SCIENCE
1.4 (MINERAL IDENTIFICATION LAB) • ROCKS & MINERALS
Grade
Name:
Classwork: _______/12
Date:
Homework: _______/5
Cohort:
CATALYST
1.)
2.)
3.)
4.) State two (2) ways in which quartz and plagioclase feldspar are similar, and two (2)
ways in which they are different.
Similarity I: _________________________________________________________
Similarity II: ________________________________________________________
Difference I: ________________________________________________________
Difference II: _______________________________________________________
Objective
SWBAT use a flowchart to identify unknown rocks and minerals [Lab]
Criteria For Success (CFS)
•
Students will correctly identify at least 6 minerals using the flowchart and through
testing of a mineral’s physical properties
•
Students will identify the two (2) ways in which minerals form
1Regents Earth Science
9th Grade
SCIENCE
1.4 (MINERAL IDENTIFICATION LAB) • ROCKS & MINERALS
OPENING:
How is it that minerals form?
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As we know, the physical and chemical properties of minerals are
determined by their crystal structure and arrangement of atoms. We also
know that minerals are classified based on the properties that they have.
Properties like luster, breakage, reactions with acid (effervescence) help us
determine what the minerals actually are. Today, you’re going to be doing
the work of a geologist in identifying minerals based upon their physical
and chemical properties. Following the procedure below, you’ll be able to
determine each mineral’s identity with the help of the associated flowchart
below.
2Regents Earth Science
9th Grade
SCIENCE
1.4 (MINERAL IDENTIFICATION LAB) • ROCKS & MINERALS
PROCEDURE:
1. Obtain a mineral tray and identification kit from Mr. Koller
[Materials Manager only!]
2. On your Report Sheet, fill in the color information for each mineral.
3. Following color, fill in the mineral’s luster. To determine the luster of
your mineral look at it and determine if it is either metallic or
nonmetallic.
4. Following luster, rub your mineral gently along a ceramic tile to
determine its streak. Fill in this information on your Report Sheet.
5. Following streak, determine the mineral’s hardness by scratching it
with the included instruments.
6. After hardness, determine whether the mineral shows cleavage or
fracture as its primary form of breakage. Record this on your Report
Sheet.
7. Finally, determine whether the mineral has any special properties,
including:
• Taste: [Mr. Koller will give you information on which are
safe to taste]
• Effervescence: Put a few drops of the acid on each mineral
and see if there is a bubbling reaction [Mr. Koller will give
you information on which are safe to do this with]
• Magnetism: You can test all of the mineral samples for
magnetism
8. After completing procedures 2-7 for each mineral, use the provided
flowchart to identify the mystery minerals. Record this in your data
sheet.
9. Once you have completed the Report Sheet, begin your Discussion
Questions and Conclusion.
3Regents Earth Science
9th Grade
1.3 (MINERAL IDENTIFICATION LAB) • ROCKS & MINERALS
SCIENCE
Mineral Identification Chart
Sample
Color
Luster
Streak
Hardness Cleavage/Fracture
(estimated)
Special
Properties
Name of Mineral
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
12
Regents Earth Science
9th Grade
4
Mineral Identification Flowchart
Magnetitie
Magnetic
Metallic Luster
Silver Color
Softer Than
Fingernail
Harder Than
Fingernail
Non-Magnetic
Graphite
Black
Streak
Galena
Red-Brown
Streak
Hematite
Bright, Brassy
Pyrite
Tarnished
Chalcopyrite
Two Directions
56o & 124o Angles
Hornblende
Two Directions
o
o
87 & 93 Angles
Augite
Red to Brown
in Color
Garnet
Dark to
Light Green
Olivine
Gold Color
Good Cleavage
Harder Than
Steel Nail
No Cleavage
Non-Metallic Luster
(Dark Color)
Biotite
Good Cleavage
Softer Than
Steel Nail
No Cleavage
Yellow-Brown
Streak
Limonite
Red-Brown
Streak
Hematite
Green Streak
Malachite
White Streak
Bauxite
Striations
Plagioclase
No Striations
Orthoclase
Cleavage
Harder Than
Steel Nail
Non-Metallic Luster
(Light Color)
Softer Than Nail
Harder Than
Fingernail
No Cleavage
Quartz
Cubic Cleavage
Halite
Non-Cubic
Cleavage
No Cleavage
Reacts with HCL
Calcite
Yellow Brown
Limonite
Bright
Yellow
Sulfur
Green
Malachite
Contains
Nodules
Bauxite
Thin “Sheets”
Muscovite
Thick
“Sheets”
Selenite
(Gypsum)
Good Cleavage
Softer Than
Fingernail
“Slippery”
Feeling
No Cleavage
“Nonslippery”
Feeling
Pure
White
Kaolinite
Light
Colored
Talc
White
Alabaster
(Gypsum)
SCIENCE
1.3 (MINERAL IDENTIFICATION LAB) • ROCKS & MINE
Discussion Questions:
1. Why is color by itself not a good way to identify minerals?
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2. What is the difference between cleavage and fracture?
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3. Why is streak a better property than color in identifying minerals? How do you
determine streak?
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4. How do you figure out the hardness of a mineral?
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5. What mineral is identified using the acid test?
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Regents Earth Science
9th Grade
6
SCIENCE
1.3 (MINERAL IDENTIFICATION LAB) • ROCKS & MINE
CONCLUSION:
Summarize the results of your experiment.
• Summarize the results of your experiment. What steps did you follow in your
procedure? What minerals did you end up identifying?
• What properties were most helpful in identifying the minerals? What properties
were the least helpful?
• What was difficult about the experiment? What was easy?
• Were there any potential errors or areas where you may have made a mistake? If
so, where?
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Regents Earth Science
9th Grade
7
SCIENCE
1.3 (MINERAL IDENTIFICATION LAB) • ROCKS & MINE
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Regents Earth Science
9th Grade
8
SCIENCE
1.3 (MINERAL IDENTIFICATION LAB) • ROCKS & MINE
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Regents Earth Science
9th Grade
9
1.4 (MINERAL IDENTIFICATION LAB) • ROCKS & MINERALS
SCIENCE
Identification of Minerals Lab: RUBRIC
CONCLUSION
DISCUSSION
QUESTIONS
DATA TABLE
4
3
2
1
0
Color, luster, streak,
hardness range,
cleavage/fracture, and
special properties (if any)
complete and accurate.
Name of mineral deduced
from properties is accurate.
All categories complete
and most are accurate.
Most minerals correctly
identified based on
properties.
Most categories
complete and
some are
accurate. Some
minerals
correctly
identified based
on properties.
Few
categories
complete
and accurate.
Few
minerals
correctly
identified.
Irrelevant,
illegible or
not
present
All questions answered in
complete, grammatically
accurate sentences. Answers
are thorough and
scientifically accurate.
Examples are used to
illustrate concepts as needed.
All questions answered
in complete,
grammatically accurate
sentences. Most
answers are thorough
and scientifically
accurate. Examples
may be lacking.
All questions
answered. Some
answers are
scientifically
accurate.
Most
questions
answered,
though
inaccurate
and/or
lacking
complete
sentences.
Irrelevant,
illegible or
not
present
Writes a clear conclusion
that states which property is
the most useful for mineral
identification and defends
answer using evidence from
data. Includes examples and
non-examples to support
points and systematically
explains why this property is
better than each other
property.
Includes 3 of the 4
criteria for a full credit
response.
Includes 2 of the
4 criteria for a
full credit
response.
Includes 1 of
the 4 criteria
for a full
credit
response.
Irrelevant,
illegible or
not
present
SCORE
12
Regents Earth Science
9TH Grade
10