Part 1: Recording Observations

In the following chart, record your observations of each test for the seven minerals. After you have completed all tests, name the minerals in Part 2 of this worksheet. An example of how to fill out the chart is illustrated follows.

Recorded Observations for Minerals 1-7
Tests Example Mineral 1 Mineral 2 Mineral 3 Mineral 4 Mineral 5 Mineral 6 Mineral 7
Color White Gold Green White Pink White White Black
Streak White Black White White White White White Brown
Luster Shiny Shiny Specks Shiny Specks Shiny Dull Shiny Shiny Shiny Specks
Specific Gravity 3.18 5.1 2.8 2.7 2.6 2.65 2.4 2.2
Cleavage & Fracture Cleavage Fracture Fracture Cleavage Fracture Fracture Cleavage Fracture
Hardness 4 3.1-5.4 1-2.9 1-2.9 3.1-5.4 6.1-10 1-2.9 1-2.9
Acid No Reaction No Reaction No Reaction Active bubbling and Fizz No reaction No reaction No Reaction Light bubbling and fizz

Part 2: Naming the Minerals

Name the minerals in the following table. Then, insert a percentage of how certain you are in your identification. Finally, explain your percentage of certainty: What was confusing about this mineral? What other minerals do you think it could be? Remember, the minerals include seven of the following: borax, calcite, corundum, graphite, gypsum, orthoclase feldspar, pyrite, quartz, talc, and topaz.

Identification of Mineral Percent Certain Explanation of Certainty
Example: Fluorite 80% certain I am almost certain this mineral is fluorite, but I am not completely sure. Fluorite and gypsum are both white, shiny, have white streaks, cleave, and show no reaction to acid. However, the specific gravity of this mineral is 3.18, which is higher than gypsum, so I am pretty sure it is fluorite.
Mineral 1: Pyrite 100% I am certain this mineral is pyrite because it is the only mineral listed on mineral identification worksheet that has a gold color with a black streak. This mineral has shiny specks which matches the luster according to the mineral identification worksheet. The specific gravity test revealed that this mineral has a specific gravity of 5.1 and the mineral identification worksheet states that pyrite has a specific gravity of about 4.9-5.2. The hardness of this mineral is between 3.1 and 5.4, and according to the identification worksheet Pyrite has a hardness of about six. There was no reaction to the acid test. This leaves me to conclude that this mineral is Pyrite.
Mineral 2: Talc 90% I am almost certain that this mineral is Talc. The coloring of this mineral is hard to identify. In the lab it looks brown to me, but I can see a subtle green tint to it. Since there are no minerals with a brown color on the mineral identification worksheet, and because the streak and luster are a match for talc, I concluded that this could be the mineral talc. I also did the specific gravity test on this mineral which gave me a specific gravity of 2.8 which matches the specific gravity for talc. The break of the mineral resulted in a fracture, and the hardness was between 1 and 2.9 which matches the chart’s description of Talc. There was no reaction on the acid test either. All of these factors combined lead me to a 90% conclusion that this mineral is talc.
Mineral 3: Calcite 100% I am certain that this mineral is calcite because the color, streak, and luster match the description of calcite, and because this mineral is the only mineral on the identification worksheet with a white color, white streak, and an active bubbling and fizzing during the acid test. The specific gravity test revealed a specific gravity of 2.7 which is an exact match to the specific gravity in the identification chart for calcite. The break resulted in smooth lines and corners making it a cleavage break. The hardness test revealed that this mineral was easily scratched by a penny meaning the hardness is between 1 and 2.9, and the mineral identification chart for calcite shows that the hardness is about three which is also a match. This leaves me to conclude that this mineral is calcite.
Mineral 4: Orthoclase Feldspar 80% I am almost certain this mineral is orthoclase feldspar. I had a hard time determining the color of this mineral in the lab. It almost looked brown to me, but all the other determining test match up with orthoclase feldspar. I determined the color to be pink. The streak color was white, the luster was dull, and the specific gravity was 2.6. Breaking the mineral resulted in a fracture. The hardness of this mineral is between 3.1 and 5.4, there was no reaction in the acid test. Comparing the results of the lab with the mineral identification worksheet leads me to conclude that there is a strong possibility that this mineral is orthoclase feldspar.
Mineral 5: Quartz 100% I am certain this mineral is quartz because it is the only mineral on the mineral identification worksheet that is white, has a white streak, and fractures when broken. The specific gravity of this mineral is 2.65 which matches the specific gravity for quartz. This mineral was not scratched by the penny or the steel file so the hardness is between 6.1 and 10 which is a match for quartz. There was no reaction during the acid test. Comparing the results of the lab with the mineral identification worksheet leads me to conclude that this mineral is quartz.
Mineral 6: Gypsum 100% I am certain that this mineral is gypsum. The color of this mineral is white, the streak is white, it has a shiny luster, and the specific gravity is 2.4. When broken it resulted in a cleavage. A penny easily scratched this mineral identifying hardness between 1 and 2.9. There was no reaction in the acid test. The results of the lab compared with the identification charts leads me to a conclusion that this mineral is gypsum.
Mineral 7: Graphite 100% I am 100% positive that this mineral is graphite. The color of this mineral is black and the streak was brown. The luster is shiny specks, and the specific gravity is 2.2. It fractures when broken and a penny scratches this mineral making the hardness between 1 and 2.9. There was a light bubbling and fizzing reaction to the acid test. I concluded that this mineral was graphite after comparing the results of the lab with the mineral identification worksheet, because graphite is the only mineral listed that has a black color, and results in a brown streak.

Part 3: Evolutionary Processes
In the following table, identify two evolutionary processes of Earth. Include a 100- to 200-word explanation of each process.

Evolutionary Process Description
1. Rock Cycle Basically, the rock cycle refers to the evolutionary process that changes rocks over time. Three types of rocks are broken down and then reformed in the rock cycle. Each type of rock is changed or destroyed when forced out of normal equilibrium conditions. Indigenous rocks will break down or dissolve when they come into contact with the atmosphere. They also melt when forced under a continent. Because of the driving forces of the rock cycle, such as plate tectonics, and the water cycle, rocks are forced out of their equilibrium and are forced to change as they encounter new environments. Rocks are physically or chemically changed in high temperatures and high pressures. This can change them to a metamorphic rock. When some rocks are exposed to the atmosphere they can become unstable and they also change due to weathering and erosion. When weathering and erosion break down the original rock, fragments are carried away or dissolved which results in sedimentary rocks. The water cycle plays a key role in the rock cycle.
2. Hydrologic Cycle Water is constantly in motion. This movement causes water to be constantly recycled between the atmosphere, land surface, and underground. This constant recycling of water is called the Hydrologic cycle or water cycle. The driving forces of the water cycle are the energy of the sun and the force of gravity. The water cycle supplies the water needed to sustain life. Water vapor is transported through the atmosphere by the wind, and then condenses in the clouds. It then falls from the clouds in the form of precipitation. Water is intercepted and stored by plants, the soil, or bodies of water. Then the sun can evaporate it and it goes back into the atmosphere. Gravity may also pull it into the soil where it is stored for years. It also goes into bodies of water like streams, lakes and rivers where it can be evaporated and placed back in the atmosphere. It is a constant recycling of water that keeps going.

I recieved a 100% on this assignment