Disaster in the Gulf
On April 20, 2010 the explosion and sinking of the oil rig Deepwater
Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico marked the beginning of what would become the
worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. With an estimated 215 million
gallons of crude oil spewed into the gulf over 87 days, the devastation to
the regions wildlife is unparalleled. Although clean-up operations are in
full swing, marine and plant life are suffering in a region that many fear
will never be the same again.
Dr. Ilze Berzins and Ken Ramirez from Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium will discuss
one of the nation’s richest environmental regions and what its future holds
at the Chicago Council on Science and Technology lecture on Sept. 7 at the
Northwestern University Chicago Campus, Baldwin Auditorium, 303 E. Superior
St. Reception and registration begin at 5 pm and presentation at 6 pm. Cost
is $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Cost for students is $5.
c2st.org
On Monday (2-1) students indentified rock samples by observing their details and measuring their mass and volume to determine their density. Granite and basalt are the most common rocks – granite making up the core of mountains and basalt found on the ocean floor. Other rocks examined included the igneous rocks: diorite, gabbro, obsidian, pumice and felsite porphyry (rhyolite); sedimentary rocks: sandstone, conglomerate, shale, limestone; and metamorphic rocks: slate, schist, marble and quartzite. 
After looking at a variety of mineral samples, physical science students examined unknown minerals and used their knowledge of mineral properties to determine the identity of the samples. A mineral’s streak, luster, tendency to react with hydrochloric acid or not, cleavage, crystal form and color provide clues. Because mineral samples can contain impurities this is not as easy as it might seem to be.