5: Water Filtration with Microporous Minerals in Preclassic Maya, 2,100 BP

Geodiversity and Cultural Diversity: Current Public Issues in Physical Science · LibreTexts

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    From LibreTexts, under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, as the source states it; its equations are written in TeX, which the PDF shows typeset. This page at LibreTexts.

    • 5.1: Reading/Media
      This Reading/Media highlights the advanced water management systems of the ancient Maya at Tikal, Guatemala, showing that the ancient culture used zeolite and quartz for water filtration. The Corriental reservoir represents the oldest known water purification example in the Western Hemisphere.
    • 5.2: Classroom Activity
      This Classroom Activity analyzes sun angles and solar energy intensity at Tikal, Guatemala, using the NOAA Solar Calculator. It guides students in calculating sun angles for key seasonal dates and highlights the significance of direct sunlight in relation to regional rainfall patterns. It also contrasts Tikal's solar dynamics with those of Chicago, examining the effects of latitude on water availability and seasonal hydrology across the Americas.
    • 5.3: Assignment
      This Assignment examines the minerals found in Tikal's reservoirs and sinkholes, particularly calcite from Cretaceous-Tertiary limestone. It contrasts earlier archaeological studies with current objectives, analyzing sedimentary layers and zeolite presence. The coexistence of macro-crystalline quartz and zeolite in the Corriental reservoir indicates a specific water filtration process, with each mineral serving unique functions.

    This page titled 5: Water Filtration with Microporous Minerals in Preclassic Maya, 2,100 BP was last modified on Fri, 01 May 2026 02:14:20 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Likwan Cheng.