Making Tables from Data Collection
Review the passage below to create a table that will help you answer the questions about these 8
minerals. Previous information and data collection has been provided in paragraph form has been
provided.
Passage I
The table below lists several minerals and the chemical elements of which they are made. The
common crystal colors for each mineral and the common uses for each mineral are listed in the table.
Also listed are two physical properties of the minerals: the density in grams/cubic centimeter (g/cm3) and
the hardness (10 is the hardest). Hardness is determined by using the minerals to scratch materials of
known hardness.
Mineral Name
Diamond
Corundum
Beryl
Tourmaline
Spinel
Garnet
Topaz
Quartz
Elements That
make it up
(Composition)
Color
Common Uses
Density (g/cm3)
Hardness
Element: A substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.
An element is composed of atoms that have the same atomic number, that is, each atom has
the same number of protons in its nucleus as all other atoms of that element.
Minerals contain many elements and geologist preform test on the minerals to identify them.
To help with identification, geologists must look closely at the physical properties of a mineral.
These properties can include: color, streak, hardness, cleavage, density, cleavage, and others.
Color: Color is easily observed, but not always a reliable characteristic for the identification of
minerals. A number of different minerals have the same color. A mineral may come in a variety
of colors or may even change color due to the environment. For example, diamonds are
normally clear, blue, or yellow. But, have you heard of “chocolate” diamonds?
Luster: A mineral's luster describes the way light is reflected from its surface. Examples of luster
include - metallic, nonmetallic, brilliant, glassy, greasy, pearly, or silky.
Streak: A streak test is accomplished by rubbing the mineral on a porcelain plate, also known as
a streak plate. The color of the streak left by the mineral is sometimes different from the color
of the mineral itself. A streak test comes in handy when identifying minerals such as hematite.
Hematite can be found in various colors from black to red, but it always leaves a red streak.
Density: A mineral's density is the amount of matter in a given space (mass/volume). Each
mineral has a characteristic density (density does not change with the size of the mineral).
Cleavage: These two characteristics describe the way a mineral breaks *cleavage- means to break along a smooth, definite line
*fracture - refers to rough, uneven breakage
Crystal shape: results from the pattern formed by the atoms of a mineral when it is forming.
Most minerals have a characteristic geometric shape.
Hardness: Hardness is the ability of a mineral to resist being scratched. To determine a
mineral's hardness, rub the mineral against another known mineral or object to see if it will
become scratched. The following chart indicates how you might test a mineral for hardness
using a combination of Friedrich Mohs and field hardness scales. 1 represents the softest
mineral while 10 is used for the hardest mineral.
HARDNESS SCALE (Mohs and Field Hardness Scales)
Hardness
Item(s) That Will Scratch Mineral
Mineral
1
Fingernail
Talc
2
Fingernail
Gypsum
3
Penny
Calcite
4
Penny
Fluorite
5
Glass, Knife blade, or Nail
Apatite
6
Streak Plate
Feldspar
7
File
Quartz
(massive
Quartz crystal
8
File
Topaz
9
File/Diamond
Corundum
10
type)
Diamond
List of minerals:
Diamond:
A diamond is made completely of the element carbon. Diamond has many unequaled qualities
and is very unique among minerals. It is the hardest known substance, it is the greatest
conductor of heat, and it has the highest melting point of any substance (7362° F or 4090° C).
Diamond is number 10 on the Mohs scale, and is 40 times harder than Corundum, which is
number 9 on the Mohs scale. Because of heat conduction, Diamonds are cold to the feel at or
below room temperature. When heated, a Diamond will remain hot long after the heat source
is removed. The luster of Diamond is excellent. Diamond exhibits a brilliance, which gives it a
shiny, freshly polished look. Rough Diamonds exhibit a greasy luster, but proper cutting gives
them a luster. Diamonds are clear, blue and yellow in color and they have a density is 3.5g/cm3.
The hardness and conductivity of this mineral make it very useful. The most notable use of
Diamonds is in the jewelry market. Only about 20 percent of Diamonds are fit for gem use. The
other 80 percent mined are used industrially, especially as abrasives (a substance used for
grinding, polishing, or cleaning a hard surface) and a Diamond saw (saws with tiny diamond
studs that can cut almost anything. Diamond is also used in thermal insulators, in optics, and in
electronics.
