Term 4 PBA-Renaldo

How to identify Rocks/Minerals

What are minerals?

A mineral is a natural inorganic substance composed of different chemicals. A minerals structure, and strength can b used to determine how it can be used in everyday life, Some minerals are used for construction, manufacturing, agriculture etc.

At the top of the chart you will see Luster, Hardness, Cleavage, Fracture, Common Colors, Characteristics, Use, and Composition.

Key to identifying Minerals

Luster is the texture of a mineral and how the sheen of the minerals sheen reacts to light. The 3 main types of Luster a mineral can have are Metallic: where the mineral shines like metal, Non-metallic: Where the mineral shines like wax, and Pearly: When the mineral creates a rainbow like effect when light shines on it. This effect is called iridescently.

​Luster

The Hardness of a minerals measures the total resistance A mineral has from being scratched by another another substance/mineral from the Moh's hardness scale. Knowing the Hardness of a mineral helps with identifying what kind of mineral it is. The hardest known mineral know is diamond with a hardness of 10.

​Hardness

The Cleavage of a mineral describes how a crystal breaks when succumbed to certain amount of stress which gives the piece a smooth/ crystal shape. Example: Smooth surface

Cleavage

Fracture is similar to cleavage the difference between them is that the mineral break with a random pattern and no smooth surfaces. Example: jagged surface

Fracture

Multiple Choice

What type of luster gives the mineral a rainbow like effect when exposed to light?

• Pearly

• Metallic

• Non-Metallic

Multiple Choice

A minerals fracture depends on the minerals degree of cleavage

• True

• False

Multiple Select

What is used to determine a minerals hardness?

• Mohs hardness scale

• Scratch test

Multiple Choice

What is Amphibole chemical composition equation?

• $$R_{14}[(OH)_4Si_{16}O_{44}]$$

• $$XYZ_2O_6$$

• $$K(Mg,Fe)_3AlSi_3O_{10}(F,OH)_2$$

• $$Mg_3Si_4O_{10}(OH)_2$$

Open Ended

When was the Mohs hardness scale invented? and who created it?

Open Ended

How old is the mohs hardness scale?, Is it true that some minerals are now known to be stronger than diamond?

Open Ended

What is the name of the mineral Scientists discovered to be stronger than Diamond?

(Hint: The image is the mineral)

​What is lonsdaleite?

lonsdaleite A mineral discovered by Scientists was found in a meteorite that scientists say came from a dwarf planet that was billions of years old. An asteroid crashed into that planet, releasing pressure that caused the stone to form. The hardness of lonsdaleite could be useful in making super durable tools for industrial sites.