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Mastering Mineral Identification: Techniques and Classification

Learn how to identify minerals using characteristics like color, streak, luster, density, hardness, crystal systems, cleavage, and fracture. Discover the importance of mineral knowledge in various applications such as diet, technology, and jewelry.

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Mastering Mineral Identification: Techniques and Classification

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Is this a MINERAL? • SNIFC

  2. How to Identify Minerals…

  3. Why should we know about minerals? • Diet & Nutrition • Calcium, Choline, Chromium, Copper, Fluoride, Iodine, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, vitamins • Kidney stones, gallstones • Water • Cars • Batteries – MP3 players, iPods, cell phones • Electricity • Jewelry • Fool’s gold

  4. Identifying Minerals • What characteristics would you use to identify or classify different minerals? (3,800 minerals) • 9 classifications/properties (physical & chemical properties)

  5. Color • Easy to observe • Not always a clear way to identify

  6. Streak • Streak: the color of its powder • Colors of minerals may vary but streak does not

  7. Luster • Luster: how much light is reflected from a mineral’s surface

  8. Density • Density: how much mass there is in a given space • D = m/v or water displacement

  9. Hardness • Hardness: determined by a scratch test • A mineral can scratch any material softer than itself • But can be scratched by any mineral that is harder • Mohs hardness scale

  10. Mohs Hardness Scale

  11. Crystal Systems • Crystal system: the structure of how the mineral’s atoms form • Ex: cubic, hexagonal, rhombic

  12. Cleavage • Cleavage: when a mineral splits along a flat surface • Ex: Mica

  13. Fracture • Fracture: when a mineral breaks apart in an irregular way

  14. Special Properties • Some minerals are identified by special physical/chemical properties.

  15. Group Identification • Person #1: describe rock to partner using 3-4 properties • Switch

  16. Review • Usually not a clear identifier • Does not break in a flat sheet • Calcite’s powder is always white • Fluorescent • Breaks in flat sheets • Shiny mineral • Cubic shape • Compares how it is scratched/scratches • How much mass takes up a certain volume • Color • Streak • Luster • Density • Hardness • Crystal system • Cleavage • Fracture • Special properties Answers: 1. A 2. C 3. F 4. I 5. H 6. G 7. E 8. B 9. D

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