Mineral Identification Lab
By: Kathin Long
Biotite Mica
Chemical formula: Lustre: Cleavage: Colour: Streak Colour: Hardness: Special properties: Uses:
Sources: -Wikipedia.com -Glencoe.com “Virtual Mineral Lab”
K(MgFE)3(AISi3O10)(FOG)2 non-metallic Yes, one plane Dark brown, greenish brown, blackish brown, yellow White soft as a fingernail (Moh’s Scale = 2.5-3.0) Biotite has a highly perfect bascal cleavage Constrain ages of rocks, assessing temperature of metamorphic rock
Calcite
• • • • • • •
Sources: Minerals.net/Mineral/Calcite Glencoe.com “Virtual Mineral Lab”
Formula: CaCO3 Luster: Vitreous to pearly on cleavage surfaces Cleavage: Perfect on three directions with angle of 74° 55' Color: Colorless or white, also gray, yellow, green Streak: White Mohs scale&hardness: 3 (defining mineral) Special Propertities: May fluoresce red, blue, yellow, and other colors under either SW and LW UV; phosphorescent
Feldspar
Chemical formula: Lustre: Cleavage: Colour: Streak Colour: Hardness: Special properties: Uses:
KAISi3O8 non-metallic Yes, two or three planes Sources: Wikipedia.org/Wiki/Feldspar Pink, white, gray, brown Glencoe.com “Virtual Mineral Lab” White Harder than glass (Moh’s Scale = 6-6.5) Mostly found in China, Italy, and Turkey Rubber, paint, plastic, glassmaking, tableware
Fluorite
• • • • • • •
Formula: CaF2 Sources: Minerals.net/Mineral/Fluorite Luster: Vitreous Glencoe.com “Virtual Mineral Lab” Cleavage: Octahedral Color: Colorless, white, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red, pink, brown, bluish black; commonly zoned; can be any color of the spectrum. Streak: White Mohs scale&hardness: 4 (defining mineral) special propertities: sometimes phosphoresces when heated or scratched. Other varieties fluoresce
Galena
• • • • • • •
Formula: PbS Luster: Metallic Cleavage: Cubic Sources: Color: Lead gray and silvery Minerals.net/Mineral/Galena Streak: Lead gray Glencoe.com “Virtual Mineral Lab” Mohs scale&hardness: 2.5–2.75 Special properties: Isotropic and opaque
Graphite
Chemical formula: Lustre: Cleavage: Colour: Streak Colour: Hardness: Special properties: Uses:
Sources: http://geology.com/minerals/graphite Glencoe.com “Virtual Mineral Lab”
C metallic Yes, Bascal Iron-black to steel-gray; deep blue in transmitted light Black to grey softer than a fingernail (Moh’s Scale = 1-2) Has a layered planar structure Batteries, steelmaking, brake linings, and lubricants
Gypsum
Chemical formula: Lustre: Cleavage: Colour: Streak Colour: Hardness: Special properties: Uses: medicine
CaSO4-2H2O Sources: non-metallic Minerals.net/Mineral/Gypsum 1-2 planes Glencoe.com “Virtual Mineral Lab” Colorless white Softer than a fingernail (Moh’s Scale = 1.5) Translucent drywall, plaster, fertilizer, and traditional Chinese
Halite
• • • • • • •
Formula: NaCl Color: Colorless or white; also blue, purple, red, pink, yellow, orange, or gray Cleavage: three directions cubic Sources: Mohs scale&hardness: 2 - 2.5 Minerals.net/Mineral/Halite Glencoe.com “Virtual Mineral Lab” Luster: Vitreous Streak: White Other characteristics: Salty flavor, Fluorescent
Hematite
Chemical formula: Lustre: Cleavage: Colour: Streak Colour: Hardness: 6.5) Special properties: Uses:
Sources: Minerals.net/Mineral/Hematite Glencoe.com “Virtual Mineral Lab”
Fe2O3 metallic none metallic grey, dull to bright red Bright red to dark red Soft as a fingernail (Moh’s Scale = 5.5Also referred to as the blood ore Jewelry, gilding, pottery
Magnetite
Chemical formula: Lustre: Cleavage: Colour: Streak Colour: Hardness: Special properties: rocks Uses:
Sources: http://geology.com/minerals/Magnetite Glencoe.com “Virtual Mineral Lab”
Fe2Fe32O4 metallic Yes, indistinct, parting on {III}, very good Black, gray with brownish tint Black Harder than glass (Moh’s Scale = 5.5-6.5) Magnetite carries the dominant magnetic signature in Magnets, abrasive materials, jewlry
Muscovite Mica
• • • • • •
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(F,OH)2 Luster: Vitreous, silky, pearly Cleavage: one plane Color: White, grey, silvery Streak: White Mohs scale&hardness: 2–2.5
Sources: Minerals.net/Mineral/Muscovite Glencoe.com “Virtual Mineral Lab”
Pyrite
Chemical formula: FeS2 Lustre: metallic Sources: Cleavage: indistinct Minerals.net/Mineral/Pyrite Colour: Pale brass-yellow Glencoe.com “Virtual Mineral Lab” Streak Colour: greenish black Hardness: Harder than glass (Moh’s Scale = 6-6.5) th Special properties: Enjoyed in the 16 and 17th century because of its use for ignition in firearms Uses: Mineral detector in radio recievers
Quartz
Chemical formula: Lustre: Cleavage: Colour: Streak Colour: Hardness: Special properties:
SiO2 Sources: non-metallic Mindat.org/min-3337 indistinct Glencoe.com “Virtual Mineral Lab” Colorless White Harder than glass (Moh’s Scale = 7) Essential constituent of granite
Uses:
jewelry, glass, stone tools
Sulfur
• • • • • • • •
Chemical formula: S Luster: transparent, dull Sources: Cleavage: 2-3 planes •Minerals.net/Mineral/Sulfur •Glencoe.com “Virtual Mineral Lab” Color: yellow, yellow-brown Streak Color: white Hardness: softer than a fingernail (Moh's Scale = 1.5 - 2.5) Special propertities: bright yellow, soft, strong sulfur smell, feels greasy Uses: matches, explosives, rubber, dyes
Talc
Chemical formula: Lustre: Cleavage: Colour: Streak Colour: Hardness: Special properties: Uses: electric cable
Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 non-metallic Sources: Yes, one plane •Minerals.net/Mineral/Talc White, brown •Glencoe.com “Virtual Mineral Lab” White Softer than a fingernail (Moh’s Scale = 1) It’s an important ingredient for makeup Paper making, plastic, paint, rubber, food,
Barite
Sources: •Minerals.net/Mineral/Barite •Glencoe.com “Virtual Mineral Lab”
Chemical formula: BaSO4 Lustre: non-metallic Cleavage: Yes, perfect cleavage parallel to base, and prism faces Colour: White, colorless, light shades of blue, yellow, grey, brown Streak Colour: White Hardness: Harder than a fingernail, softer than glass (Moh’s Scale = 3-3.5) Special properties: The term “Primary Baryte” refers to the first marketable product. Uses: Drilling fluids in oil and gas exploration.