Mineral identification lab by nicole little

Mineral Identification Guide Mineral information and how to identify them.

http://www.asu.edu/courses/glg103/PDF labs/Lab 2 Mineral Lab ID revised 17JULY2010.pdf

Biotite Mica: Chemical Formula: K(Mg,Fe)3(AlSi3O10)(F,OH)2 Lustre: Very high vitreous Cleavage: Perfect on the {001} Colour: Black to Dark Brown Streak Colour: Colourless or Brownish Hardness: 2.5-3 Special Properties: Tenacity- brittle to flexible, elastic.

Monoclinic crystallography, grows in prismatic or tabular crystals.

Uses: Mica is used as a filler and extender in paints, as an additive to drilling muds, as an inert filler and mold-release agent in rubber products, and as a non-stick surface coating on asphalt shingles and rolled roofing.

Calcite: Chemical Formula: CaCO3 Lustre: Vitreous to Earthy Cleavage: Perfect on [1011] three directions with angle of 74째 55' Colour: Colorless or white, also gray, yellow, green, Streak Colour: White Hardness: 3 Special Properties: May fluoresce red, blue, yellow, and other colors under either SW and LW UV; phosphorescent Uses: Used in World War II for gun sights, in bomb sights and anti-aircraft weaponry. Also, experiments have been conducted to use calcite for a cloak of invisibility and it has a wide range of applications, such as soil remidiation, soil stabilization and concrete repair.

Feldspar: Chemical Formula: KAlSi3O8 – NaAlSi3O8 – Ca Al2Si2O8 Lustre: Vitreous Cleavage: Two or Three Colour: Pink, White, Brown or Gray Streak Colour: Colourless/White Hardness: 6-6.5 Special Properties: Triclinic or monoclinic crystalline structure.

Uses: Used in glassmaking, ceramics, and to some extent as a filler and extender in paint, plastics, and rubber.

Potassium Feldspar

Fluorite: Chemical Formula: CaF2 Lustre: Vitreous to dull Cleavage: Octahedral, perfect on {111}, parting on {011} Colour: Colorless, white, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red, pink, brown, bluish black.

Streak Colour: White Hardness: 4 Special Properties: sometimes phosphorescence when heated or scratched. Other varieties fluores Uses: A major source of hydrogen fluoride, a commodity chemical used to produce a wide range of material.

Galena: Chemical Formula: PbS Lustre: Bright Metallic Cleavage: Cubic perfect on [001], parting on [111] Colour: Lead gray and silvery Streak Colour: Lead Gray Hardness: 2.5 Special Properties: Isotropic and opaque Uses: Used to make kohl, and its the primary ore of lead which is mainly used in making lead-acid batteries; also used to make lead sheets and shot and often mined for its silver content.

Graphite: Chemical Formula: C Lustre: Submetallic to metallic Cleavage: Basal – perfect on {0001} Colour: Iron black to steel gray Streak Colour: Black to steel gray Hardness: 1-2 Special Properties: Uniaxial and has a molten solubility.

Uses: Used for refractories, batteries, steelmaking, expanded graphite, brake linings, foundry facings, lubricants, and pencils. Also in the form of powders, and sticks for the purpose of writing or drawing.

Gypsum: Chemical Formula: CaSO4路2H2O Lustre: Vitreous to earthy Cleavage: Perfect on {010}, distinct on {100} Colour: Clear to white or brownish Streak Colour: White Hardness: 2 Special Properties: Biaxial, Gypsum is an evaporite mineral which is most commonly found in layered sedimentary

deposits.

Uses: As a soil additive (sometimes called land plaster), as an additive in turbid water, particularly ponds, to settle dirt and clay particles without injuring aquatic life, as a color additive for drugs and cosmetics and it is a primary ingredient in toothpaste.

Halite: Chemical Formula: NaCl Lustre: Vitreous Cleavage: Perfect {001}, three directions cubic Colour: Colorless or white; also blue, purple, red, pink, yellow, orange, or gray Streak Colour: White Hardness: 2 Special Properties: Water soluble, a salty flavor and fluorescent.

Uses: Used both residentially and municipally for managing ice.

Hematite: Chemical Formula: Fe2O3 Lustre: Metallic to dull and earthy Cleavage: None Colour: Steel gray-dull gray and reddish Streak Colour: Reddish Brown Hardness: 5.5-6.5 Special Properties: Uniaxial, Magnetic if heated.

Uses: Used for many functions, some of them being ornamental jewelry, face paint and it is the major mineral used to form iron.

Magnetite: Chemical Formula: Fe3O4 Lustre: Metallic to sub-metallic and dull Cleavage: Indistinct, parting on {Ill}, very good Colour: Black to gray with a slight brownish hue.

Streak Colour: Black Hardness: 5.5-6.5 Special Properties: Dissolves slowly in hydrochloric acidUses: Magnetite is used to remove arsenic from a water supply, production of steel, as a thermite, as well as in making of fertilizers. It is the most magnetic of all minerals which occur naturally on Earth

Muscovite Mica: Chemical Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(F,OH)2 Lustre: Vitreous to Pearly Cleavage: Perfect on the {001} Colour: White, grey, silvery, colourless, brown, green, yellow, and rose. Transparent-Translucent.

Streak Colour: White Hardness: 2-2.5 Special Properties: Biaxial, Monoclinic crystal system Uses: Used in cosmetics, asphalt roofing, rubber and plastic production, drilling mud, paint, and joint compound.

Pyrite: Chemical Formula: FeS2 Lustre: Metallic Cleavage: Indistinct on {001}; partings on {011} and {111} Colour: Pale-brass yellow to a brassy gold Streak Colour: Black with slight greenish/brown Hardness: 6-6.5 Special Properties: Insoluble in water and paramagnetic.

Uses: Used in the production of sulfur dioxide, as a semiconductor material, and as a mineral detector used radio receivers. In ancient warfare, the substance was used as a source of ignition in early firearms.

Quartz: Chemical Formula: SiO2 Lustre: Vitreous Cleavage: {0110} Indistinct Colour: Colorless through various colors to black Streak Colour: White Hardness: 7 Special Properties: may be triboluminescent, chiral (hence optically active if not racemic) Uses: Used in the making of sandpaper, optics, glass, liquid filters, circuit boards, computer components, cement , mortar, and jewelry.

Sulfur: Chemical Formula: S Lustre: Resinous Cleavage: Imperfect Colour: Yellow, Yellowish brown, Yellowish gray, Reddish, Greenish.

Streak Colour: White Hardness: 2 Special Properties:Non-fluorescent.

Uses: Industrial Uses and Medical Uses

Talc: Chemical Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 Lustre: Pearly to dull Cleavage: Perfect on {001} basal cleavage Colour: Light to dark green, brown, white,grey Streak Colour: White Hardness: 1 Special Properties: Short UV=orange yellow, long UV=yellow Uses: Used in many industries such as paper making, plastic, paint and coatings, rubber, food, electric cable, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, ceramics, etc.