Week

Earth Science
Important Minerals to Society

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 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written to help you master the concept on the
important minerals to society. The scope of this module permits it to be used in many
different learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary
level of students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard sequence of the
course. But, the order in which you read them can be changed to correspond with the
textbook you are now using.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. identify the minerals important to society; and
2. explain the uses of the minerals that are important to society.

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 What I Know

Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the letter on a separate
sheet of paper.
1. Which of the following minerals is usually used in a household to enhance the
food taste?
a. Coal b. Salt c. Talc d. Uranium
2. Which of the following minerals is used as additive for different cosmetic
materials like face powder?
a. Coal b. Salt c. Talc d. Uranium
3. Titanium is a light, durable and non-allergenic metal. In which industry is it
most suitable for use?
a. Agriculture c. Medical industry
b. Energy production d. Plastic making industry
4. What mineral is important in making toothpaste to fight tooth decay?
a. Calcium b. Carbide c. Fluorite d. Sulfates
5. Glassware is commonly used in the kitchen. What are the mineral components
of glasses that are used to produce kitchen wares?
a. Quartz and nickel c. Silica and nickel
b. Quartz and silica d. Silica and chromium
6. Iron is a corrosive metal and forms rust once exposed to air. Manufacturers use
stainless steel in making safe kitchen wares. What are the primary minerals
combined with iron to form stainless steel?
a. Chromium and carbon c. Nickel and carbon
b. Chromium and silicon d. Nickel and silicon
7. Which of the following semi metallic minerals are used as electrical
components for gadgets and computers?
a. copper b. gold c. silicon d. silver
8. Nuclear energy is one of the cleanest and efficient energy sources. Which of the
following minerals are used as a source of this type of energy?
a. Carbon b. Chromium c. Silver d. Uranium
9. Which of the following metals are mainly used for aircraft components because
they are light weight and durable?
a. Aluminum b. Chromiumc. Nickel d. Steel
10. Tooth extraction leaves an empty gum that affects an individual’s speaking
and eating ability. To address this problem, dentists used light metallic mineral
to implant tooth on the affected gum. What metallic mineral is used by the
dentists?
a. Calcium b. Gold c. Silver d. Titanium

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 11. Calaca Power Plant is one of the Power Plants that is powered by organic
mineral mined at Semirara island. What organic mineral is used in the power
plant?
a. charcoal b. chromium c. coal d. uranium
12. Nutrients are essential substances needed by plant to grow. However,
due to improper farming, essential nutrients are depleted in soil. That is why,
farmers use fertilizer to supplement the mineral lost. What are the components
of fertilizers?
a. aluminum, iron and copper
b. potassium, nitrogen, and carbon
c. calcium, magnesium and potassium
d. potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen
13. In the era of climate change awareness due to air pollution caused by
fossil fuel operated vehicles, inventors developed electric powered car. This
car uses batteries as energy storage. What are the mineral components of
these batteries?
a. Nickel, copper and zinc c. Nickel, zinc and lithium
b. Nickel, copper and lithium d. Nickel, zinc and silver
14. Silver is more conductive than copper. In spite of this, why do you
think copper is commonly used as electrical wirings?
a. Copper is cheaper than silver
b. Copper is harder than silver.
c. Copper is more malleable than silver.
d. Copper is more abundant than silver.
15.Inappropriate farming method might increase the acidity of the soil. Which
of the following mineral can reduce soil’s acidity?
a. Coal b. Gypsum c. Lime d. Quartz

Lesson
Minerals Important to
Society
This lesson contains significant activities in which you will be able to identify
the different minerals important to society. At the end of this lesson, you can identify
these common minerals and their uses.

What’s In

In the previous module, you learned the different types of rocks such as igneous
rock, sedimentary rock and metamorphic rock. Found within the rocks, deep under
the Earth, are minerals that people extract for everyday use. These minerals are very
vital for our everyday living and for our nation building.

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 In this lesson, you will recognize some common minerals that are vital to
society.

Notes to the Teacher

What’s New

Directions: Based on the picture, can you identify the minerals present in the
kitchen? List down as many minerals as you can.

Kitchen Object Mineral/s Present

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

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Guide Questions:
1. What minerals do you think are common in this kitchen?
2. Can you possibly think of alternative materials other than minerals to make
up all the equipment and wares in this kitchen?
3. Do you think minerals are really important to society? Why?

What is It

Minerals are important to society. In small scale, let’s think of some ways that
will help you to realize that you are actually using them every day.
In households, we use toothpaste that contains fluoride from fluorite mineral.
Face powder contains talc – the softest mineral. In the kitchen, salts are commonly used
to enhance the flavor of our food. Kitchen utensils like casserole are made of
aluminum – a light and durable metal, and stainless wares that contains mostly of
iron, chromium and carbon. Moreover, minerals such as silicon, silver and gold
are used as components of gadgets like cellphones and computers. Copper is the mostly
used electrical wiring because it is less expensive.
In construction, skyscrapers that tower up
to 50 stories high, use durable minerals like iron
steel – a combination of iron and carbon and
concrete that contains limestone, lime and
chalk that make them strong and stand still
against strong wind and earthquake. They also use
glass made mainly of quartz and silica. Floors
are made up of granite and marbles.
Aluminum are used in window and door panels.

