The reconnaissance team that explored Painted Canyon brought back samples of minerals and rocks for you to investigate and use to unravel the geologic history of Painted Canyon. There are four main exercises: (A) locating on the topographic map where the mineral samples were collected, (B) learning how to distinguish different minerals, (C) using these criteria to identify some mineral samples from Painted Canyon, and (D) identifying some minerals in coarse-grained rocks from Painted Canyon.
There was great excitement in camp when the reconnaissance team displayed their collection of rocks and minerals, most of which came from the deeper parts of the canyon. These collections included such unique and attractive minerals as garnet and olivine. The solid parts of the Earth (and other planets) are composed of minerals, which are naturally occurring solids with a definite crystalline structure. Minerals are distinguished by properties, such as hardness and crystal form, which can readily be observed. Minerals occur together to form rocks, the building blocks of the landscape. Most minerals form from the cooling and solidification of molten rock and many others are precipitated from water. Once formed, minerals can be eroded into grains of sand, silt, and clay, deposited along beaches and rivers, and incorporated into other rocks. Understanding minerals and rocks is the first step in unraveling the geologic history of Painted Canyon.
Goals for This ModuleLocate mineral samples on the topographic map of Painted Canyon Observe and recognize properties of minerals Observe and recognize important minerals Identify unknown minerals |
Follow the directions in your lab manual, which will instruct you on how to complete Assessment 3E on Canvas.
Complete the Module 3 follow-up quiz on Canvas.