Locations of Mineral and Gem Formation

The locations of mineral and gem formation depend on different Earth processes. Some gems need heat, extreme pressure, or even a certain type of rock layer to form. Which location in the figure shows where opal is most likely to form?

• Location 1

• Location 2

• Location 3

• Location 4

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Certain steps in the mineral extraction process can often have a lasting impact on Earth. Drag the correct labels into the table to show a primary environmental impact and a secondary environmental impact of a step in the opal extraction process. Not all labels will be used.

• Local vegetation is damaged or removed.

• Animals move to new locations in search of food sources.

• Risk of flooding in the area decreases.

• Concentration of minerals in the ground is small.

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NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

Based on the information in the stimulus and Map 1, which statements best explain why opal is found in places such as Australia? Select the two correct answers.

• Australia has large amounts of sandstone and silica.

• An inland sea once covered central to eastern Australia.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Which statement best explains how the conditions identified in Part A affect the availability of opal?

• Weathering processes no longer occur in Australia, so no new opal is formed.

• Gems do not need an exact combination of elements or minerals to form, so opal forms more easily.

• Opal formation occurs over large periods of time, so the number of opal deposits is limited.

• Volcanoes in Australia no longer provide high temperatures and pressures, so no new opal is formed.

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NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

Identify two potential improvements to the opal extraction process and explain how these improvements could minimize harm to the environment.

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NGSS.MS-ESS3-3

NGSS.MS-ETS1-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

Using Table 1, which statement describes the most probable change in the comb jelly population over time due to the introduction of the new predator?

• Only comb jellies whose genes mutate to no longer glow will survive and pass on this trait.

• The comb jellies that have the most complicated patterns will survive to pass on this trait.

• The comb jellies that are able to glow in quick flashes will survive and pass on this trait.

• The two types of comb jellies will have an equal chance to survive and pass on their traits.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-4

A large population of comb jellies was found living in an area with a large food source. After a long period of overfishing, the food source in the area significantly decreased. Scientists want to build a model to describe how the change in the availability of food may affect different types of comb jellies in the population. Drag the statements into the correct order to complete the outline for the scientists' model. Each statement will be used once.

• Comb jellies that slow glow will attract more prey than comb jellies that do not slow glow.

• The slow-glow genes will get passed on to future generations of comb jellies.

• Slow-glowing comb jellies will be more likely to survive and reproduce.

• Some comb jellies in the population carry genes for producing a slow glow of light.

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NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Some of the members of a certain population of jellyfish carry genes that allow them to produce quick bursts of light over a short period of time. Which statement describes how this trait will most likely affect this population of jellyfish in future generations?

• The percentage of jellyfish with the genes for producing quick bursts of light should increase over time because jellyfish with these genes will be more likely to avoid predators.

• The percentages of jellyfish with and without the genes for producing quick bursts of light should not change because all jellyfish in this population will be better able to hunt prey.

• The percentage of jellyfish with the genes for producing quick bursts of light should decrease because these jellyfish will be more easily caught by predators.

• The genes for producing quick bursts of light should not give any advantage or cause any harm to the jellyfish with these genes.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-4

The slow-glow gene for bioluminescence is inherited as a dominant trait. One of two rabbits that is born with the bioluminescence gene is a male. This male rabbit is mated with a female rabbit that does not have the bioluminescence gene. The offspring resulting from this mating experiment are shown in the pedigree chart. Unlike some jellyfish and comb jellies, which are often helped by their ability to glow, rabbits with bioluminescence genes can be more easily spotted by predators. Use the pedigree chart to describe how the probability of rabbit offspring inheriting bioluminescence would change after several generations in the wild. Explain how natural selection would affect this probability.

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NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS3-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

This process of trapping radiation is called the ________.

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NGSS.MS-PS4-2