1. Mineral Properties
  1. Finding the density of a mineral

             Name _______________________


Mineral Properties



Mineral Properties
             Partner(s) ____________________
 
             Class section _____ Date _______
             Lab section ______
 
Objective:
1) By the end of this exercise, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge
of the standard properties used to identify minerals.
2) By the end of this exercise, the students will be able to identify many minerals
by sight.
 
Safety Precautions: Be sure not to taste any of these minerals unless specifically directed to do so by the teacher. Be sure to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water after completing each day’s lab work.
 
Procedure:
1)  Define each of the following properties used to identify minerals:
a)  color ____________________________________________________________
b)  streak ____________________________________________________________
c)  luster ____________________________________________________________
d)  hardness __________________________________________________________
e)  cleavage __________________________________________________________
f)  fracture ___________________________________________________________
 
2) Following the instructions given you by the teacher, fill in the chart (found of the separate sheet) describing the way that the minerals in the chart demonstrate the properties listed.
 
 

Analysis of Data:
1)  There are some minerals with several properties in common. Study the data you have gathered and find two (2) different minerals which seem to belong to the same “group”. Give the evidence as to why they are similar. How are they different?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2)  List two (2) minerals which appear to be unique and explain why you think they seem to stand on their own.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3) Can you identify most minerals by using just one of their properties? Explain your answer.
 
 
 
 
 
 
4)Which of the minerals was most difficult to describe? Explain your answer.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Back to top


Finding the density of a mineral
 
1. Take small piece of apatite or garnet and do these steps in the order they are written.
 a) write down the name of the mineral you have chosen: __________________
 b)use a triple beam balance to determine its mass to the nearest tenth of a gram.
  Mass = _________________
2. Put some water into a graduated cylinder and record the volume of the water alone
 Volume of water alone ______________________
 a) Add the piece of mineral to the water in the graduated cylinder. Read the     volume
  Volume of mineral and water ______________
 b) Subtract the volume of the water from the combined volume of the mineral and the water. This will be the volume of the mineral by itself.
 Volume of mineral and water – volume of water alone = mineral alone
 
   _______________  - _________________ = ________________
 
3. Use the equation density = mass / volume to calculate the density of the mineral. SHOW ALL WORK BELOW.
a. write down equation
b. substitute numbers
c. calculate and write answer with proper units.
 
 
4. The actual density of apatite is _______ and garnet is ___________. Use the percent deviation calculation to calculate how different your answer is to the “official” number.
 
Percent deviation = difference from accepted value X 100
     accepted value      
 
b. substitute numbers
c. calculate the answer, the unit is %
 
 
 
 
 
5. The density of orthoclase feldspar is 2.6g/cm3. If you mass a piece of feldspar and find that its mass is 120.8g, you can calculate volume by using the equation d = m/v and manipulating it. Calculate volume. SHOW ALL WORK.
 
a. write down equation
b. substitute numbers
c. calculate and write answer with proper units
 
 
 
6. The density of gypsum is 2.4g/cm3. If the volume is 32.8cm3, calculate the mass.
SHOW ALL WORK.
a. write down equation
b. substitute numbers
c. calculate and write answer with proper units
 
 
For Further Research:
 Go out to the internet, your textbook, the reference books in Room 140, the encyclopedias and other references in the Media Center, or other references to which you may have access and find out what at least five (5) of these minerals are used for. Tell what industrial, commercial, gemological, or other reason the five minerals you look up are important to human beings. In addition, find at least one (1) place where these minerals are found and list that information as well. Do this on a separate sheet of paper which you will attach to this lab report.
 

                                                   Special Prop?
Mineral Color Streak Luster Hardness Cleavage/Fracture
Augite/
Pyroxene
 
  		         
Calcite
 
  		         
Dolomite
 
  		         
Feldspar/ Plagioclase/Microline
 
        		          
Feldspar/ Orthoclase
Pottasium
  		         
Fluorite
 
  		         
Galena
 
  		         
Garnet/ Almadine
  		         
Graphite
 
  		         
Gypsum
 
  		         
Halite
 
 
  		         

 
 
 
 
Mineral Color Streak Luster Hardness Cleavage/Fracture
Hematite
 
 
  		         
Hornblende/Amphibole
 
  		         
Kaolin
 
  		         
Magnetite
 
  		         
Mica/ Biotite or
Muscovite
  		         
Olivine
 
 
  		         
Pyrite
 
 
  		         
Quartz—
Amethyst
Citrine
Tiger Eye 		         
Sulfur
 
 
  		         
Talc
 
 
  		         

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note density of garnet = 3.5 g/cm3
    Apatite = 3.1 g/cm3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Back to top