An animated character Ette introduces one of the giants of the mining industry; the massive 345 tonne Caterpillar rear dump truck. Ette provides details on the dimensions, horsepower, engine and fuel capacity and cost of components.

The electric rope shovel is so big it must be transported to a minesite in pieces. Sci, an animated character explains the energy use, voltage, weight and dimensions of this massive piece of equipment.

A dragline used to remove the overburden or waste material to expose a seam of coal below, has a boom as long as a football field and uses the equivalent amount of energy to supply electricity to 1000 homes. Environmental engineer George, describes the operation of one of the biggest pieces of mining equipment in the world.

The Science of Mining gives secondary science teachers ideas to promote student leaning in earth science and other science concepts in the context of mining activities in Queensland.The material is organised around outcomes focusing on a key question asked by students about rocks, minerals and mining.This resource will help you explore everything from plate tectonics, demonstrate different exploration and drilling techniques, role play environmental management scenarios and explore the chemistry behind a blast furnace or electrolysis.

This comprehensive Giants that Walk the Earth PowerPoint provides a study of the dragline; the largest piece of machinery in operation in Australia. All year levels will benefit from the introduction with the latter sections more suited to the senior years of Physics and Engineering Technology.

This PowerPoint gives an excellent oversight as to how maths is critical in mining careers. Information kindly provided by Thiess.

Using data provided by Ette in the Haul Truck vodcast (found here), students use trigonometry to solve a number of sequential, challenging problems related to inclined planes in open-cut mines.

Using data provided by Sci in the Electric Rope Shovel vodcast (found here), students complete a number of sequential problems using trigonometry to solve challenging questions related to the electric rope shovel and pit in which it is working.

Using data provided by George in the Dragline vodcast (found here), students complete a number of sequential problems to solve a challenging task.

The mining industry in Queensland provides a relevant and engaging context in which students can investigate the mathematics of measurement.The lessons in this unit may be utilised as a stand alone unit, or individual lessons may be used within other units of work to introduce problem solving in a real-world context.This unit investigates the mathematics of measurement in mining in Queensland using the resources on the OresomeResources site and is in line with Queensland Studies Authority Year 10 Guidelines.