In taking care of our dental health,

Dentists use many tools appropriate for a
purpose. Titanium is a strong but very light
metal that is used for teeth transplant. There are
also lots of other minerals that they use for
cleaning and surgery. Examples are gypsum in
plaster cast, and alloys like stainless steel that
primarily composed of iron, chromium and
carbon in their tools.

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 Power plants use minerals to provide
us electricity and energy.
In nuclear power plant, radioactive
minerals like Uranium is used as source of
heat energy to run a nuclear reactor.
Likewise, coal power plants also use mineral
coal to generate electricity. On the hand
batteries for electric cars need minerals like
nickel, copper, and lithium.

In agriculture, NPK Fertilizers

contain vital minerals for the plant to grow
healthy. These minerals include Nitrogen,
phosphorous and potassium.
Moreover, minerals like lime are also
used to lower the acidity of the soil.

For our health, the pharmaceutical

industry manufactures supplements that
contain many essential minerals that keep us
strong and healthy like Calcium,
Magnesium and Zinc.

On the other hand, minerals can also cause harm among humans. Talc might
contain asbestos that can cause certain cancer which is why some cosmetic companies
discontinue using it. Nuclear power plant that uses radioactive minerals produces
radioactive waste. Burning of coals releases high amount of carbon dioxide and other
gases that contributes to the global warming. Over using of synthetic fertilizer causes
eutrophication of bodies of water.

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 What’s More

Directions: Find 10 minerals hidden in the puzzle that are used in the following
objects shown in the pictures. Write your answer on your answer sheet.

Picture 1.

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 What have I Learned

A. Direction: Complete the table below.

GIVE
Sector
ME
1 Mineral used in Energy 1.
1.
2 Mineral used in Medicine
2.
1.
3 Mineral used in Agriculture 2.
3.
1.
2.
4 Mineral used in Construction
3.
4.
1.
2.
5 Mineral used in Household 3.
4.
5.

B. Direction: Give the uses of the following minerals in the society.

Mineral Uses/Importance
Halite (Salt)
Granite
Quartz
Gold
Aluminum

What I can Do

A book like in the picture below contains writings and pictures made by black
or colored ink. The paper itself and the ink are made from different minerals. Can you
name some minerals that are used to complete this book? Write the answers on your
answer sheet.
Black ink:
Colored ink:
Glossy paper:

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 Assessment

Multiple Choice: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the letter on a separate
sheet of paper.
1. Nutrients are essential substances needed by plant to grow. However, due to
improper farming essential nutrient are depleted in soil. That is why, farmers
use fertilizer to supplement the minerals lost. What are the components of
fertilizers?
a. aluminum, iron and copper
b. potassium, nitrogen, and carbon
c. calcium, magnesium and potassium
d. potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen
2. Which of the following minerals is used as additive for different cosmetic
materials like face powder?
a. Charcoal b. Coal c. Rock Salt d. Talc
3. Titanium is a light, durable and non-allergenic metal. In which industry is it
not suitable for use?
1. Agriculture
2. Energy production
3. Medical industry
4. Plastic making industry
a. 1, 2 and 3 b. 1, 2 and 4 c. 1, 3 and 4 d. 2, 3 and 4
4. In the era of climate change awareness due to air pollution caused by fossil
fuel operated vehicles, inventors developed electric powered car. This car
uses batteries as energy storage. What are the mineral components of these
batteries?
a. Nickel, copper and lithium c. Nickel, lithium and zinc
b. Nickel, copper and zinc d. Nickel, silver and zinc
5. Which of the following minerals is usually used in households to enhance food
taste?
a. Charcoal b. Coal c. Rock d. Salt Talc
6. Iron is a corrosive metal and forms rust once exposed to air. Manufacturers use
stainless steel in making safe kitchen wares. Which primary mineral is
combined with iron and carbon to form stainless steel?
a. Chromium b. Nickel c. Silicon d. Titanium
7. Which of the following semi metallic minerals is mostly used as electrical
components for gadgets and computers?
a. antimony b. boron c. germanium d. silicon
8. Nuclear energy is one of the cleanest and efficient energy sources. Which of
the following minerals is used as a source of this type of energy?
a. Calcium b. Chromium c. Titanium d. Uranium

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 9. Which of the following metals are mainly used as aircraft components because
of their lightness and durability?
a. Aluminum b. Chromium c. Titanium d. Uranium
10. Tooth extraction leaves an empty gum that affects an individual’s speaking and
eating ability. To address this problem, dentists use light metallic mineral to
implant tooth on the affected gum. What metallic mineral is used by the
dentists?
a. Aluminum b. Calcium c. Titanium d. Uranium
11. What mineral is important in making toothpaste to fight tooth decay?
a. Calcium b. Chlorite c. Fluorite d. Fluoride
12. What are the minerals that composed glasses which are also used to
produce kitchen wares?
a. Quartz and nickel c. Silica and chromium
b. Quartz and silica d. Silica and nickel
13. What organic mineral are used as a source of energy by some power plants
in the Philippines?
a. charcoal b. chromium c. coal d. uranium
14. Silver is more conductive than copper. In spite of this, why do you think
silver is not commonly used in electrical wiring?
a. Silver is harder than copper.
b. Silver is more malleable than copper.
c. Silver is more abundant than copper.
d. Silver is more expensive than copper.
15. Which of the following mineral can reduce soil’s acidity?
a. Coal b. Gypsum c. Lime d. Quartz

Additional Activities

Directions: Do the following.

Have a research on the different minerals mined in the Philippines. Locate the
areas where the minerals are mined and identify their uses.

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