5 points

Mineral Identification ChartMinerals

Number / Color / Streak / Luster / Hardness / Density / Cleavage / Other / Name
1 point each / 1 point each / 1 point each / 1 point each / 1 point each / 1 point each / 1 point each / 3 points each

Questions:Answer #1 - #3 in complete sentences. Don't forget the "WHY?" part. 3 points each.

1.

2.

3.

4.ABCD

5.ABCD

6.ABCD

Lab #13Minerals

INTRODUCTION: Please read this as it contains information that will help you complete this lab successfully. Minerals are the basic components of rocks. Each mineral has specific physical properties that make it different from other minerals. These properties are generally caused by the internal arrangement of the mineral's atoms. These The properties that will be used to identify the minerals in this lab are color, streak, luster, hardness, specific gravity (density), cleavage, fracture and whatever other properties that might seem unique to that mineral. There are other methods of identification available to scientists, but many of them are too costly for a high school classroom. In this lab, several minerals will be identified using mineral charts.

PROCEDURE:

COLOR:Record the color of the mineral sample.

STREAK:The color of the mineral in powdered form. Determine the color of the streak by rubbing across the surface of a streak plate (unglazed porcelain tile).

LUSTER:How light reflects off of the surface of the mineral. Use the luster kit to compare how the light reflects off of the mineral. If the mineral looks like a metal, its luster is metallic. If it does not look like a metal, its luster is non-metallic. Non-metallic lusters can further be defined as glassy, earthy, dull, fibrous, waxy or greasy.

HARDNESS:The resistance to scratching. Use the Moh's Hardness Scale Kit to determine the mineral's hardness. Start with 5 in the hardness kit. If #5 scratches the mineral, its hardness is less than 5. If the mineral scratches #5, then it is harder than 5. Use the other minerals in the hardness kit to pinpoint the hardness of the mineral.

DENSITY:Specific gravity is the density of the mineral without units. Determine the mass using a balance and the volume by water displacement. Density (specific gravity) equals mass divided by volume. Your numbers can be checked with the teacher.

CLEAVAGE:Clean, smooth breakage along a zone of weakness. Determine if there are any smooth flat sides created by breaking along zones of weakness. If there are no flat, smooth breaks, there is no cleavage, so the mineral fractures. If there is cleavage, determine how many different directions the cleavage occurs in. Parallel breaks count as only one direction.

FRACTURE:Breakage the appears to have no pattern. It does not procuce smooth flat sides. Determine if the rock fractures.

OTHER:Some minerals have a particular smell, taste (please don't try, ask), feel or may react with acid.

After determining the aforementioned properties, complete the identification chart and use mineral identification charts to determine the name of the mineral. The properties may not match 100%. Remember that color is not very reliable and should not be used as your main evidence for identification.

Each class will identify 3 minerals together, 3 with their groups then identify 2 minerals individually (cannot do the same mineral as someone else in your group).

QUESTIONS: Please answer in complete sentences. Do not use personal pronouns.

1.Which property or properties did you find to be most useful in your identification of minerals? WHY?

2.Which property or properties did you find least helpful in your identification of minerals? WHY?

3.Why is streak more reliable than color in mineral identification?

  1. The physical properties of a mineral are largely due to its:

A)size

B)internal arrangement of atoms

C)melting point

D)volume

  1. The properties of minerals that are determined by how light reflects off of the minerals surface are:

A)luster and hardness

B)color and density

C)luster and color

D)hardness and streak

  1. Which mineral would most likely be effected by weathering and erosion if all mineral samples were of the same size and shape. One that has a:

A)high number on the hardness scale and a high density.

B)low number on the hardness scale and a high density.

C)high number on the hardness scale and a low density.

D)low number on the hardness scale and a low density.