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Title: Industrial Minerals Around the House
Level: K-12
Day/Time:

Academic Expectations
Core Content for Assessment:

Objective:

The purpose of this exercise is to show students how many minerals we use in our everyday life.

Activity:

See how many minerals, which make up the common household items (listed below) you know!

Background Information:

Item Minerals Needed to Produce Them

Carpet Calcium carbonate, limestone

Glass/Ceramics Silica sand, limestone, talc, lithium, borates, soda ash, feldspar

Linoleum Calcium carbonate, clay, wollastonite

Glossy paper Kaolin clay, limestone, sodium sulfate, lime, soda ash, titanium dioxide

Cake/Bread Gypsum, phosphates

Plant fertilizers Potash, phosphate, nitrogen, sulfur

Toothpaste Calcium carbonate, limestone, sodium carbonate, fluorine

Lipstick Calcium carbonate, talc

Baby powder Talc

Hair cream Calcium carbonate

Counter tops Titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate, aluminum hydrate

Household cleaners Silica, pumice, diatomite, feldspar, limestone

Caulking Limestone, gypsum

Jewelry Precious and semi-precious stones

Kitty litter Attapulgite, montmorillonite, zeolites, diatomite, pumice, volcanic ash

Fiberglass roofing Silica, borates, limestone, soda ash, feldspar

Potting soil Vermiculite, perlite, gypsum, zeolites, peat

Paint Titanium dioxide, kaolin clays, calcium carbonate, mica, talc, silica, wollastonite

Concrete Limestone, gypsum, iron oxide, clay

Wallboard Gypsum, clay, perlite, vermiculite, aluminum hydrate, borates

Spackling Gypsum, mica, clay, calcium carbonate

Pencil Graphite, clay

Carbon paper Bentonite, zeolite

Ink Calcium carbonate

Microwavable container Talc, calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, clay

Sports equipment Graphite, fiberglass

Pots and pans Aluminum, iron

Optical fibers Glass

Fruit juice Perlite, diatomite

Sugar Limestone, lime

Drinking water Limestone, lime, salt, fluorite

Vegetable oil Clay, perlite, diatomite

Medicines Calcium carbonate, magnesium, dolomite, kaolin, barium, iodine, sulfur, lithium

Porcelain figurines Silica, limestone, borates, soda ash, gypsum

Television 35 different minerals

Automobile 15 different minerals

Telephone 42 different minerals

Discussion:

• Does your state produce any of the minerals listed above?

• How do we get the minerals we need for the products we use in our everyday lives?

Adapted from materials provided by Women In Mining