Argyle’s Outdoor Educational Classroom

Archive for the ‘Argyle’s Outdoor Educational Classroom: Post Your Comments on a Variety of Topics’ Category

What is a Crystal?   Please give us your definition of a crystal.

Crystals in Argyle's Outdoor Educational Classroom Building.

What minerals do you think are present in the following sample from Manitoba?  Give your reasons for your choices.

Universal indicator color can be used to determine the acidity of a soil. 

RED Color (low pH)  =  Acid

VIOLET Color (high pH) = Base

OLIVE Color (pH = 7)  = Neutral

Student Comparing Color of Sample to Reference Chart

Samples Tested for pH

If a soil contains lead:  a reaction with a solution of K2CrO4 (potassium chromate) will produce a precipitate that is yellow (lead II chromate:  PbCrO4).

K2CrO4   +  Pb(NO3)2    yields    PbCrO4  +  2KNO3

lead II chromate (yellow precipitate)

Argyle Student Testing Soil for Lead.

Can you guess which minerals might be present in the following boulder?

Rusty Boulder

Argyle’s Outdoor Classroom has been designed to incorporate aspects of Aboriginal Education.  Renowned artist Warren Carther made a sculpture for the classroom titled “4 + Seven”.     The title of the work refers to the four elements and the seven Aboriginal teachings.

Artist Warren Carther (artist) standing by "4 + Seven"

Gossan is intensely oxidized decomposed or weathered rock.   A gossan is usually found at the upper and exposed part of a mineral vein or ore deposit.

(Note: that when something is oxidized it has combined with oxygen.)

Can you think of an element that would cause the rusty col0r observed in the above pictures?

Please watch the following video on mineral identification:

Argyle Alternative High School has a digital sign on the outside wall of the school which relays environmental sayings throughout the day.    Please help us develop additional environmental sayings of the day.  (Note:  Each page on the sign has two lines with twelve characters.  To be effective the saying should be no more than two pages (four lines).) 

Please post your saying.