Mapping Minerals
Supplies, instructions, resources, and worksheets are below!
Mapping Minerals
Project Description
In this STEM project, you’ll learn about Earth’s Minerals and where they are located. You’ll learn about 10 of the most used minerals and map them for their geographic location. You’ll map each mineral and where it is located in the world, and the United States.
Activity Time
1-2 days
Supplies Recommended
Lined Paper
World Map Worksheet
U.S. Map Worksheet
MindAt.org Mineral Online Resource
About 12 sheets of printer paper
Pencil
Learning Objectives
Understand what minerals are
Understand that minerals are found in certain places on Earth
Learn how minerals are used
Improve research, mapping, and geography skills
Vocabulary Terms to Understand
Look up each word and write their definition on paper.
mineral
mines
mining
resources
element
compound
Geologic Processes
ions
molecules
crystal
substance
radioactivity
hardness
fracture
ore
metal
gemstone
rock
igneous
sedimentary
metamorphic
rock cycle
Watch: Mining
Instructions
1. Print the Lined Paper, World Map, and U.S. Map Worksheets.
2. Use MindAt.org to look up each of the following ten Minerals listed below. Use Lined Paper to take notes on what each of the following minerals are, how they’re used, and where they are located in the world. You can include a picture of each mineral if you’d like.
- Uranium
- Silver
- Oil
- Lead
- Iron
- Diamond
- Bauxite
- Coal
- Copper
- Gold
3. Use MindAt.org to map each of the 10 minerals listed above to the World Map Worksheet and the U.S. Worksheet. Not all minerals are found everywhere. Use the Search feature on MindAt.org and enter each mineral listed. You’ll see a map toward the bottom of each mineral page.
4. Learn more about Minerals with the Resources below.
Questions
What are minerals and where are they found?
How are minerals used?
What are the major mineral deposits of the United States?
Where are the major mineral deposits of the United States?
What are the largest mineral deposits of your State and where are they located?
Resources
MindAt.org
Ducksters: What is a Mineral?
Mineralogy4Kids.org
What is a Mineral?
TheDiggings.com: Free Mining Claim Maps and Reports
How to Find Gold and Mineral Deposits