.
Here, Michelle Montague, a senior geologist, and Jerek Caroll, a mining engineer, from Freeport-McMoRan Miami Mine discuss their careers. A senior geologist identifies minerals in blast holes in the mine allowing a computer model of the mineral resources to be created. As geomechanical engineer, Jerek ensures the safety of the mine slopes using radar and laser technology. He also designs the blasting plans to ensure safety and effectiveness. [29:00]
Ground Rules: Mining Right for a Sustainable Future Lesson Plans
75 lesson plans, appropriate for grades 6-12, exploring mining, ore processing, geology, and minerals in everyday life, available in English and Spanish, enhance the video.
