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Rocks and other Earth materials are included in national, state, and local standards. For example, "A Framework for K-12 Science Education" (NRC 2012) contains topics related to Earth systems, which include the hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, and geosphere. By second grade, students should be able to describe how most areas where plants and animals live contain rocks, soils, and sand (Dimension 3: Disciplinary Core Ideas-Earth and Space Science ESS 2.B, p.183). By the time they enter preschool, most children have some preconceptions about the properties and uses of rocks, some of which may be nonscientific. When asked to describe hand samples of rocks (i.e., a rock that can fit into the palm of the hand) children immediately respond with the properties of size, shape, and weight. While these aspects are observable properties of rocks, they are not helpful to geologists in identifying individual types of rocks. Typically, students also tend to confuse properties of minerals, such as hardness and luster, with properties of rocks. The lesson described in this article provides an example of how the authors help uncover what young children already know about rocks, address misconceptions, and help children begin to construct a scientific understanding of properties of rocks. Children also develop their scientific practices by observing, recording, and analyzing data about rocks, while deepening their understanding of Earth materials. Although the authors use this lesson in their preschool classrooms, they also offer ways to modify the lesson for older children.

This paper organizes and analyses over 500 geoscience misconceptions relating to earthquakes, earth structure, geologic resources, glaciers, historical geology, karst (limestone terrains), plate tectonics, rivers, rocks and minerals, soils, volcanoes, and weathering and erosion. Journal and reliable web resources were reviewed to discover (1) the frequency of misconceptions by subject matter, group (primary, middle-school, high-school, middle-/high-school, college, pre-service teachers, in-service teachers, and undefined) and source (journal versus web); and (2) the pattern of misconceptions across age groups and (3) directions for future research. A total of 502 misconceptions were discovered, with over 40% targeting a middle- and high-school audience. Plate tectonics comprised 19% of all misconceptions, with another 14% and 13% associated with weathering/erosion and historical geology, respectively. Over 80% of all the misconceptions were derived from peer-reviewed journals or web sources, the rest originated from reliable sources on the World Wide Web. The supernatural origin for many of the geoscience phenomena listed here is abandoned by middle school, but in other cases, some misconceptions seem robust through adulthood. Examples of such misconceptions include the origin/pattern of earthquakes, thickness of the earth's crust, oil's origin, movement mechanisms for glaciers, co-existence of humans and dinosaurs, water movement within karst terrains, the nature of plate boundaries, the power of water as an agent of geomorphic change, what constitutes a mineral and a rock, thickness of the soil layer, the distribution of volcanoes, and the difference between weathering and erosion. (Contains 12 tables and 3 figures.)

The study of electricity and magnetism is fundamental to all first-year physics courses. Developing simple electricity laboratory experiences that are open ended and inquiry based can be difficult. We wished to create a lab experiment where the students have some control over the experimental design, data analysis is required, and students investigate the concept of resistivity as found in Halliday Resnick, and Walker. This experiment uses modeling clay or Play-Doh[TM] to demonstrate the properties of ohmic materials and resistivity. We were familiar with the paper "Resistance Measurements on Play-Doh[TM]" by Jones and we have worked to more accurately explain the physics of the experiment. We have also further developed the experiment to better understand how the resistivity of Play-Doh changes with time. This lab is an exciting, fun experiment that connects a new concept with a familiar childhood toy.

The annual report contains an introduction addressing three issues (enrollment, funding and the challenge past, and funding and the challenge to come) and the full text of all advisory memoranda issued during the year. Those memoranda have as their subjects: the Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program, 1978-79; the secondary/postsecondary education interface; government support for the university system in 1978-79; capital assistance; funding for the mining engineering and the mineral processing engineering programs at Laurentian University; allocation of the government's operating support for the university system in 1978-79; and graduate program planning and funding. (MSE)

The article discusses the mineral rhodochrosite, known for its striking blood-red color, and its prominence in the Kalahari manganese field, particularly at the N'Chwaning I mine. Topics include the various forms and colors of rhodochrosite specimens, their association with other minerals, and their historical significance in the mineral collecting world.

