Cookie Mining Lab

This hands-on activity explores the economics of mining, the process of reclamation, and the consumption of cookies!

1. Think about the costs associated with coal mining: land acquisition, labor, equipment, and reclamation. Coal companies are required by federal law to return the land they mine to its original, or an improved, condition. This process, known as reclamation, is a significant expense for the industry. Like any other business, the mining industry faces challenges to make a profit. To understand some of these challenges, you will attempt to conduct a profitable mining business in an experiment that requires you to mine the "coal" chips from chocolate chip cookies.

2. You start out with $19 of cookie dough. This is the capital you've raised from investors.  You also have a sheet of grid paper, and a Cookie Mining Worksheet. Each student can purchase one "mining property" (a cookie) from three separate brands available. Montana costs $3, Pennsylvania costs $5, and Kentucky costs $7.

3. Once you've purchased your property, measure it by placing the cookie on the grid paper and tracing it. Then count the number of squares that fall inside the circle (partial squares count as full squares). Record this number on the Cookie Mining Worksheet under  Reclamation.

4. Now purchase "mining equipment" (flat and round toothpicks and paper clips). More than one piece of equipment may be purchased, but no tools may be shared among students. A flat toothpick costs $2, a round toothpick costs $4, and a paper clip costs $6. Replacement tools can be purchased when necessary.

5. Each minute of mining (labor) costs $1 per minute, and each chocolate chip mined from your property results in a $2 profit. Broken chips may be combined to form a whole chip. Consumed chips will eat into profits!

6. You may not spend more than five minutes mining. If you spend less time, your labor cost will be lower. Record mining time and labor cost under Mining/excavation costs on the Cookie Mining Worksheet.

7. After everyone is finished mining, restore your property to its original condition, within the drawn circle on the grid paper. This "reclamation" is also timed, (no more than three minutes) and you may only use your tools, no fingers. After the time is up, collect additional reclamation costs ($1) for each square covered outside the original outline.  Calculate your profit or loss and record.

Questions:

1. What percent return on their investment did the investors receive? (amount profit or loss/$19 x 100)

2. Many mines are required to post a bond before beginning mining. (A bond is a deposit put into a sealed account prior to mining, and is returned to the company after reclamation.)  What is the purpose of this bond?  What might happen if companies were not required to post one?
 

This lab can be used as a part of an AP Environmental Science Class.

Contributed by: Paula Wang, Sidwell Friends School