Download Mineral Lab Station: Prompts

Mineral Lab Station: Worksheet
Name____________________________
Date ______ Period ____Group ____
Station 1: Color - The Dark Side
1. How many specimens are represented in this set?
2. Observe the color of each specimen carefully. How many different colors are represented in Set 1?
3. If you had to say all of these specimens are the same color, what one color would that be?
4. If you were to look at color alone, could you easily distinguish between these minerals or do they
generally look similar to one another?
5. Now that you have inspected them more carefully, do you think these minerals are all the same or circle
the number of different minerals you think are in this set?
1
2
3
4
5
6
6. Your teacher says there are ________ minerals represented here.
Station 2: Color - Varieties of SiO2
1. How many specimens are represented in this set?
2. Observe the color of each specimen carefully. How many different colors are represented in Set 2?
3. If you were to look at color alone, could you easily distinguish between these minerals? Why or why
not?
4. Now that you have inspected them more carefully, do you think these minerals are all the same or circle
the number of different minerals you think are in this set?
1
2
3
4
5
6
5. Your teacher says there are ________ minerals represented here.
Station 3: Color - Mellow Yellow
1. How many specimens are represented in this set?
2. Observe the color of each specimen carefully. How many different colors are represented in Set 3?
3. If you were to look at color alone could you easily distinguish between these minerals? Why or why not?
4. Now that you have inspected them more carefully, do you think these minerals are all the same or circle
the number of different minerals you think are in this set?
1
2
3
5. Your teacher says there are ________ minerals represented here.
Station 4: Streak – Powder Power
1. Describe the color of each of the minerals in this set next to their name in the data table for Station 4.
2. Following the instructions provided, perform a streak test on each mineral. Record your observations in
the data table on the next page.
3. Compare your answers from questions 1 and 2. Which minerals have a visual color different than their
streak color? Circle them in your data table.
4.
Which do you think is a more reliable indicator of the
true color of the mineral – color or streak?
5. Why do you think that streak sometimes differs from
color?
6. What will happen if the mineral tested is harder than
the streak plate?
7. A streak is the color if a mineral is in its_________
Mineral Apparent Streak Color
Number
Color
1
2
3
4
5
6
form. (HINT- Read the instructions!)
Station 5: Luster – Shine On!
1. Look at the sample specimens in this station
and observe each characteristic luster.
2. Decide which of the specimens exhibit metallic
luster and add this description to your data
table.
3. Now use some of the other terms listed to
further describe those minerals that are
nonmetallic. Choose at least one luster from
the list to describe each mineral and record it
Mineral
Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Luster
Luster
(circle one)
(if non-metallic)
metallic/ non-metallic
metallic/ non-metallic
metallic/ non-metallic
metallic/ non-metallic
metallic/ non-metallic
metallic/ non-metallic
metallic/ non-metallic
in your data table.
4. Explain how a mineral be very shiny and yet not be metallic?
Station 6: Cleavage – Them’s the Breaks
1.
What is the common characteristic of the new
surfaces you exposed after cleaving? (hint: what do they
look like?)
2. Sketch each large mineral piece in the data table to
the right.
Mineral Sketch of
#
Large
Mineral
1
2
3. Using a hand lens, look at the smallest fragments.
How do they compare to the original specimens in
3
terms of shape?
4
4. Sketch the smallest piece in the data table.
5. Study the broken end of sample #1 which fractures
and does not show cleavage (Quartz). How does it
differ from the cleavage specimens you have seen?
6. Define cleavage as it is used in this lab.
5
Sketch of
Smallest
piece
--------------------------------do not attempt to
cleave this mineral
----------------------------------
Station 7: Hardness – Let’s be Abrasive
1. Based on what you’ve learned at this station, why was talc a
good choice for the main ingredient in baby powder years ago?
2. The most effective sandpaper is made with quartz and
corundum. Explain why.
3. Why are tiny diamonds used to coat drill bits and saw blades?
Mineral Hardness
Letter
A
B
C
D
E
4. What do you think they use to cut
diamonds when making jewelry?
Explain why you think this.
Mohs’ Hardness Scale
Mineral
Talc
Gypsum
Fingernail
Calcite
Penny (copper)
Fluorite
Apatite
Iron Nail and
Glass
Feldspar
Quartz
Topaz
Corundum
Diamond
Hardness
1
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
5
5.5
6
7
8
9
10
Station 8: Optical Properties – To See or Not to See

Opaque: not able to be seen through; not transparent

Transparent: allowing light to pass through so that
objects behind can be distinctly seen

Translucent: allowing light but not detailed images to
pass through; semi-transparent

Double Refraction: Division of a single incident light
ray into two separate rays; image behind is doubled

