'CRITICAL MINERALS SUMMIT': A JIGSAW/GALLERY WALK ACTIVITY TO ENGAGE STUDENTS WITH THE SOCIETAL IMPORTANCE OF MINERAL RESOURCES

Earth Materials and Mineralogy courses are at the foundation of Earth & Environmental undergraduate curricula. The world around us is made of Earth Materials: our classrooms are made of gypsum, concrete and steel; rare earth elements and precious metals are at our fingertips in our smartphones; the green energy transition relies on earth materials–e.g., ultra-high purity quartz used in manufacturing of photovoltaic cells, or Lithium used in electric car batteries. And yet, the relevance of mineralogy remains obscure to many students. It is our role as educators to help students connect fundamental concepts taught in these courses to the science and society nexus.

At William & Mary, ‘Rock Forming Minerals’ in one of two required intermediate-level courses for a Geology B.S. degree. Students engage with mineralogy fundamentals and societal importance through a jigsaw/gallery walk activity: the ‘Critical Minerals Summit’. This activity is introduced in the context of learning about the periodic table, and elements as ‘building blocks’ of minerals. Each student (n = 32) is assigned one of the 50 elements on the 2022 USGS list of critical minerals. They becomes an ‘essential expert’ about their mineral by completing a short independent research assignment prior to class. The learning objectives are for students to: (1) explore the societal significance (use vs. impact) of mineral resources in their geological, human, and geopolitical context; (2) place concepts of major, minor, and trace elements in the context of mineral resources; (3) practice researching information about minerals in preparation for their final independent mineral project. Students are sorted in groups (REEs, Transition Metals, etc.) and rotate through five stations to share their expertise on their specific element: 1-location; 2-rock type/ formation processes; 3-occurrence as major/minor element in minerals; 4-societal uses; 5-human/environmental/health impacts of mining, processing and use. We gather back as a class to summarize important observations and themes related to the geopolitical complexities of critical mineral sourcing, the connection between composition and abundances, and importance of use and impact for the green energy transition. Students reflect on their potential roles and career opportunities in this landscape.