Download Name That Mineral!

Name ______________________________
Date _________
Name That Mineral!
A. Identify the mineral(s) that most closely resembles the description given. Write the name of
the mineral in the space provided. Use your Mineral Identification Key, the Mineral Family packet,
your notes, and the mineral samples. Mineral names may be used more than once.
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This native element mineral is composed of carbon atoms arranged in layers
that have weak bonds between them, making the mineral soft and slippery.
This mineral has 3 directions of cleavage that are not at right angles and a
hardness of 3 on Mohs’ scale.
This silicate mineral is 7 on Mohs’ scale, has irregular or conchoidal
fracture, and can come in many colors due to traces of different elements.
This soft, white mineral is easily scratched with one’s fingernail, has a
pearly luster, a slippery texture, and breaks easily into tiny flakes.
These two mica minerals have perfect cleavage in one direction, forming
thin sheets with shiny or glassy luster. One mineral is clear to gold in color;
the other is dark brown or black.
This pale green silicate mineral has a crumbly or grainy texture that
crumbles easily, but it can scratch glass.
This soft but heavy sulfide mineral has a metallic luster and perfect cubic
cleavage.
This native element mineral has a distinctive yellow color and may smell like
rotten eggs.
This halide mineral is 4 on Mohs’ scale and comes in many different colors.
This yellowish metallic mineral scratches glass and has a greenish black
streak; you’d be a fool to think it’s gold – it contains only iron and sulfur.
This light-colored silicate mineral is 6 on Mohs’ scale and belongs to a group
of the most common minerals in Earth’s crust; its 2 planes of cleavage at
90o can be difficult to see.
This carbonate mineral reacts to weak hydrochloric acid (HCl) and will show
double refraction if you find a clear sample.
This mineral is easily attracted to a magnet; it has a black streak and is
harder than glass, and it is an ore mineral for iron.
This native element mineral is the hardest naturally occurring substance
known to humans.
This soft, dark colored mineral is used as pencil “lead” and as a lubricant.
This metallic mineral can be mistaken for “fool’s gold” because it has the
same color streak, but it is much softer and contains copper.
This halide mineral has perfect cubic cleavage and is used to season food.
This oxide mineral may have a metallic or earthy luster, but it has a
characteristic reddish brown streak.
This mineral’s chemical formula is SiO2.
These two silicate mineral are the most abundant minerals in Earth’s crust.
Over 
B. Describe how you can distinguish between each of the following sets of three minerals. Indicate
all properties that would be useful and how they would differ between the different minerals.
a. Gold, Pyrite, Chalcopyrite
b. Talc, Gypsum, Muscovite
C. Identify the elements present and the number of atoms of each element that would be present
in one molecule of each mineral.
Olivine: (Mg,Fe)2SiO4
Garnet: Fe3Al2(SiO4)3
Both of the minerals listed above belong to the
family of minerals.
D. You have been given samples of the ten minerals listed on Mohs’ Hardness Scale. However,
instead of being labeled by name, the samples are labeled only with letters. Use the clues below
and your copy of Mohs’ Scale to determine the identity of minerals A through J. Indicate the
letter for each mineral in the spaces below.
1. Mineral A scratches minerals E and I, but it can be scratched by mineral J.
2. Mineral C can be scratched by every other mineral.
3. Mineral E can scratch mineral I; both can scratch a copper penny.
4. Mineral F can scratch only mineral C.
5. Mineral B can scratch mineral F and C, but it can be scratched by all the other minerals.
6. Mineral H can scratch every other mineral.
7. Mineral D can be scratched only by mineral H.
8. Mineral G can be scratched by minerals H and d; it can scratch mineral J.
Talc _____
Gypsum _____
Calcite _____
Fluorite _____
Apatite _____
Feldspar _____
Quartz _____
Topaz _____
Corundum _____
Diamond _____
E. Identify the mineral family of each of the following minerals:
Rutile (TiO2)
Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2)
Dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2
Graphite (C)
Barite (BaSO4)
Corundum (Al2O3)