IDENTIFYING MINERALS - Earth Science (2010) - RC3 - Earth's Materials and Processes

8 ways to identify minerals

1. Hardness

2. Color streak

3. Luster

4. Cleavage

5. Fracture

6. Metallic

7. Non-metallic

8. Color (least reliable)

Luster (definition)

The way a mineral reflects light; can be either metallic or non-metallic

Luster (how it is measured)

look at the mineral in light

Streak (definition)

color of the mineral in powder form

streak (how it is measured)

rub the mineral on an unglazed ceramic tile

cleavage (definition)

when a mineral smoothly breaks apart due to weak bonds between layers

cleavage (how is it measured)

look at broken surface of mineral for flat edges

fracture (definition)

when a mineral roughly breaks apart

fracture (how it is measured)

look at broken surface for roughness

hardness (definition)

resistance of a mineral to scratching

hardness (how is it measured)

use the mineral to scratch glass, steel, or fingernail; refer to Moh's Scale

Moh's Hardness Scale

a scale ranking ten minerals from softest to hardest

Mineral

occurs naturally

inorganic (was never alive)

solid

definite chemical composition

forms a crystal structure

Four major elements in Earth's crust

Oxygen (O)

Silicon (Si)

Aluminum (Al)

Iron (Fe)

What is most abundant mineral group on earth?

Silicates

Silicates

minerals containing silicon and oxygen

common: feldspar and quartz

Oxides

contain oxygen and other elements

common: hematite and magnetite