Quaternary geology investigations were conducted in southeastern Manitoba, to map paleo-ice-flow indicators, collect till samples and assess the suitability of current surficial geology mapping to guide drift exploration. Additionally, this study aims to characterize the dispersal of detritus from known lithium-bearing pegmatites in the Bird River area to better inform how drift prospecting methods can be used for critical minerals. Initial results from a pilot study conducted indicate that spodumene can be recovered from till that was collected down-ice of a known occurrence. Surprisingly, one sample from the road connecting Manigotagan and Berens River (east-side road) recovered two spodumene grains. This was an unexpected occurrence since there is no known lithium-bearing pegmatites in the region; however, the till-matrix geochemistry in this region has elevated lithium and cesium concentrations indicating that there is potential for lithium-mineralized systems in this underexplored region of Manitoba. The recovery of the rare-earth-element (REE) minerals euxenite and parisite from till along the east-side road indicate that there is also potential for uranium-thorium-REE-mineralized systems in the region. Elevated gold grain counts in till collected near Cat Lake is a significant occurrence and the source of these gold grains is unknown. The surficial geology mapping available for the Bird River area overrepresents the proportion of glacial-derived sediments (diamicton) in the area and underrepresents the proportion of glaciolacustrine sediments (sand). This characteristic of these surficial maps needs to be considered when planning any drift exploration in the Bird River area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Manitoba Geological Survey is updating the assessment of aggregate resources in the province. Initial studies were primarily published between the 1970s and mid-1990s, with a few publications in the 2000s. The initial areas selected for updating are the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region and the Arden area. The aggregate resource maps in these areas are being re-evaluated to determine the accuracy of the existing maps and identify new potential deposits. Additionally, a database will be created that incorporates both historical and new data. This is being accomplished by reviewing historical information, more recently acquired field-based data, the latest high-resolution digital elevation models and available imagery (satellite and orthorectified). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2023, the Manitoba Geological Survey carried out a schematic study of gabbroic intrusions in the Paleoproterozoic Lynn Lake greenstone belt to address two essential questions: 1) why are some intrusions host to magmatic nickel-copper mineralization, whereas others are barren; and 2) what are the key controls on the mineralization. As a first step to tackling these questions, geochemical data on gabbroic rocks and related deposits published by the Manitoba Geological Survey were reviewed to extract valuable information on the metallogeny of the magmatic nickel-copper deposits in the belt. Several gabbro intrusions were then selected for further examination to investigate their relationships to the country rocks; their internal variation in mineralogy and grain size; their structural and magnetic susceptibility; and the presence and/or absence of sulphide minerals. Representative samples were also collected for further lithogeochemical, neodymium isotope and uranium-lead zircon geochronological studies. Fertile gabbroic intrusions seem to occur mostly in the northern belt, whereas barren intrusions are present in the southern belt of the Lynn Lake greenstone belt. Geochemically, both the fertile and barren intrusions are dominantly metaluminous and tholeiitic (or calcic) to calcalkaline, showing typical volcanic-arc signatures. The geometry of the gabbro intrusions, ranging from vertical and tubeshaped (e.g., the Lynn Lake A and EL plugs) to tabular (Fraser Lake), appears to reflect the differences in the geological settings of magma emplacement and in the dynamics of mafic magmas. Geochemical proxies, such as highly siderophile elements including platinum-group elements, sulphur and oxygen stable isotopes, are therefore used to help assess the major controls on nickel-copper mineralization with respect to local geological settings, degree of fractionation and source heterogeneity or disparate degrees of partial melting of the mantle source. Relatively low-degree partial melting of the mantle source, early sulphide segregation of fractionating mafic magmas emplaced in an intra-oceanic-arc extensional setting and crustal contamination (particularly by volcanogenic massive-sulphide deposits) triggering sulphide saturation in the magmas are thought to be the key controls on nickel-copper mineralization in the Lynn Lake greenstone belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The helium prospectivity of southwestern Manitoba was evaluated using the Rock Volatiles Stratigraphy (RVS) system. Drill cuttings from three legacy oil wells (L.S. 9, Sec. 6, Twp. 2, Rge. 26, W 1st Mer. [abbreviated 9-6-2-26W1], 13-24-12-27W1 and 16-29-12-29W1) were analyzed for a wide range of volatile compounds, including C1-C10 hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, water and helium. The deepest portions of each well were sampled, from the Precambrian basement to the Dawson Bay Formation, at intervals defined by the drill cuttings recovered. All three wells show signs of helium accumulation with economic potential. Of particular note is the well at 9-6-2-26W1, it had the highest helium values ever measured by the RVS system to date in any legacy sample for which self-sourcing of the helium--formed by radioactive decay of in situ uranium- and thorium-bearing basement rocks or shale--was not possible. These values are higher than those measured in samples from Saskatchewan's producing helium plays. These high values indicate an active prolific helium system in southwestern Manitoba. Additionally, analysis of the RVS data indicates bypassed deep hydrocarbon system opportunities in Manitoba. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In August 2023, the Quaternary stratigraphy of eight sections situated on the Gods and Yakaw rivers, in the Hudson Bay Lowland of northeastern Manitoba, were investigated. The goals of this remote fieldwork were to establish a more complete understanding of the Quaternary history of the region and to collect indicator-mineral samples to assist with drift exploration efforts. This data will enable better mineral-potential assessment for the region, and help to interpret the provenance of tills in this glacially complex area. Ninety-eight till samples were collected for both clast lithological and geochemical analyses, with an additional 33 samples collected for indicator-mineral analysis. Additionally, till-clast fabric measurements were conducted at 55 sample sites to interpret paleo-iceflow direction during deposition. Intertill sorted sediments were documented and sampled whenever possible, using a variety of methods to establish paleoenvironmental conditions and geochronology constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bedrock investigations during the 2023 field season focused on geology east of Wekusko Lake, in the Crowduck Bay and Niblock Lake areas. Mapping at Niblock Lake confirmed the presence of subaqueously deposited bimodal mafic and felsic volcanic rocks. A unique facies transition from crossbedded feldspathic sandstone to mudstone to poorly sorted conglomerate is indicative of deposition in an environment that transitions from terrestrial to below wave base, possibly with considerable adjacent relief. Historical occurrences of lithium-bearing pegmatite in the Crowduck Bay area have garnered significant exploration attention in recent years. The lithological and structural character of rocks in the Crowduck Bay area was investigated to determine controls on pegmatite emplacement. Pre-existing ductile fabrics appear to play a role as ground preparation for later dilatational structures that host the lithium-bearing pegmatite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report describes field observations gathered during the 2023 geological mapping campaign of lithium-bearing pegmatite dikes in the Wekusko Lake pegmatite field in west-central Manitoba, along with the regional geochemical fractionation trends of major and minor elements from pegmatite samples collected in the summer of 2022. Fourteen occurrences of pegmatite dikes were explored, primarily in the areas of north to northeast Wekusko Lake (Crowduck Bay, Sherritt-Gordon and Violet-Thompson pegmatite groups) and adjacent to the regional southwest-oriented Berry Creek fault in the Bur zone (Berry Creek pegmatite group). No new lithium-mineralized pegmatite dikes were discovered during the 2023 geological mapping; however, a new occurrence of spodumene- and lepidolite-bearing pegmatite in the Bur zone was recently discovered at depth, opening the potential for further discoveries of different types of lithium mineralization within the Wekusko Lake pegmatite field. Whole-rock K/Rb, K/Cs and Nb/Ta ratios show a strong spatial geochemical trend, indicated by the evolution toward low elemental ratios in non-lithium-mineralized pegmatite groups located in the northern- and easternmost parts of the Wekusko Lake pegmatite field compared to those in lithiumenriched pegmatites near the Crowduck Bay shear zone. A decrease in the K/Rb ratio and an increase in P2O5 with increase in pegmatite peraluminosity is also observed in non-lithium-mineralized pegmatites compared to lithium-enriched pegmatites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Burntwood Lake syenite complex was revisited in 2023 to assess