Rocks and Minerals Inquiry Lesson #6
Unit: 2
Mini-unit: Saskatchewan rocks.
Topic: Rocks and Minerals
Time: 1 – 2 Classes
Learning Objectives:
Common Essential Learnings Objectives:
RM4.1 Investigate physical properties of rocks and
minerals, including those found in the local
environment.
b. Document the locations and characteristics of rocks that
exist in their local environment.
Communication—discussion
Critical and creative thinking
Personal and Social Values
Technological literacy.
RM4.2 Assess how human uses of rocks and minerals
impact self, society, and the environment.
b. Identify objects in their local environment that are made
from rocks and minerals (e.g., nickel, table salt, pottery,
cement, carvings, brick, jewelry, bicycle, nutrients, battery,
copper wiring, soda can, plumbing pipe, and sidewalk).
f. Identify locations where minerals, including potash,
sodium sulphate, salt, kaolin, uranium, copper, coal,
diamond, and gold, are extracted in Saskatchewan.
g. Discuss economic benefits associated with mineral
extraction and refining, including related careers, in
Saskatchewan.
Assessment: Participation in class; exit pass
Supplies: Handout.
Resources: Website
Step-by-step Procedure:
Attendance.
Intro: We have been talking about Rock and minerals. Learning about many things about rocks and
minerals. What are some of the things you have learned about rocks and minerals and how to tell them
apart? Brainstorm and write on board. 3 kinds of rocks – Igneous, Sedimentary, metamorphic.
Physical Properties—colour, texture, lustre, hardness, cleavage, transparency, and crystal structure.
You have learned about Friedrich Moh’s who invented a scale of harness based on the ability of one
thing to scratch another. You have learned a little about fossils. Now today we are going to talk about
how some rocks and minerals are useful to people and I want to show you especially some that you can
find right here in Saskatchewan. Any rocks that you have brought to share in our rock collection that
you found on the ground are local rocks which means that they belong in SK. Show some samples.
There are also many other rocks and minerals that people dig up and sell. So my first question is “What
is a mine? A place where they dig deep into the earth to take out minerals.
How many of you know someone who works in a mine? What do they mine for? What other things do
you think are mined for in SK?
Here is some information about mining in Saskatchewan: This is from the Saskatchewan encyclopedia
under mineral resources.
http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/mineral_resources.html
Saskatchewan has a wealth of mineral resources and ranks fourth in Canada in terms of the value of mineral
production. Saskatchewan’s MINING history dates back to the mid-19th century, the same era when the
homesteaders were arriving.
In the 1800’s they found COAL near Estavan, GOLD was discovered in the NORTH SASKATCHEWAN
RIVER by prospectors en route to the Cariboo gold rush in central British Columbia. the first oil well was
drilled 1874; clay production in 1886; f massive copper/zinc deposits, salt, nickel, platinum, palladium deposit,
(URANIUM mineralization), POTASH, a 1948 report of diamonds found in an area between PRINCE ALBERT and Flin Flon (the discovery was never
verified); the first documented discovery of kimberlite (host rock for diamonds) at Sturgeon Lake in 1988.
Saskatchewan produces about one-third of the world’s supply of both potash and uranium, and extensive
reserves for future production have been identified. With the discovery of one of the largest clusters of
kimberlite ( is a kind of volcanic rock that contains diamonds.) bodies in the world, the province could also
become a significant DIAMOND producer. With the broad diversity of mineral commodities identified to date
I am going to show you a website that has some really interesting information.
http://www.saskmining.ca/
First open map of SK on site. Add view of roads, lakes, diamonds, and mineral potential and explain as I go.
Take questions and answer.
Then open fact sheet questions and answers. And read through with class and discuss.
Show prices from front page. Then show pictures from gallery.
Now hand out question sheet and have students work on sheet using the fact sheet that I hand out and internet in
Library. Also SK encyclopaedia