THE MYSTERY OF THE MINERALS



MYSTERY OF THE MINERALS

STATION 1: COLOR

|MINERAL # |COLOR | |

| | |NAME OF MINERAL |

|1 |Yellow | |

|2 |White | |

|3 |Gold | |

|4 |Rose | |

|5 |Green | |

STATION 1: LUSTER

|MINERAL # |NAME OF MINERAL |TYPE OF LUSTER |

| | |(Metallic or Non-metallic) |

|1 | | |

|2 | | |

|3 | | |

|4 | | |

|5 | | |

STATION 2: STREAK

| |STREAK COLOR |NAME OF MINERAL |

|MINERAL # | | |

|1 | | |

|2 | | |

|3 | | |

|4 | | |

|5 | | |

|6 | | |

STATION 3: HARDNESS

|MINERAL # |HARDNESS # |NAME OF MINERAL |

|1 | | |

|2 | | |

|3 | | |

|4 | | |

|5 | | |

|6 | | |

STATION 4: FRACTURE or CLEAVAGE

|MINERAL # |NAME OF MINERAL |BREAKAGE PATTERN |

| | |(Fracture or Cleavage) |

|1 |Halite | |

|2 |Obsidian | |

|3 |Calcite | |

|4 |Muscovite | |

|5 |Quartz | |

STATION 5: SPECIAL PROPERTIES

|MINERAL # |SPECIAL PROPERTY |MINERAL NAME |

|1 | | |

|2 | | |

|3 | | |

|4 | | |

STATION 6: USES

|MINERAL # |MINERAL NAME |PRODUCT USED IN |

|1 |Halite | |

|2 |Calcite | |

|3 |Sulfur | |

|4 |Galena | |

|5 |Graphite | |

|6 |Magnetite | |

|7 |Gypsum | |

|8 |Hematite | |

|9 |Talc | |

STATION 7: MASS

|MINERAL # |MINERAL NAME |MASS |

|1 |Corundum | |

|2 |Dolomite | |

|3 |Bauxite | |

|4 |Muscovite | |

|5 |Flourite | |

|6 |Olivine | |

|7 |Magnetite | |

|8 |Hematite | |

|9 |Galena | |

|10 |Pyrite | |

|11 |Quartz | |

|12 |Halite | |

MYSTERY OF THE MINERALS

STATION 1: COLOR

The color of a mineral is the first property you see. Some minerals have a very distinct color, which is almost always the same. These minerals are called ideochromatic meaning “same color.” The color of most minerals changes with the presence of impurities, defects in their crystal structure, or is affected by weathering.

PROCEDURE:

1. Identify the 5 minerals at your station using the physical property of color.

2. Use the mineral chart and field guide to help you and record the name of the mineral next to its color on your data sheet.

3. The minerals in your sample are: satin spar gypsum

sulfur

rose quartz

olivine

pyrite

STATION 1: LUSTER

The luster of a mineral describes the way a mineral reflects light from its surface. It can be thought of as the shine of a mineral. There are two types of luster. A metallic luster is when a mineral reflects light like a highly polished metal. An example of a metallic luster would be gold or silver. A second type of luster is nonmetallic. A nonmetallic luster is not shiny like metal.

PROCEDURE:

1. Now that you have identified the minerals according to their color, copy their name into chart 2.

2. Determine the luster (metallic or nonmetallic) of each mineral and record on your data chart. Use the mineral chart or field guide to help you.

STATION 2: STREAK

Streak is the color of the powder left when a mineral is rubbed against an unglazed tile or piece of porcelain. The streak of a particular mineral is always the same. A mineral’s streak is not always the same color as the mineral. There are 3 basic kinds of streaks. They are:

1. a streak which is the same color as the mineral.

2. a streak which is different than the color of the mineral.

3. a streak which is colorless or has no streak at all.

PROCEDURE:

1. Identify the 6 minerals at your station using the physical property of streak.

2. Rub each mineral across the surface of a white streak plate. Observe the color of the mark the mineral made on the plate. If you don’t see a mark, try rubbing the mineral across the black streak plate.

3. Record the streak color on your data chart.

4. Use your mineral chart and field guide to identify the mineral according to the color of the streak.

5. The minerals in your sample are: galena

hematite

calcite

quartz

sulfur

pyrite

STATION 3: HARDNESS

The ability of a mineral to resist being scratched is known as its hardness. The hardness of minerals is often described in terms of the Mohs hardness scale. According to the Mohs scale, minerals are rated from 1 (the least hard) to 10 (the hardest). Hardness of a mineral can be determined by scratching it with simple equipment and by scratching it with pieces of minerals of known hardness.

