Rare earths - vital components in modern technology

We continue our theme of Essential Minerals for the Green Revolution with 'Rare Earth Elements; vital components in modern technology'.

This activity could be used in a lesson on the need to identify and exploit rare earth minerals in vital applications in many different fields, ranging from optics to energy saving devices and medical equipment. They are particularly important as catalysts in industrial processes and in the manufacture of strong magnets.

Other related activities can be found in our Minerals category.

Our ELI today is 'Essential Minerals for the Green Revolution – 6 “The Three Ts”; Tin, Tungsten and Tantalum'.

This ELI involves contrasting good practice in extracting essential minerals with illegal mining. It includes a brief survey of world production of the “Three Ts”.

Related activities can be found in our Minerals and Mining and the Green Revolution            categories.

Fun way to demonstrate sea floor spreading and magnetic stripes

We thought you would enjoy a fun activity as we end our magnetism and plate tectonics series.  'Hands on magnetic stripes; demonstrating how oceanic ridge magnetic stripes form, with several pairs of hands'.

This activity involves a class demonstration of how ocean floor magnetic stripes form, using the hands of pupils. It usually ends with the 'ridge' collapsing and much laughter.

Related activities can be found in our Plate tectonics and Magnetism categories.