Which Mineral Is Which?

 

Student Page

 [Hot Links] [PDF File]

 

Object of the Activity

Use common characteristics of minerals to identify ten mystery minerals collected from the Alaska and through deductive reasoning.

 

Steps to Follow

One of the most interesting facts about the region is its variety of minerals. As you view, note the minerals you see or hear described. Write down as many descriptive phrases and words as possible.

Read about the identifying characteristics of minerals using the Hot Links and texts/encyclopedias in your classroom and school.

Working with the class under your teacher's direction, share what you have found. Help your teacher write down the properties and identifying characteristics of minerals. Be sure you discover:

  • Properties of minerals: How do they differ from rocks or dead hunks of wood?
  • Characteristics of minerals: Which ones help geologists identify them? (color, streak, luster, hardness, crystalline structure or crystal system, cleavage, fracture).

Now, work with a small group to solve the following mystery.

The Alaskan Mineral Mystery

  • You and your geologist teammates have been roaming the Katmai National Park, picking up mineral specimens. You are planning to display your specimens in a museum. You have brought 10 specimens back to your lab and tested them for a variety of identifying characteristics. It's been a long, tiring day and you leave without closing up the lab properly.

    When you return the next morning to begin creating the display, you discover that some small animals have invaded your lab and spilled ink over your information! Worse, they've scattered your specimens all over the table and floor. Some of the data you wrote in a chart keyed to the specimens has been ruined! You must fix your data chart before you can create the museum's display. What will you do now?

    You know you had 10 specimens. One of them was from the oxide class of minerals and 2 were carbonates. Also, some of your data is still readable. Rather than put the specimens through all the identification tests, you decide you can redo your chart using what data remains and what you know about minerals.

    Here's your "mixed up" chart and the pictures of your minerals.

    Specimen G: http://www.galleries.com/minerals/sulfides/chalcopy/chalcopy.jpg

     

    Specimen J: http://www.galleries.com/minerals/sulfides/marcasit/marcasit.jpg

     

    Specimen A: http://www.galleries.com/minerals/sulfides/sphaleri/sphaleri.jpg

     

    Specimen B: http://www.galleries.com/minerals/sulfides/galena/galena.jpg

     

    Specimen F: http://www.galleries.com/minerals/carbonat/malachit/malachit.jpg

     

    Specimen I: http://www.galleries.com/minerals/sulfides/arsenopy/arsenopy.jpg

     

    Specimen E: http://www.galleries.com/minerals/oxides/cuprite/cuprite.jpg

     

    Specimen C: http://www.galleries.com/minerals/sulfides/molybden/molybden.jpg

     

    Specimen H: http://www.galleries.com/minerals/carbonat/azurite/azurite.jpg

     

    Specimen D: http://www.galleries.com/minerals/sulfides/acanthit/acanthit.jpg

    •

    Use the mineral-identifying Hot Links to compare what you know about your "mixed up" minerals to discover the missing information and identify your ten specimens.

    Once you have completed your chart, check to see if you were successful mineral detectives. Click here.

    Your final task is to take the pictures of your specimens and the identifying data to create an interesting display for the museum.

     

     

    Management Hints and Tips

     

    Search the Web for interesting anecdotes or other information about the minerals.

    If any of the minerals are of gem or semi-precious quality, add that information to the display.

    If you don't have a color printer, use magic markers/crayons to color the pictures of your minerals.

    Set up small shadow boxes for your minerals.

    Consider the value of the mineral specimens. How would you protect your specimens from dust or sticky tourist fingers?

    Consider adding to your display a drawing of each mineral's crystal and a model made of toothpicks and gumdrops to show its molecular structure.

    Resources/Materials/Supplies

    Video Segment

    Internet Access

    Art materials to create an artistic display