2.23 Mineral maps

The following activity uses a geological and elemental map of Anglesey and North Wales, covering the area of Parys Mountain and Great Orme.

This map will give you the opportunity to see the concentrations of copper, found in streams and sediment samples. The data has been collected by the British Geological Survey. Most countries have their own geological surveys, so if you are interested in the geology near you and you live outside the UK, you may want to have a look online and see what data is available for where you live.

Activity 2.7 Anglesey and North Wales

Timing: Allow about 10 minutes

Part 1

Look at the map. It shows the rocks divided up into igneous (pink), sedimentary (blue) and metamorphic (green). The symbols show the concentrations of copper, lead and zinc found in streams and river samples.

Figure 2.23 Geological and elemental map

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This is a gridded map (running from A1 to N14) showing the rocks and metal deposits around Parys Mountain and Great Orme.

Figure 2.23 Geological and elemental map

The area covered by Parys Mountain mines is only 3 km², but on the map the area with high copper concentrations is much larger? Why is this?

Do the different mine types correspond to any particular rock type?

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Select the answer for

Part 2

here

The map is gridded with 1 to 14 across the top going west to east and A to N going north to south.

If you want to tell somebody a location on the map, you can use these grid numbers and letters to give a grid reference. By convention the east–west is given first, followed by the north–south, for example the two crosses labelled Great Orme are in grid 13C.

1. Can you provide the two grid references that cover the four crosses in the Parys Mountain area?

6 A

6 B

13 C

10 F

 

a. 

6 A

b. 

6 B

c. 

13 C

d. 

10 F

The correct answers are a and b.

Select the answer for

Question 1b

here

2. Which metals were mined at Parys Mountain?

Zinc

Lithium

Copper

Aluminium

 

a. 

Zinc

b. 

Lithium

c. 

Copper

d. 

Aluminium

The correct answers are a and c.