How Science Works:
Finding Natural Resources/
Underground Topography
Concepts:
Name:______________________
Date:_______________________
Class#______________________
Total Points Earned: +__________ / 26
1) The English word “Science” comes from a Latin word “Scientia”
that means to know. Modern Science is a very detailed and systematic process of learning information about
the natural world through observation and experimentation. Science looks for repetition or patterns in nature
and tries to figure out what they mean. Earth Scientists look for patterns in the rocks, air, ocean, and ice layers
to help them find natural resources. Engineers and doctors make things by copying nature and combining old
things in new ways.
2) Proof is the evidence or facts that show an idea to be true. A fact is something that is known to be 100%
absolutely true or real because it has been directly observed. A hypothesis is an educated but uncertain guess
about the natural world. It is a starting point backed by observations. A theory is a guess (hypothesis) that is
backed by facts from experiments. Some theories are better (more accurate and reliable) than others because
they are backed by more facts. When a theory is directly proven 100%, then it is called a law.
3) Observations can be either direct or indirect. Direct: you or someone else observes something physical
using at least one of your five senses in the present time. No faith is required here. Indirect: you or someone
else observes at least part of it, what it does, or how it interacts with other objects - the effects of it. There must
be something else in nature to directly compare at least part of it to – a control. Includes empirical evidence
which uses math -the numbers say it must be like this. Since science cannot be everywhere at all times, most
scientific topics/theories use indirect proof. Indirect observations lead to questions and theories which must
require at least some amount of faith. Therefore, science can never totally answer every question and can never
totally prove everything 100%. There are many more questions than there are proven facts.
4) Remote sensing is the observation and measurement of objects from a distance using instruments or recorders
that are not in direct contact with objects under investigation. Remote sensing depends upon measuring some
kind of energy that is emitted, transmitted, or reflected from an object in order to determine certain physical
properties of the object. These energies include electromagnetic radiation such as visible light and invisible
thermal infrared (heat) energy and acoustical or sound energy. One of the most common types of remote
sensing is photography. Radar/Sonar as well as the human eye and ear are examples of remote sensing data
collection devices. Remote sensing differs from in situ sensing, where the instruments are immersed in, or
physically touch the objects of measurement. A common example of an in situ instrument is the seismograph
(earthquake wave detector) or the soil thermometer. These methods help make pictures and help us understand
places that we cannot physically go.
5) When water hits the ground after precipitation it follows surface contour lines as it flows as runoff into
lakes, rivers, and the ocean. Much of the water that hits the ground does not runoff. It percolates or moves
downward through the pores and open air spaces in the soil until it hits the water table - a place where the soil is
saturated or completely filled with water. This zone of saturation is an underground water storage area called
an aquifer.
6) The rate of movement of ground water depends on the porosity and permeability of the ground. Porosity is
the amount of void space or opening in a rock or other earth material like a sand deposit. It is how much water
a material can hold. Porosity represents the storage capacity of the ground material. It is measured in percent
of open space. The more tightly packed the grains are, the lower the porosity. If the sizes of the ground
particles are both large and small, the smaller grains tend to fill the spaces between the larger grains, resulting in
lower porosity.
7) Permeability refers to how well water flows through a material. It is controlled by how large the pores are,
and how well connected they are. Materials such as clay and shale may have a high porosity because of lots of
microscopic openings, but they have low permeability because the openings are not connected. So, water
cannot pass through. Materials such as clay and solid rock that block water are called confining units.
Materials Needed For Each Group:
metric ruler
2-3 pieces of graph paper per person
drawing compass
one tube drill

one prepared 1gallon bucket with ground materials
colored pencils
rubber stopper
Procedures:
Work in groups of 3-4. Help each other, but each person should make their own
pictures/profiles.
Place your drawings on a graph paper. Staple your graph papers behind this packet.
Complete the conclusion questions at the end of the lab. Each person, turn in this lab packet
for a grade.
Measure in centimeters to one decimal place.
1) Ask the instructor for a prepared one gallon bucket filled will various types of ground
materials (sand, gravel, dirt). Notice that each bucket is labeled with North, South, East and
West.
2) Pretend that you are a geologist looking for a natural resource to mine underground such as
sand&gravel or limestone. Your bucket is a model of an area that you are considering mining.
Your money is limited so you need to know where to mine and how much material you can get
out of the ground. Your goal is to determine the average thickness of the underground layers
found in your bucket and make a map that shows their position.
3) To find out what is underground, you will drill holes, pull the material out of the holes, and
examine it to determine the type and thickness of the underground layers. Pretend that the tube
is an auger drill rig that will allow you to drill a 2.2 cm diameter hole from the surface down to
the bedrock. Since your money is limited, you may drill only three holes. Carefully decide
where to place your drill holes that will give you an accurate map of the whole area. On one
side of the graph paper make a map showing from the top where you will place your holes.
Label each drill hole and the directions (N, S, E, W). Include an explanation why you chose
these locations. (This
is worth 2 points.)
Each bucket has a
special geological
treasure buried in one
of the layers. If you
find this treasure with
your drilling methods,
notify the instructor
immediately for bonus
points.
