Virtual Mineral Lab

Instructions – You need to identify the six minerals that have been assigned to you by following the steps below:

Step 1 – Ask your teacher for your assigned number.

Step 2 – Go to http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/geology/leveson/core/linksa/min_sample.html to find out which 6 minerals you need to identify.

Step 3 – Go to http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/geology/leveson/core/linksa/mineral_invest_intro.html .  This page contains a table with a box for each of 8 properties of minerals.  Within each box is three links.  Visit each of these links to learn about each property and how to test a mineral for that property.

Step 4 – For each of your six assigned minerals use the testing labs (the third link in each box of the table from step 3) to identify the unique properties of that mineral (not all minerals will be listed in each testing lab, so if you do not see the number for your mineral, skip that testing lab and go on to the next testing lab).  Record the properties of each mineral in the Mineral Properties Chart which is attached.

Step 5 – Use the eight Mineral Identification Charts provided to identify each of your six minerals.  (You should find that there is a common mineral on each of the eight charts that matches each of the properties you have recorded.)  If you need help on how to identify your mineral from the charts go to http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/geology/leveson/core/graphics/min_charts/mineral_identification_charts_instructions.html .  Record the name of each of your mineral in the Mineral Properties Chart.

Step 6 – Turn in your Mineral Properties Chart to your teacher.