NON-SILICATE MINERAL LAB
Please supply your answers directly on this sheet!! Have fun!!!!
Please describe in your own words what a mineral’s LUSTER is:
Please describe in your own words what a mineral’s STREAK is:
Please describe in your own words what a mineral’s HARDNESS is (***Note: This YOUTUBE VIDEO will also help with your answer):
Please describe in your own words what a mineral’s CLEAVAGE AND FRACTURE is:
Please describe in your own words what a mineral’s CRYSTAL FORM is:
Please describe in your own words what a mineral’s SPECIFIC GRAVITY is:
Please describe in your own words what a mineral’s COLOR is:
Please describe in your own words what each of the following SPECIAL PROPERTIES are:
Taste:
Opacity:
Magnetism:
Elasticity/Flexibility:
Smell:
Striations:
Feel:
Please describe in your own words the 4 step process for mineral identification
STEP 1:
STEP 2:
STEP 3:
STEP 4:
Using the separately provided Mineral Identification Key, identify 18 minerals which are non-silicates (i.e. those minerals which lack silicon (Si) as part of their chemical composition) and identify whether each mineral is a native element, sulfide, oxide, hydroxide, halide, sulfate, carbonate, or phosphate (i.e. the chemical class of the mineral). Two minerals are done for you as examples.
Mineral name Chemical Class
1 Calcite Carbonate
2 Hematite Oxide
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Using the separately provided Mineral Identification Key, supporting mineral identification lab, and online resources, complete the following table by supplying: 1) the non-silicate mineral ID (taken from your responses to question #10), 2) properties of the mineral that would allow you to identify that mineral, and 3) an image of the mineral collected from an online resource. Two minerals are done for you as examples.
Mineral name Identification Properties Picture
1 Calcite Hardness of 3, 3 cleavage planes at 75*, white streak, fizzes in acid (Youtube video of this reaction HERE)
2 Hematite Hardness of either 1.5 or 6, metallic luster, black streak, magnetic
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Of the minerals that display a metallic luster, list 3 that appear ‘shiny’ like metal
Of the minerals that display a metallic luster, list 3 that appear ‘dull’ like metal rust or tarnish.
What is the streak color of most of the nonmetallic minerals?
Hematite, limonite and magnetite are all iron rusts. How can you use streak to distinguish between these 3 minerals?
What would be 2 simple tests you could use to tell the difference between gypsum and calcite?
