Skip to Main Content

EESC 1010: The Dynamic Earth: The Science of Our World (Rocha): Minerals

In person and online class

Minerals Gallery

link to Azurite on Wikimedia Commons

Azurite

Locality: Zelidja Mine (Zellidja Mine),Touissit, Touissit District, Oujda-Angad Province, Oriental Region, Morocco

Size : 6,6x3,8cm

Obsidian rocks, Lipari, Aeolian Islands

by Michael Grund, Geophysical Institute, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany

Impressive obsidian (volcanic glass) rocks at Lipari - one of the Aeolian Islands in the Mediterranean Sea.

Taken on 28 August 2013
Submitted on 18 September 2019

Sphalerite's "Transformer"

by Dmitry Tonkacheev, IGEM RAS, Moscow, Russian Federation

Presented intergrowths of the infinite number of dark-brown sphalerite's and arborescent crystals of gold were synthesized using gas transport method at 850 centigrade degrees during 20 days.

Taken on 6 July 2015
Submitted on 23 February 2016

Finalist in the EGU Photo Competition 2016

Anglesite

FO: Touissit (Marokko) Sammlung: terra mineralia (Freiberg)

link to Wikimedia commons page

Beryl

 Beryl (Var.: Emerald)

Locality: Carnaiba Mine, Pindobaçu, Campo Formoso District, Bahia, Northeast Region, Brazil (Locality at mindat.org)

Minerals I

DO THE FOLLOWING EXERCISES IN ORDER:

Minerals Part 2

photo of dunes

PURPOSE OF THE INVESTIGATIONS: You have been hired by the Know-Whin Investment Corporation to determine the value of a mineral deposit located on a piece of land they are considering buying. The Corporation has supplied you with six bags of mineral samples their agents have collected from the land. Each bag contains multiple samples of the same mineral. Although the samples in each single bag may vary somewhat in appearance, they are the same mineral. Because they are the same mineral, all the samples in a single bag have the same identification number. Your task is to determine the name of the mineral that each bag contains. That is, you need to determine the name of the mineral that each of the six numbers represents.

METHOD OF INVESTIGATION:
1. Find the numbers of the minerals you personally have been assigned.

2. Print out the materials needed for this investigation. (See Print and Form Shop tab in this box) 3. Identify and name the minerals you have been assigned by determining their properties. The Properties of Minerals Resource Table in the box below on this page will enable you determine up to eight properties of the samples. For each property, the Table provides you with three links. The links give you access to:

  • What is...?: an explanation of the property.
  • Exercises that include instructions on how to use the property Testing Lab.
  • The Testing Lab: Make sure to read the explanation and instructions carefully before visiting the Testing Lab.
IDENTIFYING YOUR MINERALS:
When you have performed the tests and recorded the results, you will determine the mineral names of your samples. This will be done by comparing the properties of your samples to the properties of minerals listed on the Mineral Identification Charts (located in the box below). 
 There are eight Charts corresponding to the eight properties in the Mineral Properties Resource Table. Your task will be easier if you have printed out copies of the Charts.
See the link below for instructions on how to use the Mineral Identification Charts to make sure you have successfully identified your assigned minerals. Then, use the Mineral Identification Answer Checking Table to make sure you have assigned the correct names to your minerals.
WHAT YOU NEED TO SUBMIT:
A filled-in copy of Mineral Properties Submission Form MN-S1.
Copy and paste the entire Mineral Properties Submission Form (MN-S1) into an email.
COLLABORATION:
You are encouraged to collaborate with other students both in testing your samples and deciding on mineral names.

MINERALS PART II PRINT AND FORM SHOP Print out one copy of each of the worksheets and charts from the table below. On the worksheets, fill in the required information by hand as you perform the investigations.

  • When you have finished the investigation, transfer your answers from the worksheets into the text boxes in the Mineral Properties Submission Form.
  • Copy and paste the submission form onto an email and send it to your instructor.
  • MAKE SURE TO KEEP A COPY OF THE WORKSHEETS. ALSO, KEEP A COPY OF THE SUBMISSION FORM IN A FOLDER ON YOUR COMPUTER.

WORKSHEETS AND CHARTS
Print out one copy of each of the following:

Properties of Minerals: Resource Table

  WHAT IS BREAKAGE?
  BREAKAGE EXERCISE 1
  BREAKAGE TESTING LAB

MISCELLANEOUS VISUAL PROPERTIES

  WHAT ARE THEY?
  EXERCISE 1
  TESTING LAB

MISCELLANEOUS NON-VISUAL PROPERTIES

  WHAT ARE THEY?
  EXERCISE 1
  TESTING LAB