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http://geology.about.com/od/mineral_ident/ss/beginmini
dent_4.htm
Minerals are solid materials of Earths crust. Minerals are
made of chemical elements. Some minerals are made of
one element (atom). Each kind of atom is represented by
a symbol. Gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), and
carbon(C) are minerals made of one element.
Most minerals are chemical compounds. Chemical
compounds are two or more elements joined together
(molecules). Each mineral has chemical composition.
Scientists classify minerals by their chemical composition.
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Hexagonal crystal
Some words to describe different crystal shapes are:
cubic : equal, square faces
dendritic : branching, tree-like, looks like the
veins in a leaf or like a painted tree shape
dog-tooth : shaped like the canine tooth, like a
dog's tooth
fibrous : looks like fibers, threads, parallel lines
geode : spherical, round shape that is hollow
inside, often lined with crystals
prismatic: like a prism with flat ends, longer than
it is wide.
rose shaped : looks like a flattened flower or rose
with petals
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a)
b)
c)
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Lustre
Lustre describes the way light reflects off of the surface of
a mineral. We can describe it as metallic (very shinny like
metals such as pyrite, gold or silver) or non-metallic.
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Hardness
Hardness is how difficult is to scratch a mineral. Soft
minerals are easily scratched. Mohs scale of hardness
shows how hard a mineral is. Talc is number 1.It is the
softest. Diamond is number 10.It is the hardest. Every
item on the list can scratch something above it.
Scratching tools:
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fingernail (2.2)
copper penny (3.5)
pocket knife (5.2)
piece of glass (5.5)
steel file (7.5)
piece of corundum (9)
Rating
1 Very Soft
2 Soft
3 Soft
4 Semi-Hard
5 Hard
6 Hard
7 Very Hard
Description
Can be scratched
with a fingernail
Can be scratched
with a fingernail
Can be scratched
with a copper penny
Can be scratched
with a common nail
Can be scratched
with a common nail
(5.2).
Mineral of hardness
6 or more will
scratch glass.
Can be scratched
with a concrete nail
8 Very Hard
9 Extremely Hard
10 The Hardest
Mineral Example
Talc
Gypsum
Calcite
Fluorite
Apatite
Feldspar
Quartz
Topaz
Used in industrial
tools for cutting,
grinding & sanding.
Diamond is used to
cut all minerals
including diamonds.
Corundum
Diamond
ACTIVITY
Show the approximate value of hardness in the following
minerals:
- Pyrite: It scratches fluorite but it doesnt scratch
feldspar.
- Silver: It scratches gypsum but it doesnt scratch
fluorite.
Invent two sentences comparing the hardness of two
minerals. Use the pattern given above.
-
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LABORATORY PRACTICE-2
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ACTIVITY (internet)
Diamonds, sapphires and rubies are gemstones. People
like them because they are rare and beautiful. They make
jewelry with them. Use the internet to learn more about
gemstones. Write a text in your own words about your
favourite gemstone.
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2. Granite
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1.
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2.
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Geologists classify rocks according to their
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ACTIVITY (internet)
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Shale______
Silt
Siltstone____
Sand
Sandstone___
Gravel
Conglomerate
ACTIVITY
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Metamorphic rock
Gneiss
Slate
Quartzite
Marble
Schist
ACTIVITY
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ACTIVITY
Metamorphic rocks have useful properties. For example,
slate is impermeable and breaks into layers. What is it
used for?
Marble is shinny and colourful. It is easy to carve. What
do people use it for?
ACTIVITY
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Magma
Igneous rocks
ACTIVITY (internet)
To finish, search the main kind of rocks we can find in
Catalunya. The four basic areas are: granite and
metamorphic areas, calcareous areas, clay areas and
volcanic areas. Identify them and paint the following
map:
LABORATORY PRACTICE 1
Experiment with malachite
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Material:
Some malachite specimens, test tubes, water, limewater,
hydrochloric acid solution, iron nail, rusty nail, fresh nail,
Bunsen, tongs, collection of metals.
Method:
Put some malachite in a clean test-tube.
Add a few drops of water.
- Does the malachite dissolve easily in water?
Put some limewater in another tube.
Add a few drops of dilute hydrochloric acid to the
malachite. Shake the limewater gently.
- What happens to the malachite?
- What happens to the limewater? Explain.
Drop more acid into the malachite until no malachite is
left.
Describe the malachite tube until no malachite is left.
Now take a clean iron nail. Drop the nail into the testtube that had the malachite in it and leave it for a few
minutes.
Take out the nail. Describe what has happened to it.
Compare it with a rusty nail and a fresh nail. Put all three
in a Bunsen flame, using tongs. What do you see?
Break all three nails. What do you see?
Compare the nail you left in the malachite solution with
a collection of different metals. Which metal has come out
of the malachite?
You have now found TWO materials that can come out of
malachite. What are they?
One is a gas, one a metal. Were they similar in
appearance to the malachite?
Now you should be able to see why we say minerals are
usually COMPOUNDS. They are made of other things
chemically compounded together, and they can be taken
apart again if we use the right chemical methods.
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LABORATORY PRACTICE 2
Physical properties of minerals
Material:
You will be given different boxes that contain different
elements to solve problems. Before beginning the activity
check the contents of each box. If something is missing,
please tell the teacher.
Problem 1 (Study of hardness): talc, gypsum,
calcite, quartz, corundum, metal screw, a piece of
glass.
Problem 2 (Study of magnetism): pyrite, magnetite,
calcite, a magnet.
Problem3 (Study of cleavage): muscovite (mica),
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pyrite,
LABORATORY PRACTICE 3
Is COLOUR a good way TO IDENTIFY MINERALS?
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Calcite
Halite
Feldspar
Colour?
Shiny/dull?
Is it the
hardest?
Is it the
softest?
Has it a taste?
What does
acid do?
LABORATORY PRACTICE 4
Lets make a geode of blue Copper Sulfate Crystals
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an egg
hot water
copper sulfate
Method :
1.
2.
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4.
5.
6.
You can pour out the solution and allow your geode
to dry after a couple of days or you can let the
solution fully evaporate (week or two).
Tips:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
LABORATORY PRACTICE 5
Describing rocks
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Colour?
Size of bits?
Shiny or dull?
Anything else?
SANDSTONE____
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Rock 2
Rock 3
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Rock 5
Rock 6
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