Learning about minerals

Grade 8 Mrs. Schmitz

Name:________________

Go to this site: http://geology.csupomona.edu/alert/mineral/minerals.htm

Write neatly and large enough to be readable

Use the links at the bottom of each page to navigate through the site.

1. What is a mineral?_______________________________
2. Name a mineral that is an element________________________________
3. What group of minerals is the most common on earth?_______________________________________________
4. What is the difference between a rock and a mineral?______________________________
5. What are the seven main physical properties of minerals?

     a.________________________

     b.________________________

     c.________________________

     d.________________________

     e.________________________

      f.________________________

     g.________________________

      6. What two things might determine the color of a mineral?___________________________

       7. Can a mineral be more than one color?_______

At the bottom of the page, click on Streak

        8. What substance is the mineral rubbed on for this test?__________________

  9. Are the streak color and the mineral color always the same?_________

At the bottom of the page click on Luster

10. What is luster?______________________________

11. The two main kinds of luster are m______________ and n_______________________

Click on Cleavage

12. Can a mineral break in more than one direction?______

13. When does a mineral fracture?______

Click on Hardness

  14. Who invented the hardness scale?_______________

  15. What number corresponds to the softest mineral?____

16. What number corresponds to the hardest mineral?____

17. What is the hardest mineral?___________

18. What are two substances you could use in a hardness test?________________________________________

Click on Structure

19. What governs (determines) the crystal structure of a mineral?___________________

Click on Specific gravity

20. Specific gravity is always measured against this substance_____________

Click on Other properties

21. Name three other properties of minerals________________________

Go to this site and answer the questions. You may have to pause to write your answers.http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll114/forbesscienceplus/?action=view&current=Propertiesofmineral.flv

1.       Minerals are identified and classified by their _____________ ____________ properties.

2.     Circle all the statements that are true.

a.      Quartz will scratch fluorite

b.     Fluorite will scratch topaz

c.      Talc will scratch gypsum

d.      Diamand will scratch anything

3.     What determines how a mineral will cleave? Circle the correct answer

a.      Whether it has water molecules in it

b.     The arrangement and strength of bonds in the crystal structure

c.      Whether it was formed by pressure or volcanic action

4.     Do all minerals fracture?__________

5.     The two types of luster are _________________ and________________.

Go to this site.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnM8ebB06MU

6.     This very common mineral comes in many colors____________

7.     This mineral peels off in sheets like “pages”_________

8.     Artists used this mineral, as did Cleopatra when she made herself look beautiful______________

9.     Clear quartz has no color by its streak color is______________

10.  This transparent mineral makes text look double when you place it over words___________

11.   This rhom-shaped mineral comes in a variety of colors but its streak color is always white_____________

12.  The mineral found in bones and teeth is________________

13.  Peacock ore, also known as______________, is made of the element_______________

14.  Galena is heavy because it is made of the element___________

15.  How many sides does the crystal garnet have?_______________

Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-90nDk8h94

Someone gives you an unknown mineral. After watching the video, explain in your own words the steps you would take to find out the hardness of that mineral. Please write in complete sentences and cover what you would do first, second, third, etc.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

When you are done, go to this site and play any 2 of the online mineral games. http://www.sdnhm.org/kids/minerals/games/index.html