Episode 1 introduces the concept of a mineral. Minerals are defined by five criteria; 1) They must be solid substances2) they must be naturally-occurring3) they must have a definable chemical composition 4) they must have an orderly crystalline structure5) they must be inorganic by nature.  The video introduces mineral properties using common fruit and vegetables as analogies for these five descriptive criteria. The video also demonstrates the orderly crystalline structure of halite (NaCl) using a model made of food (marshmallows and grapes). Comparisons between common substances such as ice and glass versus the mineral definition are made to illustrate the specific nature of the mineral definition.  Click HERE to download

Geology Kitchen #1 - What is a Mineral?

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Devin takes a look at a few of the methods of mineral formation    Click HERE to download

Geology Kitchen #14 - Mineral Formation Methods

Feldspars are the second most common group of minerals on Earth.  The are important contributors to soils as they weather relatively easily to form clays.  Potassium, Sodium and Calcium are the most common elements in Feldspars passed on to plants and animals, and are all elements critical to human life. Click HERE to download

Geology Kitchen #13 - Feldsparty

 This episode introduces the concept of hydrocarbons (oil).  A simulation of an oil reservoir is performed using peanuts and concepts of oil/water interaction are discussed.Click HERE to download 

Geology Kitchen #12 - Oil in the Kitchen

Igneous rocks are rocks derived from the cooling of magma, molten material originating from the upper Mantle/lower crust. Igneous rocks are classified by their texture and their composition. Rocks ' textures range from fine-grained (extrusive/volcanic) or coarse-grained (intrusive/plutonic). Compositions range from silica-rich (felsic) to silica-poor (mafic). Click HERE to download

Geology Kitchen #11 - Igneous Rocks

Volcanoes form when magmas make their way to the Earth's surface and erupt. Volcanoes vary by type; cinder cones, stratovolcanoes or shield volcanos. The intensity of the eruption depends in part on the composition if the lava, and following, how much gas is contained within the melt and how viscous (reseitive to flow) the magma is upon reaching the Earth's surface. This episode demonstrates how the release of gas is an importance factor in the violence of a volcanic eruption through the classic baking soda-vinegar volcano, and a more modern analog with diet soft drinks. Click HERE to download

Geology Kitchen #1 - What is a Mineral?

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