Corundum:
Corundum is made of the elements aluminum and carbon. Corundum is best known for its gem
varieties, Ruby and Sapphire. Ruby and Sapphire are scientifically the same mineral but just
different colors. Ruby is the red variety, and Sapphire is the variety that encompasses all other
colors, although the most popular and valued color of Sapphire is blue. Corundum is a very
hard, tough, and stable mineral. For all practical purposes, it is the hardest mineral after
Diamond, making it the second hardest mineral. On the Mohs scale it has a hardness of 9 but its
density of 3.9 – 4.1 g/cm3 makes it greater than the diamond. It is also unaffected by acids and
most environments. The luster of corundum is glassy or transparent with a very brilliant bright
shine. Ruby and Sapphire are the most famous gemstones after Diamond. Corundum has
some electrical uses, is used as an abrasive because of its high hardness.
Spinel:
Spinel is made of the elements magnesium, aluminum, and oxygen. Spinel occurs in almost
every color, and forms gems of all colors. The most common colors are red, yellow, and
greenish-brown. It is not a well-known gem, although good specimens can attain very high
prices. Bright red Spinel, known as Ruby Spinel, is the most valuable. When a streak test is
preformed the color will be white. The minerals hardness is an 8 on Mohs hardness scale and
the density is 3.5 – 4.1g/cm3. The luster of Spinel is opaque to nearly opaque. Spinel is a rare
mineral, and its color and qualities make it easy to use as a gemstone. It is cut into all gemstone
cuts, especially round and oval cuts.
Topaz:
Topaz is made of the elements aluminum, silicon, oxygen, fluorine, hydrogen. Topaz is a wellknown mineral, occurring in large and beautifully shaped and colored crystals. It naturally
occurs in many colors, but rarely in pink, purple, and deep blue, the colors it occurs in as
follows: clear, yellow, and blue-green. When a streak test preformed the result is colorless. On
Mohs hardness scale Topaz has a hardness of 8 and a density of 3.5g/cm3. Topaz is a very
popular gemstone. All colors are fashioned into gemstones, and the yellow-brown Imperial is
especially valuable.
Beryl:
Beryl is composed of beryllium, aluminum, silicon, and oxygen. Beryl occurs in a wide range of
colors but the most common colors are green and blue-green. The green variety, Emerald, is
one of the most precious gems. When a streak test is performed it will be colorless. On Mohs
hardness scale Beryl has a hardness of 7.5 and its density is 2.7 -2.9 g/cm3. The luster of this
mineral is waxy and glass like. Beryl forms some of the most well-known and prized gemstones.
Beryl is also an important industrial mineral used in alloys to strengthen other metals; often
used in airplanes.
Garnet:
Garnet is composed of magnesium, iron, aluminum, silicon, and oxygen. Garnet is generally red
in color and a streak test will produce a colorless streak. On Mohs hardness scale Garnet has a
hardness of 7.5. The density of this mineral is 3.6 – 4.3 g/cm3. The luster of Garnet is glassy and
dull. The Garnet is an important mineral, and is primarily known for its gemstone uses.
Garnets high hardness makes it useful for abrasives, and can be made into sandpaper.
Quartz:
Quartz is composed of silicon and oxygen. Quartz is one of the most well-known minerals on
Earth. It occurs in basically all mineral environments, and is the important component of many
rocks. Quartz is also the most varied of all minerals, occurring in all different forms, habits, and
colors. The most common colors of Quartz are clear, purple, and yellow. There are more
variety names given to Quartz than any other mineral. Quartz frequently forms the inner lining
of geodes. When a streak test is preformed the result will be white and the hardness of this
mineral is 7 on Mohs hardness scale. This mineral has a density of 2.7g/cm 3. The luster of this
mineral is transparent, but colorless Quartz is often glassy. Quartz is an important mineral with
numerous uses. Quartz is commonly used in gemstones. Sand, which is composed of tiny
Quartz pebbles, is the primary ingredient for the manufacture of glass. It has many electronic
uses; it is used as oscillators in radios, watches, and pressure gauges, and in the study of optics.
Quartz is also used as an abrasive. It is also essential in the computer industry, as the important
silicon semiconductors are made from Quartz as well as heat-ray lamps.
Tourmaline:
Tourmaline is composed of aluminum, silicon, oxygen, fluorine, and hydrogen. Tourmaline is
extremely popular among collectors and is a well-known gemstone. Individual stones are often
multicolored and are unsurpassed in their beauty. Tourmaline is extremely varied in color but
the most common colors are red and blue. When a streak test is preformed it will produce a
white streak on a streak plate. The luster of this mineral is glassy. On the Mohs hardness scale
tourmaline has a hardness of 7 and its density is 3.0 – 3.3 g/cm3. Tourmaline is a very popular
gemstone and useful as a component of high pressure gauges.