Web Hunt: All That Glitters
ScienceWorld Web Hunt
Jim Webster is an Earth scientist at the American Museum of Natural History. (Photo courtesy of AMNH)
What do gold, diamonds, and jade have in common? Find out as you explore these and other natural treasures on this virtual trip to the American Museum of Natural History.
These handy sheets help Web Hunt explorers keep track of what they learn about gold:
A sparkling diamond. A shiny gold medal. A glossy jade statue. These objects are so carefully crafted, it’s easy to forget they formed miles below the Earth’s surface. They are all found in the bottom of rivers, lakes, and oceans as well as other places. These metals and gems are called “precious” because they are very rare and valuable. Another reason gems are considered precious is because they are hard and difficult to break or crack. Find out how different precious materials are formed, and learn about some of their amazing properties!
1. Jim Webster is an Earth scientist at the American Museum of Natural History. As curator of a special exhibition about gold, he wants to help people understand how this metal forms. Jim explains this process in All That Glitters. Then describe how gold forms in your own words. Where does it form? What role does magma play? What does gold look like when it forms a solid?
2. Did you know that gold is the only metal that’s yellow in its pure, natural state? Explore Gold Properties that are highlighted in the GOLD exhibition. Explain why gold makes a good material for wires, jewelry, and even astronauts’ space helmets.
3. You’ve probably heard of “24-karat gold,” but what does that mean? Read the Language of Gold and explain what the term “karats” means. If a metal alloy contains 50% gold, how would it be described in karats? (Hint: An alloy is a mixture of two or more metals.)
4. Jade is another rare material from the Earth. But while gold is a precious metal, jade is a valuable rock. In fact, “jade” is actually a common name for two different rocks, jadeite and nephrite. George Harlow is an Earth scientist at the American Museum of Natural History who studies jade. Explain how jade forms. What tectonic event creates cracks where jade forms?
5. George Harlow has studied jade from ancient cultures all over the world. Thousands of years ago, people made many objects from jade rock, such as tools and jewelry. Read about what makes jade special. What properties make jade a good material for jewelry? Why is jade such a good material for tools?
6. Like jade, diamonds are gems that form inside the Earth. Diamonds also have something in common with graphite, the soft gray lead in your pencil. Both minerals are forms of pure carbon — they just form under different conditions. Explore more about the formation of diamonds. In what part of the Earth do diamonds form? Describe the temperature and pressure in this part of the Earth. (Look at the illustration and graph at the bottom of the page.)
7. Diamonds form deep below the Earth’s crust. Explain how diamonds are brought to the surface. What is a kimberlite pipe?
8. Check out What’s This? to see a mystery photo from the American Museum of Natural History. It is an award plated with a precious metal. Can you guess what it is?
Many valuable materials come from the Earth – even if they’re not precious gems or metals. Click around Rocks in Your Cabinet and identify three everyday rocks and minerals found around your home. Explain where each rock or mineral comes from.
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