Cookie Mining Lab
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Last updated over 3 years ago
18 questions
Fossil fuels (natural gas, oil and coal) are created by the decomposition of dead plants and animals over millions of years and with a little help from high temperatures and high pressures.
The fuels contain stored potential energy that originally came from the sun. Fossil fuel extraction (harvesting of coal, oil and natural gas) can be very damaging to ecosystems. Coal mining can strip the surface of the Earth, leaving desolate areas permanently damaged. Petroleum extraction or transportation can spill and kill wildlife or soak through the aquifer to contaminate our water supply. Our government creates laws to protect the environment and levies fines to companies that damage the environment due to accidents or damaging extraction methods.
The chart shows US energy consumption by source.
Approximately eighty percent of the energy we use in the United States comes from fossil fuels, natural gas, oil, and coal, which need to be mined. The uranium used for nuclear power also needs to be mined.
The United States only has 4% of the world’s population but consumes 17% of the world’s energy.
Purpose: The purpose of this activity is to simulate a mining operation to understand the environmental impact of mining fossil fuels.
In order to simulate a real mining operation:
- A land area will be purchased from the bank
- The land area will be surveyed and quantified
- Mining equipment will be purchased from the bank
- A mining operation will be undertaken, with the cost for each minute of the mining operation included in the total operating costs
- At the conclusion of mining operations, the reclamation of the land area is required, with a fine assessed for any part of the land that is not successfully reclaimed
- The ore that was mined will be sold back to the bank to offset the start-up costs of the mining operation
Complete the Cookie Mining Data Sheet either on paper or in this googledoc). After you have finished the lab and all of your calculations, you will insert a photo or screenshot of your completed data table for #9 below.
1
Each miner must obtain a sheet of graph paper and purchase a land area (cookie), on credit, for the bank.- Tate's GF Choc Chip cookie - $400
- Chips Ahoy Chunky Choc Chip - $500
- Pep. Farm Double Choc Nantucket - $600
In the space below, please list the name(s) of your partner/group members and which cookie(s) you have chosen to mine.
Each miner must obtain a sheet of graph paper and purchase a land area (cookie), on credit, for the bank.
- Tate's GF Choc Chip cookie - $400
- Chips Ahoy Chunky Choc Chip - $500
- Pep. Farm Double Choc Nantucket - $600
In the space below, please list the name(s) of your partner/group members and which cookie(s) you have chosen to mine.
1
Each miner may purchased any combination of the following mining equipment, on credit, from the bank (at least two items MUST be purchased)- Flat Toothpick- $50,000
- Round Toothpick- $75,000
- Plastic Fork/Pick- $100,000
- Paper Clip- $100,000
In the space below, please list the mining equipment YOU have chosen to buy.
Each miner may purchased any combination of the following mining equipment, on credit, from the bank (at least two items MUST be purchased)
- Flat Toothpick- $50,000
- Round Toothpick- $75,000
- Plastic Fork/Pick- $100,000
- Paper Clip- $100,000
In the space below, please list the mining equipment YOU have chosen to buy.
1
Following the purchase of the land and mining equipment, place the land on the graph paper, trace the outline of the cookie, determine the area of the cookie by counting the number of squares that fall inside the line (count partial squares as full squares), and record the area of the cookie (size of deposit).
Take a photo of your cookie on your graph paper and upload it to the Show your work box.
Following the purchase of the land and mining equipment, place the land on the graph paper, trace the outline of the cookie, determine the area of the cookie by counting the number of squares that fall inside the line (count partial squares as full squares), and record the area of the cookie (size of deposit).
Take a photo of your cookie on your graph paper and upload it to the Show your work box.
1
Once mining begins, the cookie is ONLY TO BE TOUCHED BY MINING TOOLS. The cookie MAY NOT be touched with fingers or hands. You MAY NOT blow crumbs off the paper at any time. Any part of the cookie that falls off the graph paper is considered “lost” and should not be retrieved until the simulation is complete. Please put an emoji of your choice in the answer space.
Once mining begins, the cookie is ONLY TO BE TOUCHED BY MINING TOOLS. The cookie MAY NOT be touched with fingers or hands. You MAY NOT blow crumbs off the paper at any time. Any part of the cookie that falls off the graph paper is considered “lost” and should not be retrieved until the simulation is complete. Please put an emoji of your choice in the answer space.
1
The cost of the mining operation is $10,000 per minute and the processing fee per chocolate chip is $1,500. Use a timer to record your total mining time (and be honest!) You can mine for as long as you like (just remember time is money.) What was your total time for mining and reclamation?
The cost of the mining operation is $10,000 per minute and the processing fee per chocolate chip is $1,500. Use a timer to record your total mining time (and be honest!) You can mine for as long as you like (just remember time is money.)
What was your total time for mining and reclamation?
8
1
After the cookie has been mined, reclamation must be attempted. Try to place all that remains of the cookie back into the circled area on the graph paper using the mining tools (remember, NO FINGERS or HANDS allowed!) Draw additional circles around each crumb that is not placed back in the circle, and count the number of squares that fall inside all circles. The fine for unsuccessful reclamation is $1,200 per square.In the space below, write a brief self-evaluation of your reclamation process. Take a photo of your graph paper and upload it below.
After the cookie has been mined, reclamation must be attempted. Try to place all that remains of the cookie back into the circled area on the graph paper using the mining tools (remember, NO FINGERS or HANDS allowed!) Draw additional circles around each crumb that is not placed back in the circle, and count the number of squares that fall inside all circles. The fine for unsuccessful reclamation is $1,200 per square.
In the space below, write a brief self-evaluation of your reclamation process. Take a photo of your graph paper and upload it below.
3
When all mining and reclamation is complete and you are ready to sell your chocolate chips to the bank, weigh your chips. Then weigh your reclaimed material and record both.
When all mining and reclamation is complete and you are ready to sell your chocolate chips to the bank, weigh your chips. Then weigh your reclaimed material and record both.
10
Complete the Cookie Mining Data Sheet either on paper or in this googledoc). Insert a photo/screenshot of your completed data table.
Complete the Cookie Mining Data Sheet either on paper or in this googledoc). Insert a photo/screenshot of your completed data table.
1
Were the minerals evenly distributed throughout the cookie mines? Explain how this relates to real mining.
Were the minerals evenly distributed throughout the cookie mines? Explain how this relates to real mining.
1
Were you able to “reclaim” the land after mining. Discuss issues.
Were you able to “reclaim” the land after mining. Discuss issues.
1
Do you think the animals and plants in the area are affected by strip mining? How?
Do you think the animals and plants in the area are affected by strip mining? How?
1
What can humans do to minimize the destruction of the environment when extracting fossil fuels?
What can humans do to minimize the destruction of the environment when extracting fossil fuels?
1
Explain how the time required for mining is affected by the advanced knowledge that the land must be restored.
Explain how the time required for mining is affected by the advanced knowledge that the land must be restored.
1
Explain why legislation that requires land to be restored after mining makes mining more expensive.
Explain why legislation that requires land to be restored after mining makes mining more expensive.
1
Look up and outline the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act.
Look up and outline the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act.
1
Speculate about the citizens and organizations most likely to support and oppose the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act.
Speculate about the citizens and organizations most likely to support and oppose the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act.
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Optional! Please write in a wise or inspirational saying or quote.
Optional! Please write in a wise or inspirational saying or quote.