“Rocks and Minerals” with David Walker (Oct 2000)

Rocks and Minerals

Guest Scientist: David Walker 

Originally presented Oct 2000 

                                     

 

Welcome/Introduction to “Earth2Class”

View the introductory slide presentations

 

Guest Scientist: David Walker

Dr. Walker is the Higgins Professor in Columbia’s Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences, with many achievements in the field of Geochemistry.

View Dr. Walker’s slides presentation

Basic to teaching Earth science. In this program, we find out how a petrologist looks at them, especially the crystalline state that characterizes minerals. The best way to demonstrate that minerals are crystalline is to show that they diffract X-rays. The variety of diffraction patterns produced is extremely useful in distinguishing different minerals from each other. A demonstration of diffraction and the theory behind it will be presented with practical applications.

Rocks and Minerals Resources

• EXAMINE THE PERTINENT CURRICULUM GUIDES, VOCABULARY, AND OTHER RESOURCES
• BROWSE THE “MINERALS, ROCKS, AND RESOURCES” ACTIVITIES AND OTHER RESOURCES CREATED BY DR. PASSOW

 

Educational Technology,

Virtual Simulations of Microscopy and Optics – Make sure you check out the Polarized Light Microscopy to see how crystallized specimens appear when viewed through a polarized light microscope. Samples include a Moon rock, a dinosaur bone, spinach, amethyst and many others.
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/tutorials/index.html