Graded Assignment

Lab Report: Rocks and Minerals

Answer the questions below. When you are finished, submit this assignment to your teacher by the due date for full credit.

Total score: __ of 21 points

(Score for Question 1: _ of 6 points)

Complete the following Data Table as you conduct the lab.

Answer:

Data Table: Mineral Identification

Characteristics

Sample 7

Sample 20

Sample 25

Sample 27

Sample 35

Color

Streak

Luster

Hardness

Special Properties

Mineral Name

(Score for Question 2: _ of 3 points)

Why was it important to examine both the color and the streak of your minerals?

Answer:

Type your answer here.

(Score for Question 3: _ of 3 points)

Is luster a good characteristic to use for the identification of minerals? Why or why not?

Answer:

Type your answer here.

(Score for Question 4: _ of 3 points)

You have been given a sample of quartz, which has a hardness of 7. How can you use this mineral to determine the hardness of other minerals?

Answer:

Type your answer here.
Page Break

(Score for Question 5: _ of 3 points)

Did you notice a distinctive smell for any sample? Describe the odor.

Answer:

Type your answer here.

(Score for Question 6: ___ of 3 points)

Which property or properties did you find most useful in the identification of the mineral samples? Which properties were less useful? Be specific in your explanation.

Answer:

Type your answer here.

Answer: Because the surface colour of individual minerals can vary considerably but the streak colour is vertually constant & is therefore more characteristic of the mineral.

3. Is lustre a good characteristic to use for the

identification of minerals? Why or why not?

Answer: Lustre can vary within a particular

mineral - calcite might be vitreous or it may be

dull. Using lustre for identity often requires a

fresh surface if the mineral in anyway oxidises.

4. You have been given a sample of quartz, which has a hardness of 7. How can you use this mineral to determine the hardness of other minerals?

Answer: If the quartz can scratch another mineral, you know that mineral has a hardnessof less than 7. If the quartz is scratched by another mineral, you know that mineral has a hardness of greater than 7.

6. Which property or properties did you find most useful in the identification of the mineral samples? Which properties were less useful? Be specific in your explanation.

Answer: The most useful is hardness, fracture, cleavage, streak & sometimes crystal habit. The least useful is colour.