Learning Objectives:

Identify products that use metal and nonmetal/industrial mineral resources.
Become familiar with the geologic processes and geographic distribution of metal or nonmetal/industrial mineral.
Conduct an analysis of products used in the home and/or workplace.
Part 1:

Visit a local home improvement store and/or hardware store (e.g., Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware, etc.) to find a product that uses the metal, nonmetal and/or industrial mineral listed below as the major ingredient. You do not need to purchase any products for this assignment.

Note: This assignment can also be completed over the Internet at the websites from the stores listed above; however, it’s recommended that students visit the location. You are required to take pictures of each product. Photographs are required for all final reports.

Part 2:

Conduct an analysis of the same metals and nonmetal/industrial minerals listed above used in your home and/or workplace. Basically find any products and/or building materials that uses the same metals and nonmetal/industrial minerals from Part 1 in your home and/or workplace. You can repeat the products found in Part 1 if needed.

Part 3:

Complete a report using the following format:

Introduction
Product Analysis (Use information from Part 1)
A picture of the product must be included with a description of the following:

information about the use of the product
the geologic occurrence of the metal or nonmetal/industrial mineral (e.g., ore deposit mineral models)
examples of major deposits (e.g., Bushveld, South Africa).
Cite your sources using MLA citation and format style (Links to an external site.).

Personal Uses (Use information from Part 2)
Conclusion
Part 4:

Submit report in required dropbox in pdf or word format.

List of Metals, Nonmetals, and Industrial Minerals

Abundant and Scarce Metal Resources
Fe
Al
Mg
Ti
Zn
Cu
Pb
Cr
Ni
Nonmetals and Industrial Minerals
N
P
K
Gypsum
Aggregate
Dimension Stone

*A separate product is required for each metal, nonmetal and/or industrial mineral listed in the table.

Shopping Assignment ExamplePreview the document

**Do not copy the example! You report must be unique and your own work.

USGS Factsheets

USGS Mineral Resources Out of the Ground into our daily livesPreview the document
USGS Minerals in our EnvironmentPreview the document