How To Find Minerals
Purpose: To understand the technology of gold detection & drilling for core samples
Task: To investigate modern methods of mineral exploration and to take core samples from a simulated landform
Organisation: 4 groups
Background Information:
When searching for gold deposits aerial surveys are commonly used in the first instance.
The aircraft uses a magnetometer, an instrument that measures the magnetic properties of the rocks below the surface. They look for a magnetic anomaly, which are deposits that are not magnetic.
This can be demonstrated to students by burying some magnetic material in a shallow tray of sand. Pass a strong magnet over the sand tray. The magnetic material is revealed, the nonmagnetic areas represent areas that could contain gold deposits.
This is the principle involved in aerial surveying. Once an area has been identified as a possible gold bearing deposit then drilling for core samples takes place.
- Explain or demonstrate aerial surveying
- Compare this method with how fold was first discovered
- Discuss how new technology has enabled old gold mines to be reopened
- Discuss modern drilling methods
You will need:
- Land forms made with different layers of coloured playdough rolled gently together
- Apple corer
- A little vegetable oil for lubrication
Activity:
- Groups choose a landform to drill (not the one they constructed)
- Dip the drill (apple corer) in vegetable oil
- Choose a site
- Insert corer and rotate gently while pushing down through all layers
- Withdraw the corer rotating in the opposite direction
- Tap or blow the core sample out of the apple corer
- Did you strike gold?
- Repeat in another 6 or 7 locations; make sure you number all sites and samples taken.
Follow Up Discussion:
- If you were to mine the site, where would you start? Why?
Record: Using different coloured paper and shapes, students record the activity and add to the display. Eg: blue square, yellow triangle, pink circle.
Optional download:
