 Unit 3: Earth's Crust Activity 9: Mineral Identification (SI GLEs: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 19, 22, 23; ESS GLEs: 16, 17)
CC: Ask the students to explain what is meant by physical properties of an object. Make a list on the board or on an overhead transparency. Make a list of what the students think a mineral's physical properties may consist of. Typical responses will include shape, texture, color, hard or soft, shiny, etc.
MS Word document for List of Mineral's Physical Properties You may want to make a transparency of the document.
CC: Students will identify the physical properties of common minerals such as: talc, gypsum, calcite, quartz, hematite, sulfur, galena, and pyrite. Students will create a chart to record the sample's physical properties by using the steps of mineral identification. The chart should have the mineral name in rows on the left side and the properties (color, luster, hardness, streak) in columns on the top of the chart.
Students will use the internet and websites listed below to research physical properties of the above mentioned minerals. Use the MS Word document to list the properties. Physical Properties of Common Minerals
WORLDBOOK Search term: minerals Encyclopedia articles Pictures
UNITED STREAMING http://www.unitedstreaming.com/index.cfm BASICS OF GEOLOGY: ALL ABOUT ROCKS AND MINERALS CLASSIFYING MINERALS(3:34) |