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: Metals
Mining Fact Sheet
This Mining Fact Sheet summarizes major mining and mineral processing tools and techniques and highlights critical metals.
Mineral Resources Fact Sheet
This Mineral Resources Fact Sheet discusses some of today’s important mineral and mining topics such as minerals in your diet, industrial and construction minerals, minerals in green technology, artisanal mining and conflicts and efforts to address these.
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.
Saskatchewan Mining Association Resources For Teachers Grades 9-12
Conduct activities about potash, uranium, coal, gold and modern mining techniques. Activities are from Saskatchewan Mining Association.
Grades 9-12
Potash, uranium and coal activities by resource:
Potash mining and new pilot mineral exploration activities.
Potash and Uranium Mining and Mill Tours.
Saskatchewan Mining Association Resources For Teachers Grades 6-8
Conduct activities about potash, uranium, coal, gold and modern mining techniques. Activities are from the Saskatchewan Mining Association.
Grades 6-8
Potash, coal and new pilot mineral exploration activities.
Potash, uranium and coal activities by resource.
Potash and Uranium Mining and Mill Tours.
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 Virtual Tour
Take a virtual self-guided tour behind-the-scenes of Newmont Mining’s Twin Creeks Gold Mine and Mill. View the mine from an overlook, visit the underground mine (1000 feet below the surface), the gold refinery, process lab, emergency refuge chamber and other facilities through narration, 360° images, and videos. The upper left area has symbols for options like a list of the stops on the tour, a map of the tour, and more information about some of the sites on the tour.
Note: The virtual tour works best with the latest version of modern browsers Firefox, Explorer and Chrome. The introductory narration can be silenced with a sound button in the lower right corner area. If this does not work, start again and go directly back to where you were. Content is aimed at grades 6-12, though all ages will enjoy the Virtual Tour.
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.