Mohs Hardness Scale

|Mineral |Hardness |

|Talc |1 |

|Gypsum |2 |

|Calcite |3 |

|Flourite |4 |

|Apatite |5 |

|Feldspar |6 |

|Quartz |7 |

|Topaz |8 |

|Corundum |9 |

|Diamond |10 |

PROCEDURE:

1. Identify each of the 6 minerals at your station according to their hardness. The minerals you are testing are represented in the chart above.

2. To determine hardness, first try to scratch each mineral with your fingernail. If you can scratch the mineral with your fingernail assign it a hardness of 1 or 2. (You will have 2 minerals that can be scratched with your fingernail.) Use the field guide to determine which mineral is which.

3. If the mineral cannot be scratched with your fingernail, try scratching it with a penny. If the penny will scratch it, assign it a hardness of 3. (You will have 1 mineral that can be scratched with the penny).

4. Take the remaining 3 minerals and see if they will scratch a piece of glass. Assign the mineral that will not scratch the glass a hardness of 4.

5. See if you can scratch the remaining 2 minerals with the iron nail. If you can’t, their hardness is anywhere from a 7 to a 10. Determine which mineral is which using the Mohs hardness scale and pictures of the remaining 2 minerals in your field guide.

6. Record the hardness number and mineral name in your data chart.

STATION 4: FRACTURE OR CLEAVAGE

The way a mineral breaks is described as either cleavage or fracture. Minerals cleave if they break along smooth, flat planes. Fracture is breakage along an irregular surface. Cleavage and fracture are both related to a mineral’s internal arrangement of atoms.

Examples:

Cleavage Fracture

[pic] [pic]

PROCEDURE:

1. Use the description and pictures above to determine if the minerals at your station exhibit fracture or cleavage.

2. Use the mineral chart and field guide to help you make your choice.

3. Record the type of breakage pattern for each mineral on your data chart.

STATION 5: SPECIAL PROPERTIES

Some minerals have some unique or special characteristics. Some minerals have a unique feel to them. For example, talc feels soapy and graphite feels greasy. Some minerals, like magnetite, have magnetic properties. Some minerals have an odor. Sulfur has a pungent smell while bauxite when wet has an earthy smell. Other minerals, like calcite, react by giving off carbon dioxide gas when hydrochloric acid is dropped on it.

PROCEDURE:

1. You are to identify the 4 minerals at your station by their special properties. Four of the six minerals mentioned in the above paragraph are the ones that are in your sample.

2. First, try to identify minerals that have a certain odor or feel.

3. Using the bar magnet, determine which mineral has magnetic properties.

4. Place the 4 minerals on a paper towel. Put on safety goggles.

5. Carefully put one drop of hydrochloric acid on each sample and observe. If the acid bubbles, that mineral is calcite.

6. Use a paper towel to wipe any excess acid off of the minerals and immediately throw away the paper towel.

7. Use the mineral chart and field guides to help you identify the minerals.

8. Record the special property and the mineral that has that property on your data chart.

CAUTION!!!!!!! HYDROCHLORIC ACID CAN CAUSE BURNS. WEAR SAFETY GOGGLES WHILE DOING THE ACID TEST AND AVOID CONTACT WITH YOUR SKIN.

STATION 6: USES

For thousands of years people have known that minerals provide many useful materials. Minerals have been used in their original forms and as sources for metals. Ancient peoples extracted copper from the mineral malachite to use to make tools, ornaments, containers, and later weapons. Many products we use every day are made from minerals.

PROCEDURE:

1. Observe the 9 minerals at your station. Match their number with their name on your data chart.

2. Using the mineral chart and field guide, find the product each mineral is used to make.

3. Record the name of the product on your data chart next to the corresponding mineral.

STATION 7: MASS

Mass is the amount of matter in an object.

PROCEDURE:

1. Find the mass of each of your mineral samples.

2. Record the mass in grams of each mineral on your data sheet.

CONCLUSION: Answer the following questions in complete sentences!

What was your only metallic mineral? What color is it?

Which mineral had a clear or colorless streak?

What was the hardest mineral in your sampling?

Why would a gem cutter need to know the hardness of a mineral?

Which minerals in your sampling have a cleavage breakage pattern?

Which mineral reacts with hydrochloric acid?

Which mineral is used to make medicine?

Which mineral has the most mass? Which has the least mass?

Which station/test did you enjoy the most? Why?

Out of all the minerals you tested, which one was the most interesting? Why?

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CONCLUSION: Answer the following questions in complete sentences!

What was your only metallic mineral? What color is it?

Which mineral had a clear or colorless streak?

What was the hardest mineral in your sampling?

Why would a gem cutter need to know the hardness of a mineral?

Which minerals in your sampling have a cleavage breakage pattern?

Which mineral reacts with hydrochloric acid?

Which mineral is used to make medicine?

Which mineral has the most mass? Which has the least mass?

Which station/test did you enjoy the most? Why?

Out of all the minerals you tested, which one was the most interesting? Why?

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