4) Before you drill, make sure that the rubber stopper is not on the end of the tube. For each
drill hole carefully twist the tube as you push down. Record how deep you are able to drill.
Once at the bottom, place the rubber stopper in the end of the tube and pull straight out.
Examine your core sample by measuring the thickness of each layer. Record the depth and
thicknesses in your data chart. After you measure, dump the drill materials on a paper towel to
better describe the material type, texture, and color on your data chart. On the back side of your
graph paper or on another piece of graph paper draw a scaled picture of each drill tube with
materials. Make your own symbols for the materials. You should have three pictures – one for
each core sample. Label your pictures with the depth and descriptions of each layer. Use the
drawings below only as an example. Every group’s picture will be different. (This is worth 3
points – 1 point for each picture.)
You should have three pictures
that look something like this.
One for drill holes A, B, and C.
DRILL HOLE A – 16 cm deep
Depth / Materials
4 cm thick
4 cm
course red gravel
5 cm thick
12 cm
fine red sand
Do not put the data chart next to the drill picture! This
is here only to show you how to draw your picture. Fill
in the data chart before you draw your picture.
Layer Depth
Top to Bottom
Layer
Thickness
Layer Description
ground to 4 cm
4 cm
Dirt/Black Topsoil
4 cm to 7 cm
3 cm
Course Red Gravel
7 cm to 12 cm
5 cm
Fine White Sand
12 cm to 16 cm
4 cm
Fine Red Sand
3 cm thick
7 cm
fine white sand
beginning and
ending of each layer
Layer Thickness
0 cm
dirt / topsoil
EXAMPLE ONLY – DO NOT COPY THIS!
4 cm thick
16 cm
5) Based upon your data, you should now be able to make a profile (picture from the side) of
the approximate underground topography. All you have to do is connect the layers of your
three core samples. Notice that you are making a new drawing from your three core sample
drawings. On a second piece of graph paper, make a color picture that shows your bucket
from an angle that shows all three core samples. Your profile picture should show the depth
and slope of each layer starting with the ground as 0. Use your data table to determine the
average thickness of each layer. Label each layer on your drawing with the material type and
average thickness. Include the direction on your drawing (N, S, E, W). Use the drawings
below only as an example. (profile picture=6 points: 2 pt. color; 4 pts. labeled layers, average thickness,
depth, direction)
Points for Graph Papers=11 pts:
(1) drill location and explanation: 2 points
(2) drill hole pictures: 3 points
(3) profile picture: 6 points
EXAMPLE ONLY – DO NOT COPY THIS!
Use your core sample pictures to get started by lining up the layers. (You may draw them again
lightly, but you must erase them.) Now remove the core samples to get the final picture.
Connect the top to the top and the
bottom to the bottom!
Layer 1
Layer 2
Layer 3
Layer 4
Drill Hole A
Drill Hole B
Layer 1
Layer 2
Layer 3
Layer 3
Start with this.
Drill Hole C
Layer 4
What if A and C have 4 layers and B has 3 layers?
Connect the dots!
Layer 3
Layer 4
Redraw the drill holes
and connect the dots to
get this.
Bonus Challenge
This is optional for students wishing bonus and an additional challenge. Make a second profile
picture on another piece of graph paper. Make this picture at a 90° angle from first. For
example if your first profile pic was centered on the north, then draw your second pic from the
east or west. Draw your second pic the same way you drew your first. Make sure to color and
label. Ask the instructor to check the orientation of your profile pictures. (bonus 2 to 6 points)
6) When you are finished with your pictures, ask the instructor for help emptying the buckets.
Find the geological treasure and give it to the instructor. Look at the bedrock in the empty
bucket. Answer the conclusion questions using your notes and textbook. Staple your graphs
behind this paper and turn it into the assignment tray for a grade.
Data Chart
(6 points)
DRILL HOLE A
Overall Depth_____
Layer Depth
Top to
Bottom
Layer
Thickness
Layer
Description
DRILL HOLE B
DRILL HOLE C
Overall Depth_____
Overall Depth_____
Layer Depth
Top to
Bottom
Layer
Thickness
Layer
Description
Layer Depth
Top to
Bottom
Layer
Thickness
Layer
Description
+_____ / 6
Conclusion Questions:
(9 points)
1) Which underground layer do you think had the most material (largest overall volume)?
Explain. How might you find the actual volume of each layer?
2) Think of at least two ways that scientists/engineers might improve this kind of mining
technology to make underground picture maps more reliable and realistic.
3) What do you think would happen if the thickest layer (one with the most volume of stuff)
was also the deepest? Do you think the mining companies would still want to get it? Explain.
4) Look up the word “reclamation”. What does it mean in regards to mining?
5) What is meant by the term “remote sensing”? Give real examples of this term that you might
see today.
+_____ / 5
6) List four things that you observe indirectly every day.
1)
2)
3)
4)
7) Explain why some theories or concepts in science can be more believable or realistic than
others.
8) Describe the porosity of the different materials in your sample area.
9) If the little open spaces in the sand/gravel/dirt of your drill sample were completely filled
with water, what would you call the area where the material was obtained?
+_____ / 4