Investigation 1: Minerals over Time

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To learn more about human use of materials, visit the following web sites:

Properties of Natural Materials, by Giles Edkins
Follow this link to learn more about the human utilization of materials as well as the properties of these materials that makes them suitable tools for use.


To learn more about stone age, visit the following web sites:

Stone Age Reference Collection, Roger Grace
Visit this online resource for information on the Stone Age typology, technology, and raw materials.

  • Raw Materials
    Explore the different types of rocks used in the Stone Age and their properties

The First Miners, University of California
This web page provides information on the first Stone Age miners and traders.


To learn more about bronze age, visit the following web sites:

The Bronze Age, University of California
Visit this university's web page to access information on the Bronze Age, the source of the materials that gave it its name, mining, and much more.


To learn more about iron age, visit the following web sites:

The Age of Iron, University of California
This site provides information on humans' use of iron, as well as techniques used for smelting this metal.

Materials and Minerals IES book cover image
AGI/It's About Time
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AGI's professional development programs for teachers are supported by generous contributions from corporate contributors of the American Geosciences Institute Foundation and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists Foundation.