Minerals Downunder - Teacher Guide

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Minerals in our Everyday Lives

Activites for pages 12 and 13 of the Minerals Downunder Student book:

Minerals are the source of metals. Bicycle frames can be made from a metal alloy containing melybdenum, chromium, manganese and boron. The bike spokes are made of stainless steel - another alloy. Conduct research to find out why alloys are often used instead of pure metals.
Students could examine various items around the classroom ar at home in the kitchen cupboards and their wardrobes to list the minerals, or the metals contained in minerals that are identified on the items for example, cereals and vitamin tablets, synthetic clothes. Metal Matters is a useful tool for this purpose.
As a critical literacy activity, students could also collect examples of texts or text extracts where certain minerals have been highlighted as a selling point such as tennis racquets, or computers. They could then consider the degree of relevance or hyperbole of the assertions made.
Students could consider a range of everyday objects, sucha as spectacles, music systems, utensils, pots, and bowls, in terms of the composition of the items at different points in history, eg buckets and bowls that were once made of tin are now made from plastic. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using plastic instead of metals?
On page 12, it states that in a lifetime an Australian could use: 200 tonnes of coal, 175,000 litres of oil, 55 tonnes of limestone, 50 tonnes of iron ore, 12 tonnes of phosphate and 4 tonnes of lead-zinc oil. Make a list identifying how these products of mining would be used to enhance an Australian's lifestyle.
Conduct research to find out how the metal aluminium is extracted from the mineral bauxite. Then create a flow chart showing steps needed to create a bicycle wheel rim out of aluminium.