Lab: Minerals Science Lab Report Template printable pdf download

Lab: Minerals Science Lab Report Template

Name: ____________________________________

Date: ________________

LAB: MINERALS

Background: Minerals are formed naturally, inorganic, solids with definite chemical composition,

molecular (crystalline) structure (a specific internal arrangement of atoms) and specific physical

properties and are identified by their physical and chemical properties. Minerals are the building

blocks of rocks and are the only source of industrial raw materials.

PART 1 – Using Mineral Properties

Objectives: Perform simple physical identification tests on minerals and recognize the limitations

of some properties in identifying minerals

Procedure

1. Obtain a set of minerals.

2. For each mineral, fill in the description of each property for that mineral (data table).

2. Have your report sheet checked before moving on to Part 2.

Mineral

Color

Cleavage (C) /

Luster

Streak

Hardness

Fracture (F)

Metallic (M) /

hard –

Non-metallic

Yes or No

scratches

(NM)

glass

Soft – does

not scratch

Muscovite

Mica

Milky

Quartz

Halite

Magnetite

Amethyst

Quartz

1. Do any of the minerals have any properties in common? If so, which ones?

2. Is color a reliable property to use to identify a mineral? Why or why not?

3. Why do you think muscovite mica splits into such thin, even sheets?

4. What determines the hardness of a mineral?

Lab: Minerals Science Lab Report Template