Assignment 1 - Mineral Identification 10 week-1 (2)

Assignment 1 – Virtual Mineral Identification Introduction Mineral identification is a necessary skill all geologist must poses. Essentially all modern day materials (not made from plants) are made with minerals that had to be identified in the field in order to be extracted, processed, and repurposed as human technology. While you complete the lab, thinGF broader about each mineral, how did it most likely form? What group does it belong to? What environment might we find that mineral forming today? Part 1 - Pre-lab exercise (4 points) In your own words, provide a definition for the following mineral properties. Mineral Property Definition Color The hue of the rock (yellow, purple, magenta, etc..) Streak The hue of the rock when powdered Hardness Resistance to being damaged Cleavage Breaking the mineral along the weak spot to get an even split Crystal Form The shape of the crystal Fracture a broken piece of the mineral not placed along the Cleavage Luster Light relfelcted off mineral Part 2 – Mineral Identification (4 points)

Visit http://profharwood.x10host.com/GEOL101/Labs/Minerals/index.htm and read the introductory instructions. Familiarize yourself with how the virtual lab works by experimenting with a few samples prior to getting started. Once familiar, use the virtual lab to identify mineral samples and complete the table located below. (You only need to do the first 12). Sample Number Color Streak Hardnes s Clea vage Crystal Form Fracture Luster Other Mineral Name 1 White White 2 1 none irregular non- metallic none Gypsum 2 red brown white 7 0 none conhoidal non- metallic none Garnet 3 yellow/gol d gray 6 0 pyrittohedron irriegular metallic magneti c pyrite 4 clear white 7 0 hexagonal con non none Quartz 5 red brown white 9 0 hexagonal conhoidal non none corundum 6 grey white 6 2 none irreg non none plagioclas e 7 grey grey 6 0 none irreg strong metallic magneti c magnetite 8 green white 5 1 hex con non none apatite 9 pink white 6 2 none irreg non none orthoclase 10 clear white 2 3 cubic con non salty halite 11 clear white 2 1 none irreg non none muscovite 12 green white 7 0 none con non bobe olivine Part 3 Post Lab Reflection (12 points) 1. Pretend you are a professional geologist taking your RVCC student intern on a hunt for bauxite for the aluminum industry. Describe in detail how you would go about training the young intern while identifying bauxite in the field among other rocks. Remember, in the field, rocks and minerals weather, become covered in biological material, and or oxidize.

quick and unique way to confirm its identity. By paying attention to these specific traits, geologists can accurately differentiate between pyrite, quartz, and halite in various geological settings.