Goal: Learn how magnetite is magnetic and understand basic magnetism in minerals.
Time: 5–10 minutes
Materials:
Magnetite sample (or any magnetically responsive mineral like pyrrhotite)
Small magnet
Paper clips or other small metal objects
Safety goggles
Instructions:
Place the magnetite sample on a flat surface.
Use the small magnet to test the magnetite’s magnetic attraction.
Try moving the magnet across the surface and see if the mineral reacts by attracting the magnet.
Try using paper clips to see if the magnetite picks them up.
Explanation:
Magnetite (Fe₃O₄) is a naturally magnetic mineral, which makes it one of the easiest minerals to demonstrate magnetism with. Magnetism is a result of the alignment of magnetic domains in a mineral, where unpaired electrons generate a magnetic field.
Goal: Understand how some minerals can conduct electricity while others cannot.
Time: 10–15 minutes
Materials:
-Multimeter or conductivity tester
-Mineral samples: Graphite, Copper, Pyrite, Quartz, Sulfur
-Conductive wire with clips
-Battery (optional for extended testing)
-Safety goggles
Instructions:
-Set up the multimeter to measure resistance or conductivity.
-Attach one clip to each side of the mineral sample.
-Record the conductivity of each sample.
-For metallic minerals (like copper or graphite), expect low resistance and high conductivity. For non-metallic minerals (like sulfur or quartz), expect high resistance and low conductivity.
Explanation:
Minerals like graphite and copper are excellent electrical conductors because their atomic structure allows free electrons to move easily. Non-metallic minerals like sulfur or quartz do not have free electrons, which is why they are insulators.
Goal: Examine how the conductivity of minerals changes when exposed to different temperatures.
Time: 30–40 minutes
Materials:
-Graphite or Copper wire samples
-Multimeter or conductivity tester
-Hot plate or Bunsen burner
-Ice or cold water bath
-Thermometer
-Safety goggles + gloves
Instructions:
-Measure the conductivity of the mineral sample at room temperature and record the reading.
-Gently heat the sample using a hot plate or Bunsen burner and measure the conductivity at intervals of increasing temperature.
-Alternatively, place the sample in a cold bath and observe how the conductivity decreases as temperature drops.
-Use a thermometer to monitor the sample’s temperature during the experiment.
Explanation:
As temperature increases, the atoms in conductive minerals vibrate more, causing more resistance to electron flow. This experiment demonstrates how the movement of charge carriers (electrons) is affected by temperature. Metals typically show increased conductivity at higher temperatures, but this effect may be more pronounced in semiconductors.