Geology 8 - Earth Science
California State University, Sacramento

Unit 5 - Minerals, Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rocks

Review of instructions for completing the Activities (see the syllabus for more details): Surfing Sites: You must visit all of the surfing sites and write a description of the content of each one. Please note that a web site may consist of many web pages and you should visit enough of these to be able to describe what the entire site is about, not just the home page. Your descriptions should be brief - perhaps a paragraph for each site - but must include 1) a general description of the web site and 2) at least one example of something you learned from the Web site. Web Exercise: You must 1) describe in detail what you did in the Web Exercise and 2) report to me your results. Be sure to include in your report the answers to any questions which are asked on the web site, copies of any forms which you filled out and any certificates of completion which you receive.

Activity #1 Surfing Sites Minerals Periodic Table Web Exercise Go to Element/Symbol Matching Game. Play the game. Describe what happened and how well you did.

Activity #2 Surfing Sites California's Gold Rush Recreational Gold Prospecting Web Exercise Go to Start a Mine. Click on "to the bush" and follow the instructions given on the Web site. Report what you did and your results.

Activity #3 Surfing Site Forty Common Minerals and Their Uses Web Exercise Go to Minerals and Metals at Home. 1. Click on "take the tour" and follow the instructions given on the Web site. 2. Click on "take the test" and follow the instructions given on the Web site. Report your answers and how well you did.

Activity #4 Surfing Sites Physical Properties of Minerals Minerals and Gemstones Minerals by Name Image Gallery Smithsonian Gem Gallery and Smithsonian Mineral Gallery Web Exercise Go to Mohs Hardness Tutorial. After reading the text, determine the hardness of: 1) a piece of glass 2) a piece of plastic 3) a dime. Report your results.

Activity #5 Surfing Sites Glossary of Geological Terms Rock Primer The Rock Cycle Sedimentary Rocks Metamorphic Rocks Web Exercise Collect a rock. Go to Rock Identification. Follow the instructions given on the web site to identify your rock. Submit either your rock or a picture of your rock and report what kind of rock you think it is.

Activity #6 Surfing Sites Crystal Forms Gemstones Web Exercise Go to How do Crystals Grow? Complete all 9 pages of the tutorial (by using the "next" links) and report your answers to all the questions which are asked.

Activity #7 Web Exercise Go to Mineral Identification. Look up your birthstone. Determine its chemical formula, physical properties (hardness, cleavage, streak, etc.) and where it is found. Report your results.

Activity #8 Web Exercise Go to Matter and Minerals Quiz. Take the Quiz and report your score. (Please don't "cheat." The point of these quizzes is for you to see how much - or how little - you have learned.)

Activity #9 Web Exercise Go to Minerals Quiz. Take the Quiz and report the number of questions you answered correctly on your first try. (Please don't "cheat." The point of these quizzes is for you to see how much - or how little - you have learned.)

Activity #10 Web Exercise Go to Sedimentary Rocks Quiz. Take the Quiz and report the number of questions you answered correctly on your first try. (Please don't "cheat." The point of these quizzes is for you to see how much - or how little - you have learned.)

Activity #11 Web Exercise Go to Metamorphic Rocks Quiz. Take the Quiz and report the number of questions you answered correctly on your first try. (Please don't "cheat." The point of these quizzes is for you to see how much - or how little - you have learned.)