PHSC 2105 Mineral ID Lab Report Name:_____________________________________ Answer the following questions based on what you have learned in Exercise 1: Mineral Identification. 1. You are handed an unknown mineral by your little brother. What procedure would you follow in identifying it? 2. a. Biotite and muscovite have the same crystalline structure. Why do they have different mineral names? b. What physical property distinguishes biotite from muscovite? 3. The minerals calcite and aragonite are both composed of calcium,carbon and oxygen (CaCO3). a. Why do they have different mineral names? b. What four physical properties could they have in common? 1. 3. 2. 4. c. What three physical properties could be different in calcite than in aragonite? 1. 2. 3. 4. If a mineral has a metallic luster: a. will it always have a bright, shiny surface? b. will you be able to see through it? 5. What is the difference between color and streak? 6. Which physical property is more reliable in mineral identification, color or streak? 7. If a mineral has no streak, is it metallic?__________ 8. Can a nonmetallic mineral have a streak? __________ 9. Will a quartz crystal scratch the following: a. glass? __________ b. diamond? _________ c. your fingernail? _________ 10. Will biotite scratch muscovite? ___________ 11. Will calcite scratch the following: a. glass? _________ b. gypsum? _________ c. your fingernail? ___________ 12. Your mineral set contains 3 minerals that are non-­‐metallic, light, softer than glass and have 3 directions of cleavage. a. List alphabetically the 3 minerals which have those physical properties: A. ____________________ B. ____________________ C. _____________________ b. Give two ways A differs from B: 1. 2. c. Give two ways A differs from C: 1. 2. 13. 14. 15. d. Give economic significance of B. You are given a specimen of Orthoclase (K-­‐feldspar) and one of Na-­‐plagioclase. a. List four physical properties these two minerals have in common. 1. 3. 2. 4. b. List 1 physical property which can be used to best distinguish K-­‐feldspar from Na-­‐plagioclase. If you found a huge deposit of the mineral feldspar, what 2 ordinary house-­‐hold objects might you be able to make (with the proper equipment)? 1. 2.