Mineral Identification Lab:

Name: Background:
There are more than 4000 different kinds of minerals in the world. Rare minerals such as gold, silver, and diamond as well as more abundant minerals such as quartz, feldspar, and mica are identified by their physical properties. ach mineral has its own specific characteristics that make it what it is. !ecause minerals can be difficult to identify, mineralogists perform simple tests and e"amine certain properties in order to differentiate between them. #n this activity, you will identify minerals by observing and investigating their physical properties such as hardness, color, luster, cleavage, fracture and streak.

Date:

Period:

Objectives:
To observe, describe, and compare the properties of minerals. To identify a set of minerals by their properties.

Materials:
numbered mineral samples penny glass slide iron nail streak plate paper towels water $roperties of %ome &ommon 'inerals, 'ohs( %cale of )ardness

Procedures:
*. ,. -. +btain a mineral sample set. &hoose a mineral from the set and record the mineral number in the data table. +bserve and record the color of your sample in the data table. .sing a paper towel and water, clean off the steak place. $lace the streak plate flat on the table. Rub the sample across the streak plate. CAUTION: ALWAYS KEEP THE STREAK PLATE ON THE TABLE WHEN TESTING. A STREAK PLATE COULD BREAK IN YOUR HAND AND CAUSE A SERIOUS CUT. #f the mineral is softer than the streak plate, it will rub off and leave a trail of powder. Record the color of the powder you see. #f the mineral is harder than the streak plate, the mineral will not leave a streak. Record no streak in the streak column of the table. "amine the surfaces of the sample. /rite c ea!a"e if the sample has broken along a smooth surface or #ract$re if it has broken unevenly. Record your answer in the column labeled &leavage 0 fracture. Test each sample for its hardness. 2oes the mineral scratch your fingernail, a penny, a glass slide, and 0 or a nail3 CAUTION: ALWAYS KEEP THE GLASS SLIDE ON THE TABLE WHEN TESTING. A GLASS SLIDE COULD BREAK IN YOUR HAND AND CAUSE A SERIOUS CUT. .sing 'ohs( scale of hardness on page 10, record the appro"imate hardness number for the sample in the data table. +bserve how the sample reflects light. 2oes it look like a metal3 #f it does record metallic in the 5uster column. #f it does not look like a metal record nonmetallic in the 5uster column 672 use another word to describe what you think the mineral looks like. %ome e"amples include8 wa"y, glassy 9vitreous:, pearly, wa"y 9resinous:, greasy, oily, dull, and earthy. Repeat steps *<4 for each of the numbered minerals. .se the table $roperties of %ome &ommon 'inerals on pages 444<441 to identify the minerals. /rite the correct name of the mineral in the last column of your data table. +ne method of confirming your identification of calcite is to use the acid test. $.T +7 ?+.R %6@ T? A++A5 %. )?2R+&)5+R#& 6&#2 #% &+RR+%#B T+ %C#7 672 ? %. /6%) +@@ %$#55% +R %$56%) % /#T) $5 7T? +@ /6T R. %ee 's. 'ongano with your goggles on and suspected calcite mineral in order to administer the )&5 acid. $lace one drop of )&5 acid on the mineral specimen you identified as calcite. /hat is the reaction3 Record your answer under the special properties column of your data table.

4. 1.

4.

;. =. >.

*0. 6nswer the questions in 6nalysis and &onclusions.

Analysis and onclusions8

I $n%erstan% &o$ 'a& not (a!e (a% so'e o# t(e ')nera s $se% )n t(e *$est)ons )n t(e a+ act)!)t& +$t ALL o# t(e #o o,)n" *$est)ons can +e ans,ere% $s)n" t(e ta+ e Pro-ert)es o# So'e Co''on .)nera s.

*. %ome minerals can be identified by a single property. %ulfur is one e"ample. /hat property is most useful for the identification of sulfur3 DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD ,. /hat color is biotite3 5ist two other properties that are useful in identifying biotite. DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD -. There is a second mineral that belongs to the same mineral group as biotite. /hat is the mineral and its mineral group3 )ow does its color compare to that of biotite3 DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD 4. "plain why the feel of gypsum and talc can be used to distinguish between the minerals. DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD 1. "plain how cleavage and fracture can be used to distinguish between quartz and feldspar. DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

4.

"plain how cleavage and fracture can be used to distinguish between halite and calcite.

DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

;. /hat are the three most useful properties for the identification of halite3 +livine3 DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

Mineral !

olor

"treak

leavage #$racture

%ardness

Luster

"&ecial Pro&erties

Notes

Mineral Name

"ilicate#Non "ilicate