This fact sheet explores the environmental issues associated with uranium mining in Australia. What are the potential risks to the environment with uranium mining and how are governments and mining operators currently collaborating to manage these risks? Find out how mining companies seek approvals for mining plants and…

Mining provides us with minerals, metals and other materials we use every day and the fuel used to generate electricity. These minerals have economic value and can benefit mankind. Although in Australia, less than 1% of the land is mined, depending on the size of the mine, method…

Have you ever ridden a bike? Maybe you own one. While the bicycle is used by millions of people around the world as a means of transport, it is also used for recreation, or in sports such as triathlons, track cycling, BMX or mountain bike competitions. Cycling is…

Have you ever seen the Opening Ceremony for an Olympic Games on television? If so, you will probably realise it’s one of the most exciting, memorable and entertaining aspects of the Games, with fireworks, laser shows and amazing dances and other whiz-bang performances. However, it is the traditional…

Some of the most exciting and historic events at the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games will be the medal ceremonies – when winning athletes from around the world receive their gold, silver or bronze medals. The medal ceremonies recognise their effort and dedication to become the…

This fact sheet contains a number of trivia statements about the Olympics, including an A-Z of minerals and metals used in the olympics.   Australian Curriculum content statements Science: ACSSU153 (8); ACSSU032 (2); ACSSU075 (4)

Minerals can be identified based on their physical properties. The main properties used to identify minerals are described in this activity, and students are then asked to identify the ten common ore minerals. NB Activity works best if students are provided with samples of chalcopyrite, pyrite, bauxite, sphalerite,…

Image courtesy of the Geological Survey of Western Australia, Department of Mines and Petroleum © State of Western Australia 2011. Government geologists study the rocks and landscape that make up Australia. By looking at and sampling rocks they can find out how and when these rocks formed. The…

Australia is one of the world’s driest continents, yet its citizens use more water per capita than anyone else. In this unit students investigate water strength and pressure through dam wall modelling. A field trip to a freshwater creek leads to studies of freshwater invertebrates as indicators of…

Gold is a rare precious metal. It is used in jewellery, as an international monetary standard, for decoration, in dentistry and in many electrical and mechanical components increasingly in the form of nanomaterials. For more information, download our fact sheet.   Australian Curriculum content statements Science: ACSSU153 (8);…