Mineral Identification Chart Project

For this activity you will need to watch the short video(s) for each mineral. You have been provided with key characteristics for each mineral on the page with the mineral videos. You will need to identify each mineral by comparing that information with the table below to determine the mineral name. Once you have determined the mineral name you will need to create an excel table with the following columns and in this order:

Sample Number,

Luster

,

Hardness

, Fracture/

Cleavage

,

Streak

, Color, Other properties, and

Mineral

name.  You will be submitting this completed table. You need to put the samples in numeric order in the chart.

Each mineral with the corresponding information is worth

3

points.

Mineral Identification Chart

LusterHardnessCleavageStreak

Other Properties

Mineral

Metallic

>

5

.5

Poor

Dark

Gray

Dark silvery gray to black, H

6

to 6.5, magnetic

Magnetite

<5.5

Good

Gray – dark Gray

Bluish-­?silver, cubic, H

2

.5, dense

Galena

Good

Dark gray

Dark silver-gray to black, H

1

, can form sheets

Graphite

Poor

Brick red

Dull Red or silvery, H 1 – 6, can be weakly magnetic

Hematite

Good

White

to pale gray

Brassy yellow, H 6 – 6.5, cubic

Pyrite

Non-

metallic

>5.5

Good

White to pale gray

Dark gray to black, H 5.5-6, 56o and

12

4

o cleavage, forms prisms

Amphibole

Poor

No streak

Red, yellow, black or brown, H

7

, forms dodecahedrons, conchoidal fracture

Garnet

PoorBrick redDull Red or silvery, H 1 – 6, can be weakly magneticHematite

Poor/Absent

No streak

Pale to dark olive green, yellow or brown, H 7, may resemble sand grains, conchoidal fracture, used as a gemstone

Olivine

GoodWhite

White, gray or black, H 6, striations, tabular grains

Plagioclase

feldspar

GoodWhite

Mainly pink, white can be green and orange, H 6, exsolution lamellae

Potassium

feldsparGoodWhite to pale gray

Dark green, brown to black, H 5.5-6, cleavage at

9

0o, form short

8

-sided prisms

Pyroxene

PoorNo streak

Many colors: white, rose, purple, blue, green, smoky, H 7.0, conchoidal fracture

Quartz

<5.5Good

Gray-brown to white

Black-­?brown, green-black, H 2.5 – 3, thin sheets

Biotite

GoodWhite

Transparent, white, yellow, H 3, effervesces in acid

Calcite

GoodWhite

Many colors including green, yellow, purple, gray, blue, H 4, cubic

Fluorite

GoodGray

Silvery gray, H1.0, rubs off on hands

GraphiteGoodWhite

Transparent, white, gray, H 2, forms blades, prisms or tabular crystals

Gypsum

GoodWhite

Many colors: white, blue, yellow, brown, red, transparent, H 2.5, cubic, salty taste

Halite

GoodWhite

Transparent, light brown, H 2 – 2.5,thin sheets

Muscovite

Poor

Pale yellow

Waxy yellow or red, H 1.5 – 2.5, smells like rotten eggs

Sulfur

Poor/AbsentWhite

White, green, gray, brown, H 1, greasy or soapy feel

Talc

???

???

Mineral Number

LusterHardness

Fracture/Cleavage

StreakOther Properties1

non-metallic

<5.5

poor

/absent

WhiteWhite, green, gray, brown, H 1, greasy or soapy feel2non-metallic<5.5

good

WhiteMany colors: white, blue, yellow, brown, red, transparent, H 2.5, cubic, salty taste3non-metallic<5.5goodWhiteMany colors including green, yellow, purple, gray, blue, H 4, cubic4metallic<5.5goodGray

Dark silver-gray to black, H 1, can form sheets

5non-metallic<5.5poor

Pale Yellow

Waxy yellow or red, H 1.5 – 2.5, smells like rotten eggs6non-metallic<5.5goodWhiteTransparent, white, gray, H 2, forms blades, prisms or tabular crystals7metallic>5.5poor

Dark Gray

Dark silvery gray to black, H 6 to 6.5, magnetic

8non-metallic<5.5goodWhiteTransparent, white, yellow, H 3, effervesces in acid9non-metallic>5.5poor

No Streak

Many colors: white, rose, purple, blue, green, smoky, H 7.0, conchoidal fracture

10

metallic<5.5good

Gray- dark gray

Bluish-­?silver, cubic, H 2.5, dense

11

metallic and non-metallic

>5.5PoorBrick redDull Red or silvery, H 1 – 6, can be weakly magnetic12metallic>5.5GoodWhite to pale grayBrassy yellow, H 6 – 6.5, cubic

13

non-metallic>5.5GoodWhiteWhite, gray or black, H 6, striations, tabular grains

14

non-metallic>5.5GoodWhiteMainly pink, white can be green and orange, H 6, exsolution lamellae

15

non-metallic<5.5GoodGray-brown to whiteBlack-­?brown, green-black, H 2.5 - 3, thin sheets

16

non-metallic<5.5GoodWhiteTransparent, light brown, H 2 - 2.5,thin sheets

17

non-metallic>5.5GoodWhite to pale gray

Dark green, brown to black, H 5.5-6, cleavage at 90o, form short 8-sided prisms

18

non-metallic>5.5Poor/AbsentNo streakPale to dark olive green, yellow or brown, H 7, may resemble sand grains, conchoidal fracture, used as a gemstone

19

non-metallic>5.5GoodWhite to pale gray

Dark gray to black, H 5.5-6, 56o and 124ocleavage, forms prisms

20

non-metallic>5.5PoorNo streak

Red, yellow, black or brown, H 7, forms dodecahedrons, conchoidal fracture

Minerals – Google Drive

here is the link that includes the all of the rocks you can see.