Activity
Use the module content and mineral flash cards to complete the table below.
MINERAL IDENTIFICATION WORKSHEET

Luster
Cleavage
Fracture
Hardne
ss
Density
Compositio
nal Group
none
conchoidal
6.5
5.01
g/cm^3
sulfide
Sulfuric
Acid
(Industry
Batteries)
Streak: greenishblack
none
Irregular
to uneven
3.4-4
4.19g/cm
^3
Rock type:
igneaous,
sedimentary,
metamorphic
Most
important
ore of
copper
Tenacity brittle
Cry
Crystal system
tetragonal
Color, greenish
streak, softer than
pyrite, brittle
none
Splintery,
uneven
4 g/cc
oxide
Iron ore
Color: yellowishbrown
Characteristics:
metallic
metallic
nonmetallic
(dull to
1.5
Use
Other
Properties
LabPa
q Item
Numb
er
Mineral
14
Pyrite
Chalcopyrite
Limonite
yellowish-brown
streak
Crystal system :
amorphous
earthy)
none
uneven
6
5 g/cc
oxide
Iron ore
2.5
2.16
g/cm^3
fluoride
Food
additive
Melts ice
metallic
vitreous
3
directio
ns at
90o
(cubic)
Streak: reddishbrown
Characteristics:
metallic variety
is called
specularite
Color: steel gray
to reddish black
Characteristic
s: cubic
cleavage, salty
taste
Hematite
Halite
Color:
colorless to
white
Rock type:
Sedimentary
Crystal system:
Isometric
none
Non-
Conchoi
7.0
4 g/cc
silicate
In pure
form,
Characteristics:
Garnet
metallic(
vitreous
to
resinous
)
6 directions
Luster:
nonmetallic
(resino
us)
jewelry;
in impure
form,
abrasive
dal and
uneven
3.5-4
sulfide
4
g/cc
dodecahedron
(12 sided)
crystals
Color: deep red,
brown
Tenacity: brittle
Zinc ore
Characteristic
s: rotten egg
odor when
scratched
Color:
yellowishbrown
Streak:
brownish
yellow to light
yellow
Use: zinc ore
Sphalerite
nonmetallic
(vitreou
s)
none
conchoidal
7
Silicate
2.65
gm/cm^3
Jewelry,
glass, and
electronic
s
Crystal
system: Hexago
nalRhombohedral;
32 (trigonaltrapezohedral)
Rose quartz
Characteristics:
glassy luster,
may form
hexagonal
crystals with
pyramidal
terminations,
none
conchoid
al
7
2.65
gm/cm^3
silicate
glass,
jewelry,
and
electron
ics
none
conchoid
al
7
2.65
gm/cm^3
silicate
glass,
jewelry,
and
electron
nonmetallic
(vitreou
s)
nonmetallic
(vitreou
Smokey quartz
Milky quartz
s)
ics
none
nonmetallic
(vitreou
s)
conchoid
al
7
silicate
2.65
gm/cc
glass,
jewelry,
and
electron
ics
Amethyst (quartz)