Samantha_Hernandez_Lab_3
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School
Johnson County Community College *
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Course
101
Subject
Geology
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
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3
Uploaded by SuperMongoosePerson417
Rock Forming Minerals (Lab 3)
For this lab you will need:
Rock and Minerals Quick Study Guide
Mineral and Rock Identification Chart (in Canvas)
Rock and Mineral Set
o
Hardness set included with the Rock and Mineral Set
Penny
Nail
Glass Plate
Streak Plate (white and colored)
Magnet
Hand lens
White vinegar
In this lab you will identify 9 rock forming minerals.
Rocks are aggregates of one or more minerals.
Rock
forming minerals are the minerals that are common in rocks of the Earth’s crust and mantle.
You will use
many of the physical properties of mineral discussed in lecture and in your textbook to identify these
rock forming minerals.
You may want to consult the Rock and Minerals Quick Study Guide and the
Minerals and Rocks Description Guide in filling out the table for each mineral below.
What is a Mineral?
1.
Complete the following definition of a mineral using your notes and textbook:
A mineral is a natural substance that is typically solid, has a crystalline structure, and is typically
formed by inorganic processes. Minerals are the building blocks of most rocks.
Mineral Identification
Examine the
Rock and Minerals Quick Study Guide
and the
Mineral Identification Flow Charts in the
Minerals and Rocks Description Guide
.
Choose a mineral by its sample number and begin observing the
physical properties in order from left to right as indicated on the sheet.
Begin with luster, then hardness,
next streak…and so on.
Use your observations and the process of elimination to find your mineral on the
flow chart.
After you have identified your mineral, fill in the columns corresponding to physical properties on the
Rock Forming Minerals – Identification Sheet.
For the cleavage/fracture column choose either cleavage
or fracture.
If you chose cleavage, indicate the number of cleavage planes and the angle at which they
intersect (for example, 3 at 90°).
If you chose fracture, indicate whether it is an uneven fracture or
conchoidal fracture.
The minerals in the lab are:
Quartz
Rose Quartz
Orthoclase Feldspar
Plagioclase Feldspar
Biotite (Mica)
Muscovite (Mica)
Hornblende
Calcite
Corundum
Hint:
many of the minerals in the lab have a white colored streak.
If you do not see a streak when you
test your mineral on the white streak plate, try testing it on the colored streak plate.
To test whether a mineral fizzes (effervesces) with acid you can put a single drop (A SINGLE DROP) of
distilled vinegar on the mineral’s surface and watch for small bubbles.
You may need to use your hand
lens to get a better view.
Vinegar is a very weak acid and will not fizz very aggressively.
You should still
be able to see a few bubbles if a mineral effervesces under the presence of an acid.
Rock Forming Minerals – Identification Sheet
Sample
Luster
Hardness
Streak Color
Cleavage/Fracture
Other Special Properties
Mineral Name
1
submetallic
2.5
White
uneven
Non-calcite, non-magnetic, hefty
Orthoclase Feldspar
2
vitreous
3
White
uneven
Non-calcite, non-magnetic, lightweight
calcite
3
submetallic
3.5
White
conchoidal
Non-calcite, non-magnetic, hefty
Hornblende
4
pearly
1-1.5
White
uneven
Non-calcite, non-magnetic, flakey/brittle, extremely
lightweight
Muscovite (Mica)
5
Glossy
1-1.5
White
uneven
Non-calcite, non-magnetic, flakey/brittle, extremely
lightweight
Biotite (Mica)
6
glassy
7
White
conchoidal
Non-calcite, non-magnetic, fairly lightweight
Quartz
7
vitreous
6.5
White
conchoidal
Non-calcite, non-magnetic, hefty
Plagioclase Feldspar
49
submetallic
6
White
conchoidal
Non-calcite, non-magnetic, fairly lightweight
Rose quartz
50
dull
2-2.5
Clear/noncolored
conchoidal
Non-calcite, non-magnetic, lightweight
corundum
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