outcrop exposure after a recent forest fire. The complex is one of a series of alkaline igneous complexes in the Trans-Hudson orogen of Manitoba, two of which are known to host carbonatite dikes (the Eden and Brezden lakes complexes). The increased quality and extent of exposures at Burntwood Lake led to the discovery of numerous carbonatite dikes, both in situ and in locally derived boulders. The syenite body is interpreted as a composite pluton that was tilted toward the south and then folded around a southwardplunging isoclinal fold hinge. The current orientation places the more mafic floor of the composite body toward the north, overlain by the more-evolved upper portions of the complex to the south. Carbonatite exposures were identified in the northern part of the complex over an area of approximately 0.3 km2 and comprise diffuse, centimetre-scale veins and lenticular pods in the syenite, as well as discrete dikes and 'blows' up to 1 m wide. The carbonatite consists predominantly of calcite, clinopyroxene, apatite and xenocrysts of feldspar, along with accessory amphibole, biotite, titanite and allanite. Coarse-grained dolomite predating calcite was observed at one location. The carbonatite is typically inequigranular and ranges from granoblastic to foliated. Stable carbon and oxygen isotope analyses of carbonate minerals yield 13C-depleted compositions consistent with a mantle source, possibly modified through subduction-related processes. Carbonatites from similar tectonic settings in California and China host several world-class deposits of rare-earth elements. The discovery of carbonatite associated with three syenite complexes in the Trans-Hudson orogen of Manitoba is an important step toward recognizing the Trans-Hudson alkaline-carbonatite igneous province and its potential value for rare-earth-element exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report details the continuation of a bedrock mapping project at Halfway Lake in the Thompson nickel belt, which was initiated in 2022. During the winter and summer of 2023, archived drillcore from industry and government core libraries was relogged to help determine the extent and affinity of metasedimentary rocks in the area. A lithological section was compiled across four diamond-drill holes in the east-central Halfway Lake area. The section consists of orthogneiss, mylonite, calcareous and sulphidic metasedimentary rocks, and interbedded quartzite and metapelite. The lithological section correlates well with Ospwagan group stratigraphy. It implies Archean basement gneiss is in sheared contact with calcareous rocks of the Thompson formation, which is overlain by pelitic and sulphidic rocks of the P2 member of the Pipe formation, and interbedded quartzite and pelite with rare iron formation of the P3 member. Setting formation rocks likely overlie the last iron formation of the P3 member. Although not present in the lithological section, Bah Lake assemblage volcanic rocks occur along strike and are interpreted to overlie the Setting formation rocks. Ultramafic rocks occur near the Thompson formation-Pipe formation transition and are locally in close spatial association with P2 member sulphidic rocks, which correlates with the ore horizon at the Thompson mine. Mineralized ultramafic rocks in this vicinity were the focus of previous exploration activity. A similar structural regime as that of the Thompson mine area implies that exploration efforts targeting F3 fold structures for thickened zones of sulphide in hinge zones and mineralization hosted by metasedimentary rocks rather than by intrusions could be viable strategies in the Halfway Lake area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is part of an M.Sc. thesis based at the University of New Brunswick, initiated in 2023 in collaboration with the Manitoba Geological Survey. During this summer's fieldwork, the first author examined three pegmatite sites in the Cat Lake-Winnipeg River pegmatite field, located in southeastern Manitoba, from June through August. Fieldwork focused on the Tappy, Eagle and F.D. No. 5 pegmatites. Field observations on the mineralogy and structure of the three pegmatites were made in order to provide a preliminary description of the three lithium-bearing dikes. Samples were also collected from each locality for further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A project was initiated in 2023 to salvage diamond-drillcore that has been stored outdoors at the Manitoba Geological Survey's Thompson Facility and Compound since the early 2000s. The drillcore boxes are in varying states of decay, with much of it in danger of becoming lost. Damaged boxes were either fixed or replaced, and missing, damaged or illegible box labels were replaced with metal DYMO® tags. The core was stacked back into new cross piles for greater stability, roofed with salvaged core boxes, and covered with tarps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]