Fiber Optic: light is transmitted through the
object so that the image appears to be on
the surface of the object rather than coming
through it.
Mineral Optical
Number Property Displayed
1
2
3
4
5
1. Choose the word which you think best describes the optical properties of each mineral and list it in your
data table.
2. Some minerals will fluoresce different colors under UV light. Go look at the UV light station. (It’s really
cool!)
1. Observe the specimens under UV light. Describe.
2. Bring the specimen out into natural light and observe again. Describe any differences you see.
Station 9: Calcite Test –
The Acid Test
Reactants
Products
2 HCl + CaCO3
CaCl2 + 2 H2O + CO2 (g)
In the equation above,
1. List the five elements present on the left side of the equation.
________ ________ ________ ________ ________
2. Hydrochloric acid is one of the reactants. What do you think the formula for hydrochloric acid looks
like? ________
3. Calcite is one of the reactants. What is the formula for calcite? ___________
4. On the right side of the equation, what five elements are present?
________ ________ ________ ________ ________
5. On the right side of the equation, what three compounds are produced?
________ ________ ________
6. One of the products is a compound called Calcium Chloride. What is its formula?
(hint: it’s not the water or carbon dioxide) ________
7. Why does the calcite fizz in acid? (Hint: what do you think the
(g) next
to CO2 means?)
8. Caves often form in limestone, which is made of calcite. Guess how natural acidic solutions are
responsible for cave formation?
Station 10: Definitions – Play by the Rules

Record in the data table below whether each sample in this set is a mineral or not based on the
definitions given. Give the reason(s) for your answers.
Minerals…
1. Naturally occur in nature
2. Have the same chemical composition throughout: always made of the same element(s)
3. Solid; not liquid or gas
4. Inorganic: not from living organisms
5. Form crystals
 There may be specimens you think are minerals despite the definition. Justify your answer with a
reason.
Sample Mineral?
Number (yes or
no)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Reason why you classified it as a mineral or not a
mineral.
1. Based on this definition, would a snowflake be a mineral? Explain.
2. Based on this definition, would an ice cube be a mineral? Explain.
Station 11: Density
Mineral
A
B
C
D
E
Mass (g)
Volume
(mL)
Calculated
Density (g/mL)
Identity of
Mineral
Measure the mass and volume of each sample mineral. Calculate density.
Use the chart (right) to identify the sample minerals and answer the
following questions:
Known
Density
1. Which sample has the most mass?
2. Which sample takes up the most volume?
3. On the chart to the right, which mineral is the least dense (lightest)?
4. On the chart to the right, which mineral is the most dense (heaviest)?
5. Which sample mineral is the heaviest (most dense)? Look at the sample:
why do you think it is so heavy?
6. Which sample mineral is the lightest? Look at the sample: why do you
think it is so light?
Conclusion Questions:
Mineral
Graphite
Magnetite
Galena
Hematite
Augite
Hornblende
Sulfur
Calcite
Quartz
Pyrite
Feldspar
1. Which property(s) did you find was the most useful in mineral identification? Explain why.
2. Based on what you’ve observed about the colors of minerals, explain why color may not be the most
reliable way to identify minerals.
3. If a mineral is distinctly yellow but earthy or dull in its luster, what mineral is it likely to be?
4. If a mineral is distinctly gold colored with a metallic luster that will scratch glass, what mineral is it likely
to be?
5. If a mineral reacts with acid, what mineral is it likely to be?
6. If a mineral breaks into sheets and is black in color, what mineral is it likely to be?
7. If a mineral shows double refraction, what mineral is it likely to be?
8. Why is it important to use more than one property when identifying minerals?
9. Why might it be important for earth scientists to be able to identify minerals correctly?
Unknown Minerals Quiz
Name____________________________
Date ______ Period ____Group ____
Procedure:
1. After listening to your teacher’s instructions, return to your lab table with your set of unknowns.
2. Select a mineral from your set of unknowns. Be sure to note which mineral you are going to identify by
its letter.
3. Use the mineral identification key provided by your teacher and the materials provided to name the
specimen. When you have identified the mineral, record the name on your answer sheet and what
evidence pointed you to this identification.
4. When you think you have identified all of the minerals, check your answers with the teacher.
5. Repeat the identification for any minerals you identified incorrectly.
6. Place the correct names on the data table and get a stamp from your teacher.
It is important to work through the key one step at a time, beginning with a
determination of whether the mineral is light or dark colored.
Sample
Letter
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
Does this
specimen
show
cleavage?
Yes
(poor cleavage)
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Suspected
Name of
Mineral
What evidence pointed to the
identity of this mineral?
Stamp
Name of
Mineral
(confirmed by
teacher)