In this activity, students measure the specific gravity of rocks and equate it to density. There are instructions for modifying the balance to be able to weigh the rocks in water. There are also several suggestions about how to use the data and the kinds of graphs that can be made. The site has a list of materials, detailed instructions, and examples of charts and graphs. Full description.

Information and links for teaching rocks and minerals as a unit are provided on this website. The properties of minerals are discussed as well as a comparison of minerals and rocks. Links provide resources to discover more mineral information, deposit and gemstone explanations, and teaching resources. Full description.

This directory provides an alphabetical listing of more than 4,000 mineral species. Clicking on each mineral name provides access to information including chemical formula and composition, locality and name origin, physical properties, optical properties, images, and many others. Full description.

The purpose of this activity is to demonstrate how individual subjective taste is a factor in value (in terms of cost) in gemstones, which have their origin in the natural realm of minerals. Students will discover that the study of gems is an exciting and intriguing aspect to the study of minerals which can help to spur interest and lead to deeper understanding of mineral and crystal formation. As ... Full description.

This image gallery provides pictures of thousands of mineral specimens, arranged alphabetically. For each specimen, a thumbnail and a larger image are provided. Other information includes a brief description of the specimen being shown, scale bar (when available), locality data, and a link to additional information on the mineral. Full description.

This is the homepage of a Gem and Minerals class at the University of Texas. The course objectives are to explore the following topics: what are gems and minerals, methods of identification, physical and optical propoerties, crystallography and optics, lapidary arts, the geology of major gem localities, and the value of gems. The site offers access to the course syllabus, handouts, exams with interactive ... Full description.

This slide show provides basic information on the three major rock types and the rock cycle. Diagrams of the rock cycle explain the processes and changes that connect the three rock types and illustrate how one type can be changed into another. Each of the three types (sedimentary, igneous, metamorphic) are described and illustrated with photographs. Addresses for websites with additional information ... Full description.

This website contains a set of exercises for identifying metamorphic rocks based on their textures and physical properties. The student works with specimens and tools supplied by the teacher. The website also has information on classifying metamorphic rocks and on metamorphism. Links are provided to other web sites of interest to learners of different levels. Several books are also recommended. Full description.

This is the home page for the Mineralogy course at Middlebury College. An assignments section contains information on the physical properties of minerals, crystal symmetry, introduction to the Microscope, calcite experiment, uniaxial minerals, biaxial minerals, framework silicates, chain and ring silicates, scanning electron microscope, di and sheet silicates, ortho silicates, phase diagram calculation, ... Full description.

In this activity, students create their own toothpaste out of minerals, such as calcium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate. Each group then develops an ad campaign for their product. Full description.