Starter
(pg 2 of “Minerals”)
1. What does SNIFC stand for?
2. Name at least 3 minerals used
in bikes.
1
HONORS -- BELL QUIZ
(orange paper)
1. What does SNIFC stand for? (+5 pts)
2. Name 4 minerals used generally used in bikes.
2
Minerals Part 2
With all of the different
minerals, how do you
identify them??
Minerals are identified by their key
characteristics
4
Minerals are identified by their key
characteristics, which are…
1.
2.
3.
4.
Color
Luster
Streak
Hardness
5.
6.
7.
8.
Cleavage/fracture
Density
Special Properties
Crystal shape (We
won’t discuss this in detail.)
Luster
Hardness
Cleavage
Streak
Minerals are identified by close
observation and by performing
simple tests.
Color
Special Properties
Fracture
Density
Color
1. Color is the most easily observed, but
least reliable property of a mineral for
identification.
WHY? The same mineral can come in many
different colors!
Luster
1. Luster is the way in which a mineral shines in the light.
2. It describes how light reflects off the surface.
3. Main categories are “metallic” and “non-metallic”
4. Non-metallic includes “dull,” “glassy,” “waxy,”
“earthy,” “pearly,” and others.
Streak
1. Streak is the color of the powder left on a
“streak plate” (unglazed porcelain).
2. Streak is more reliable than color because
color can vary but streak does not.
3. Some paint is based on powdered minerals.
Cleavage/
Fracture
1. Some minerals split along flat surfaces when
broken-this is called mineral cleavage.
2. Other minerals break unevenly along rough
or curved surfaces--this is called fracture.
3. One type of
cleavage is
“Sheety” Cleavage,
like Mica.
Feldspars always cleave readily at or near right angles.
Fracture
23
Conchoidal or shell-like fracture
Fibrous facture
Mineral hardness
1. Hardness is the resistance to being
scratched.
2. The Mohs Hardness Scale is one of the most
effective tool for identifying minerals.
3. Mohs scale is from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond)
4. Quartz is about 7
http://www.amfed.org/t_mohs.htm
Mohs Hardness Scale
Hardness
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Mineral
Talc
Gypsum
Calcite
Fluorite
Apatite
Orthoclase
Quartz
Topaz
Corundum
Diamond
Common Object
Finger Nail (2.5)
Copper Penny (3.5)
Glass (5.5-6.5)
26
Special Characteristics-1. The “Acid Test”
Carbonates react
with dilute HCl and
other acids by
fizzing or bubbling
(releasing CO2 gas)
30
Special Characteristics-2. Fluorescence
• Some minerals will
glow when placed
under short-wave or
long-wave
ultraviolet rays
http://www.sterlinghill.org/Tour%20information.htm
31
Special Characteristics-3. Salty Taste
• DO NOT TASTE
MOST
MINERALS!
• Halite is the
exception--it will
taste salty
32
http://mineral.galleries.com/scripts/item.exe?LIST+Minerals+Halides+Halite
Special Characteristics-4. Magnetism
• Many iron minerals
will produce an
invisible magnetic
force field
• “Lodestone” was
used by Vikings
more than 1,000
years ago as
compasses
33
Useful Web Sites





www.mii.org
www.mineral.galleries.com/minerals
www.mineral.net
www.usgs.gov
http://geology.about.com/library/bl/images/bl
mineralindex.htm