ML001 Adamite

名稱   水砷鋅礦Name   Adamite化學公式   Zn2AsO4OHChemical Formula   Zn2AsO4OH莫氏硬度   3.5Mohs scale of Hardness   3.5描述   剛玉的顏色為淺黃色,蜜黃色,棕黃色,微紅色;很少會劃分為白色,無色,藍色,淺綠色至綠色。剛玉的條紋為白色至淺綠色。它的光澤是玻璃質的-樹脂的。剛玉易碎,通常在被玻璃和大多數非金屬礦物刮劃中表現出來。它不是放射性的。Description   The colour of adamite occurs as pale yellow, honey-yellow, brownish yellow, reddish; rarely white, colorless, blue, pale green to green, may be zoned. The streak of adamite is white to pale green. Its luster is vitreous to resinous. Adamite is brittle which is generally displayed by glasses and most non-metallic minerals. It is not radioactive.  小挑戰   我們在哪裡可以找到這石頭? 我們可以在台灣,加拿大,不列顛哥倫比亞省,新西蘭,中國,俄羅斯,納米比亞和墨西哥找到剛玉。Challenge   Where can we find this…

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Emerald Stone

We are thankful for the generous donation of the precious Emerald Stone from Consul General of Colombia Mr. Yobani Velasquez Quintero. Not only does it enlighten students with more knowledge on minerals, but most importantly, as the traditional gemstone from Columbia, the gift nurtures students with culture and global awareness. Emerald is gemstone and a variety of the mineral beryl (Be3Al2(SiO3)6) colored green by trace amounts of chromium and/or sometimes vanadium. Well-known varieties of beryl include emerald and aquamarine. Naturally occurring, hexagonal crystals of beryl can be up to several meters in size,…

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Scientific value of butterflies

Butterflies and moths are indicators of a healthy environment and healthy ecosystems. They indicate a wide range of other invertebrates, which comprise over two-thirds of all species. Areas rich in butterflies and moths are rich in other invertebrates. These collectively provide a wide range of environmental benefits, including pollination and natural pest control. Butterflies are an important element of the food chain and are prey for birds, bats and other insectivorous animals. Butterflies and moths support a range of other predators and parasites, many of…

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Pollination and butterflies

Butterflies are pollinating insects and nectar is an important component of a butterfly’s diet. Like bees, pollen is collected on the butterfly’s body as it is feeding on a flower’s nectar. As the butterfly moves on to a new flower, it carries the pollen with it. Although they pollinate flowers, they are not as effective as some insects. Butterflies are less efficient than bees at moving pollen between plants as butterflies have limited contact with pollen and therefore do not transfer large amounts of pollen…

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Why butterflies are important to us?

Butterflies Butterflies are a diverse group of insects containing at least 17,500 different species. Among them, 1300 species can be found in China and 235 species in Hong Kong. In urban parks of Hong Kong, a total of 48 species of butterflies can be found. They are Skippers, Swallowtails, Whites and Yellows, Blues, Nymphs and Browns. Butterflies are aesthetically pleasing and few species cause any damage to commercial plants. Butterflies contribute to thriving ecosystems and can indicate the state of an ecosystem’s health. Why butterflies…

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Butterflies in Hong Kong

Butterflies are insects from the order Lepidoptera which also includes moths. Adult butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous fluttering flight. The current butterfly checklist in Hong Kong contains 245 species in 5 families which are Hesperiidae, Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae, Papilionidae, and Pieridae, each different in shape, colour, flight pattern and other characteristics. The table below shows the features of 4 butterfly species commonly found in Hong Kong. SpeciesTroides aeacusPapilio protenorPieris canidiaDelias pasithoeFamilyPapilionidaePapilionidaePieridaePieridaeChinese name金裳鳳蝶黑鳳蝶緣點白粉蝶報喜斑粉蝶Common nameGolden BirdwingSpangleIndian Cabbage WhiteRed-base JezebelDescriptionBlack forewings with veins bordered by…

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蝴蝶蜜源植物 Nectar Plant for Butterflies

市區公園裏很多開花植物都為蝴蝶提供花蜜,但是原來約一半的香港蝴蝶(尤其是蛺蝶和眼蝶),甚少或從不訪花吸蜜。 Many flowering plants in urban parks provide nectars for butterflies. However, about half of Hong Kong’s butterfly species, especially Nymphs and Browns, seldom or never visit flowers for nectar. 吊燈花 Coral Hibiscus(Hibiscus schizopetalus)五至十月開花,吸引大型鳳蝶和粉蝶到訪 Flowering from May to October, attracts large Swallowtails, Whites and Yellows 龍船花 Chinese Ixora(Ixora chinensis)六至十月開花,吸引各種鳳蝶和粉蝶 Flowering from June to October, attracts Swallowtails, Whites and Yellows 五星花 Pentas(Pentas lanceolata)三至十一月開花,吸引各種鳳蝶和粉蝶 Flowering from March to November, attracts Swallowtails, Whites and Yellows 蟛蜞菊 Wedelia(Wedelia trilobata)幾乎全年開花,吸引弄蝶、灰蝶和小型粉蝶 Flowering almost throughout the year, attracts Skippers, Blues, small Whites…

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Bring Butterflies Back

With a rich flora and fauna, the current butterfly checklist in Hong Kong contains 245 species including one endemic subspecies, representing about 11% of species recorded throughout China. Besides being aesthetically pleasing, butterflies also play important roles in ecology, science and economy. However, butterfly populations are rapidly declining due to habitat loss, climate change and illegal collection. Through joining the ‘Ocean Park Conservation Chill Club’, the Green Guru Team of our school has set up a ‘Butterfly Friendly Garden” at the Environmental Trial, hope to…

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ML319 Agate

Code: ML319 名稱   瑪瑙Name   Agate化學公式   SiO2Chemical Formula   SiO2莫氏硬度   7Mohs scale of Hardness   7描述 瑪瑙有多種顏色,包括白色,藍色,紅色,綠色,黃色,橙色,棕色,粉紅色,紫色,灰色和黑色。瑪瑙的一些罕見形式是呈虹彩的。瑪瑙的條紋是白色的。 它的光澤是玻璃的。瑪瑙很脆。 溶於氫氟酸。Description There are many colours of agate, including white, blue, red, green, yellow, orange, brown, pink, purple, gray, and black. Some rarer forms of Agate are iridescent. The streak of agate is white. Its luster is vitreous. Agate is brittle. It is dissolves in hydrofluoric acid.小挑戰 瑪瑙的斷裂形狀是什麼? 這是貝殼狀的。Challenge What is the fracture shape of Agate? It is conchoidal. Reference 1. https://www.minerals.net/mineral/agate.aspx By 4C Lam…

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