MINERALS PRE-LAB ASSIGNMENT

In lab, we will be studying minerals. There will be a pre-lab quiz at the beginning of lab. To help you prepare for the quiz and the lab, I have listed things with which you should be familiar. Read Ch. 2 in your textbook and Exercise 2 in the lab manual.

Know what these terms mean, and how they apply to minerals:

• crystal form (NO need to learn the specific types)

• color

• streak

• luster (know various lusters)

• cleavage - know the various types (and later, an example of each)

• one direction (muscovite)

• two directions at 90 degrees, two directions not at 90 degrees

• three directions at 90 degrees (galena, halite)

• three directions not at 90 degrees

• four directions, six directions

• fracture and conchoidal fracture

• striations (what are they? which minerals have them?)

• reaction to acid (type of acid? which minerals react?)

• hardness

• familiarize yourself with Mohs Scale

• note the relative hardness of some common objects

You should also be able to associate physical properties with minerals, such as:

• streak of hematite (p. 35)

• color and luster of pyrite (fool's gold) (p. 40)

• luster and streak of sphalerite (p. 40)

• magnetism of magnetite (p. 33)

• cleavage and luster of galena (p. 35)

• cleavage and color of muscovite (p. 35)

• calcite's reaction to acid (p. 38)

• cleavage of
  • halite, p. 39
  • fluorite, p. 38
  • pyroxene, p. 39
  • amphibole, p. 39
  • calcite, p. 38

• colors, cleavage, presence or absence of striations on two types of feldspar (plagioclase and potassium feldspar)

See photos and read captions of the mineral illustrations.

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This page created by Dr. Pamela J. W. Gore,
DeKalb College, Clarkston, GA
pgore@DeKalb.gpc.edu
Created January 21, 1998.