Mineral Prelab - Final
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Broward College *
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Course
1010L
Subject
Geology
Date
Jan 9, 2024
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Lab 4 - Minerals Prelab
DIRECTIONS
:
After completing the reading and watching the videos, answer the following questions in your
own words and provide links to your sources for any Internet information used (do not copy and
paste answers directly from the websites, this constitutes plagiarism). Each answer should
contain enough detail to address all parts of the question. Responses will require 2-5 sentences.
1.
Define the term
mineral.
Include in your definition the properties a mineral must possess.
Minerals are what make up rocks. They must exist as solid under normal conditions, must
be not man-made, must be inorganic, have a fixed chemical formula, and atoms of them
must be in an orderly structure.
2.
Describe what is meant by the term
luster
?
How can minerals be classified based on luster?
Luster is how a mineral reflects light. Minerals can be divided into metallic and non-metallic
based on luster. Metallic minerals can be further classified with the description of shiny,
submetallic, dull. Non-metallic can be further classified with the description of glassy
(vitreous), silky, pearly, resinous, or dull.
3.
What are the steps to determine the
relative hardness
of a mineral? Describe how you will
use the tools in your kit to determine the relative hardness of a sample.
First I will use my fingernails to scratch the mineral, If I can then it is very soft. If I can’t then I
will use the copper plate, it is soft If it can be scratched with the copper plate. If it is harder
than copper plate I will test it with the steel nail, If it can be scratched with the steel nail then
it is soft-medium. We also have the glass plate, If a mineral can’t be scratched by the steel
nail but can scratch the glass plate then it is hard, If it can’t then it is medium.
4.
Explain what you can observe when you perform a
streak test.
Also, explain why some
minerals will not produce a streak.
I can see the color of a mineral in its powdered form. If a mineral is too hard that it can’t be
damaged by rubbing it against the porcelain plate, it will not produce a streak.
5.
Describe the difference between
cleavage and fracture
. Explain what test you could
perform to determine if a particular mineral possessed cleavage or fracture?
Cleavage is when a mineral breaks along flat, smooth surfaces. Fracture is when a mineral
breaks along an irregular pattern. Hit it with a rock hammer and observe what happens
when it breaks.
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BC Online – Physical Geology Lab (GLY1010L)
Use this document as your template. Make space to separate your responses from the questions.
Lab 4 - Minerals Prelab
6.
There are several colorless minerals in your kit. Please review your kit list and your samples.
Among these are Quartz and Halite.
Describe at least two properties you will
observe/test
that will help you to distinguish between these to identify them properly.
Halite has a salty taste and can dissolve in water.
7.
Sulfur is one of the non-metallic minerals in your kit.
Name and describe two properties
you will observe/test
that will be diagnostic for identifying sulfur.
It has yellow color and an odor of rotten eggs.
8.
There are two micas in your kit. While these have been cut into unnatural rectangular
shapes, the thickness reveals an outstanding characteristic of these minerals.
Name the
two mica minerals and describe the property
(e.g., luster, hardness, streak, cleavage,
color...) that distinguishes them from the rest of the minerals in your kit.
They are Muscovite and Biotite. They are very soft and can be scratched easily with
fingernails. They have a vitreous luster and perfect cleavage.
9.
Of the minerals with a metallic luster that you listed above,
describe the steps you will
take to distinguish
the mineral Magnetite from the other metallic minerals by using the
tools in your kit?
I will use the magnet to identify which one is magnetite because it is the only one that is
magnetic.
10.
Among the tools in your it you have a dropper bottle.
Explain how you will use this
dropper bottle in the Minerals Lab and what you are testing to determine
.
I will use the dropper bottle to drop some lime juice or vinegar to determine which one is
Calcite.
Page
2
of
2
BC Online – Physical Geology Lab (GLY1010L)
Use this document as your template. Make space to separate your responses from the questions.
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