Properties of Minerals

Dexter Perkins

University of North Dakota

This activity is part of the On the Cutting Edge Peer Reviewed Teaching Activities collection. (view details)

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Initial Publication Date: August 7, 2006 | Reviewed: September 10, 2012 (see revision history: 2 events)

Summary

Students examine a number of key mineral properties and how they are displayed by different minerals.

Physical Properties, Mineralogy | College Lower (13-14), College Upper (15-16)

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Context

Audience

This exercise is designed for a mid/upper-level undergraduate geology course on the principles of mineralogy.

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

Students should have knowledge of basic chemistry and of minerals equivalent to what they would learn in an introductory geology class.

How the activity is situated in the course

This activity is the 3rd of 36 mineralogy exercises and is used at the beginning of the course.

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

Students learn about the details and subtle implications of some key mineral properties.

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

Students examine the reliability of certain mineral properties when used for mineral identification and consider the importance of using several methods to come to conclusions during research.

Other skills goals for this activity

Students should learn how to identify minerals using a variety of techniques based on different mineral properties.

Description of the activity/assignment

Students examine a number of key mineral properties and how they are displayed by different minerals. Mineral properties examined include crystal habit, cleavage, parting, fracture, hardness, tenacity, specific gravity, luster, color, and streak.