Activity 16: Mineral Identification

Front

What is a mineral?

Back

A naturally occurring inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and a crystalline structure.

Front

What is the difference between a rock and a mineral?

Back

A mineral is a single substance with a specific chemical composition, while a rock is a solid aggregate of one or more minerals.

Front

What is calcite?

Back

Calcite is a common mineral made of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and is known for its reaction with hydrochloric acid.

Front

What is quartz?

Back

Quartz is a hard, crystalline mineral composed of silicon dioxide (SiO2) and is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's crust.

Front

How can you identify calcite?

Back

Calcite can be identified by its rhombohedral cleavage, reaction with acid, and its hardness of 3 on the Mohs scale.

Front

How can you identify quartz?

Back

Quartz can be identified by its hexagonal crystal shape, lack of cleavage, and hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale.

Front

What is Mohs scale of hardness?

Back

A scale that ranks minerals based on their ability to scratch one another, ranging from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond).

Front

What is the significance of a mineral's luster?

Back

Luster describes how a mineral reflects light, which can be metallic, glassy, pearly, or dull, and helps in identification.

Front

What is streak in mineral identification?

Back

Streak is the color of a mineral in powdered form, which can be determined by rubbing the mineral on a porcelain plate.

Front

What is cleavage in minerals?

Back

Cleavage is the tendency of a mineral to break along flat, even surfaces, which is a key characteristic for identification.