Questions 1.What are some of the special properties of minerals? 2.What makes a mineral crystal a gem? Subject Area: Identifying Minerals EQ: How do Scientists identify minerals? March 3, 2014

Identifying Minerals If you found two minerals samples how can you tell if they are the same mineral? How can you determine the identity of a mineral? What differences in rocks do you think you could use to tell them apart? Response: The difference in rocks are…

Color When you see a mineral the color is probably the first thing that you notice. Minerals come in many different colors and shades. The color can be effected by impurities and weathering.

Luster The way a surface reflects light is called luster. When you say an object is shiny or dull you are describing it’s luster.

Streak The color of the mineral in powdered form is called the mineral’s streak. To find the mineral’s streak, the mineral is rubbed against a piece of unglazed porcelain called a streak plate. How do you determine a mineral’s streak? Response: You determine a mineral’s streak by …

Cleavage The way a mineral breaks is determined by the arrangement of its atoms. Cleavage is the tendency of some minerals to break along flat surfaces.

Fracture Fracture is the tendency of some minerals to break unevenly along curved or irregular surfaces. What is the difference between cleavage and fracture? Response: The difference between cleavage and fracture is …

Hardness Hardness refers to a minerals resistance to being scratched.

Mohs’ Hardness Scale To determine the hardness of a mineral, scientists use Mohs’ Hardness Scale. How would you determine the hardness of an individual unidentified mineral sample? Response: You would determine the hardness of a mineral sample by …

Density Density is the measure of how much matter there is in a given amount of space. The ratio of an objects density to the density of water is called the objects specific density. What is density? Response: Density is …

Special Properties Some properties are particular to only a few types of minerals.

Fluorescence Calcite and fluorite glow under ultraviolet light. What is Fluorescence? Response: Fluorescence is …

Chemical Reaction Calcite will effervesce, or “fizz” when a drop of weak acid is placed on it. + =

Optical Properties A thin, clear piece of calcite placed over an image will cause a double image.

Taste Halite has a salty taste.

Magnetism Magnetite and pyrrhotite are both magnets that attract iron.

Radioactivity Minerals that contain radium or uranium can be detected by a Geiger counter.

Summary 1.Answer the essential question “How do Scientists identify minerals?” 2.Your answer needs to be in complete sentences. 3.Place your answer at the bottom of the notes we did today. 4.Make sure you include methods used to identify minerals. 5.Use your notes to get the answers.

Magnetism 1.What did you know? _____________________________________________ 2. What did you learn? _____________________________________________ 3. What do you want to know? _____________________________________________

Basics of Geology: All About Rocks and Minerals 1.What did you know? _____________________________________________ 2. What did you learn? _____________________________________________ 3. What do you want to know? _____________________________________________

Review 1. If you had two minerals of the same hardness, what other properties would you use to determine whether the samples are the same mineral? Response: Other properties I would use would be … 2. What is the Mohs’ Hardness Scale? Response: The Mohs’ Hardness Scale is… 3. What is Density? Response: Density is …

March 11, 2013 Agenda 1.Roll 2.PowerPoint titled: Identifying Minerals 3.Possible Video