Senior High School

Earth and Life Science

Quarter 1 - Module 2
The Rock – Forming Minerals
 Senior High School

Earth and Life Science

Quarter 1 - Module 2
The Rock Forming Minerals

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Earth and Life Science – Senior High School
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 1 - Module 2: The Rock – Forming Minerals
First Edition, 2020

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Published by the Department of Education – Division of Cagayan de Oro

Schools Division Superintendent: Dr. Cherry Mae L. Limbaco, CESO V
Development Team of the Module

Author : Norvemer B. Salceda

Reviewers : Dyna F. Gorre, January Gay T. Valenzona, Ph.D.,
Ritchie Razel M. Celestial, Ph.D.

Illustrator and Layout : Jessica B. Cuñado

Artist

Management Team : Cherry Mae L. Limbaco, PhD. CESO V

Chairperson Schools Division Superintendent

Co – Chairperson : Rowena H. Para-on Ph.D.

Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

Members : Lorebina C. Carrasco, OIC-CID Chief

Jean S. Macasero, PhD., EPS – 1, Division SHS
Joel D. Potane, LRMS Manager
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Rosanna Q. Ubalde, PhD., School Head

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 Table of Contents

What This Module is About ………………………………………... i

What I Need to Know ………………………………………... i

How to Learn from this Module ………………………………………... i

Icons of this Module ………………………………………... ii

What I Know ………………………………………... iii

Lesson 1:
The Properties of Rock – Forming Minerals
What’s In ………………………………………... 1
What’s New ………………………………………... 1–2
What Is It ………………………………………... 2–5
What’s More ………………………………………... 6
What I Have Learned ………………………………………... 6–7
What I Can Do ………………………………………... 7

Summary ………………………………………... 7

Assessment ………………………………………... 8

Answer Key ………………………………………... 9

References ………………………………………... 10
What This Module Is About

Module 2 features more on the Earth’s materials such as rocks containing

minerals. However, we will get a glimpse of what minerals are and identify its physical
and chemical properties and vice versa. Minerals are naturally occurring substances
which are solid, crystalline, stable at room temperature and inorganic in nature. Its
definite chemical composition can be attributed to the elements present on it. Unlike
rocks, minerals could not be broken down into smaller units.
As Senior High School leaners, you are expected to learn from the varied
activities provided in this module which are suited to facilitate your learning
experiences of this topic. The concepts presented in this module are comprehensively
presented along with figures and pictures to make your learning fun and more
interesting.

The lesson contained in this module:

Lesson 1- The Properties of Rock-Forming Minerals

What I Need to Know

After getting through with this module, you are expected to:

1.identify common rock forming minerals using their chemical and physical
properties (S11/12ES-la- 3).

i
How to Learn from this Module
To achieve the objectives cited above, you are to do the following:
• Take your time reading the lessons carefully.
• Follow the directions and/or instructions in the activities and exercises diligently.
• Answer all the given tests and exercises.

Icons of this Module

What I Need to This part contains learning objectives that are set
Know for you to learn as you go along the module.

What I know This is an assessment as to your level of

knowledge to the subject matter at hand,
meant specifically to gauge prior related
Knowledge
What’s In This part connects previous lesson with that
of the current one.

What’s New An introduction of the new lesson through

various activities, before it will be presented
to you

What is It These are discussions of the activities as a

way to deepen your discovery and under-
standing of the concept.

What’s More These are follow-up activities that are in-

tended for you to practice further in order to
master the competencies.

What I Have Activities designed to process what you

Learned have learned from the lesson

What I can do These are tasks that are designed to show-

case your skills and knowledge gained, and
applied into real-life concerns and situations.

ii
 Lesson
The Properties of Rock –
1 Forming Minerals

What’s In

In our previous lesson, we learn about the four subsystems of the Earth. The natural
balance that exists among the four subsystems allows living things to survive which continue
to interact with each other and with the environment. A lot of important raw materials are found
in the environment. Some of which are mineral based.

A mineral is defined as a naturally occurring, usually inorganic solid with distinct

chemical composition and an orderly crystalline structure. To test whether a sample of matter
is a mineral, scientists need to assess the sample according to its characteristics. A silicate
mineral contains silicon and oxygen and may consist of a metal. Examples are feldspar,
orthoclase, and plagioclase. A non-silicate mineral does not contain silicon and oxygen.
Examples of which are gypsum, galena, and corundum.

In this lesson, you are to identify common rock-forming minerals using their physical
and chemical properties. The physical properties of minerals are related to their chemical
composition and the type of its chemical bonding. Whereas, the chemical properties depend
on the way the atoms are bound in the mineral's crystal structure. Let’s get started!

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 What Is It

THE PROPERTIES OF MINERALS

Every mineral is recognized according to its properties that exist because of its
chemical composition. Such properties may be identified subjectively or objectively such as by
running a test. The following are the properties of minerals:

1. Color
The property of a mineral that can easily be observed is its color. In our previous
science lessons, we learned that color is the result of the reflection of visible light. Color is a
useful property of minerals. Corundum, a colorless mineral is composed of aluminum and
oxygen atoms. Corundum that contains traces of chromium, forms a red gem called ruby.
Another type of corundum is sapphire, a blue-colored gem as a result of traces of iron and
titanium. However, color alone may not be sufficient in identifying minerals since some
minerals may have almost the same color though they differ in their chemical structures.

2. Luster
The ability of a mineral to reflect light from its surface is called luster. Metallic minerals
have a metallic luster. This type of luster is manifested by the way polished metals reflect light.
While nonmetallic minerals have nonmetallic luster. Nonmetallic luster is classified into four
types of luster which are glassy luster (like quartz), waxy luster, pearly luster (like mica), and
brilliant luster (like a diamond).

3. Streak
2
Streak refers to the color of a mineral in powdered form. The color of the mineral’s
powdered form may differ from its color in solid form. A mineral is rubbed against an
unglazed ceramic tile to observe its streak. Metallic minerals have streaks that are dark in
color. For example, the streak of gold-colored pyrite is black. On the other hand, the streak
of nonmetallic minerals is generally light in color.

4. Cleavage and fracture

Cleavage refers to the ability of a mineral to split along a weak plane forming a flat
surface. Calcite is an example of a mineral that has cleavage in three directions. On the
other hand, a fracture refers to the capacity of a certain mineral to break along curved
surfaces. Quartz is an example of a mineral that has a fracture.

5. Density

Density is defined as the compactness of a sample of matter. It is calculated as

mass divided by volume. Different samples of minerals of the same size differ in mass
because of the different elements that make up such minerals. Minerals containing heavy
 metals like uranium, lead, silver, and gold have densities that range from 7 to 20 g/cm3.
The periodic table of elements shows that each element has a unique density.

6. Hardness

The tendency of a mineral to resist abrasion (scratching) is termed hardness. The

Mohs scale of hardness shows the arrangement of minerals from the softest (talc) to the
hardest (diamond). Hardness is the result of intermolecular bonding. The Mohs scale of
mineral hardness arranges minerals according to their scratch resistance. From the softest
to the hardest mineral, the sequence of the Mohs scale is as follows: Talc, Gypsum, Calcite,
Fluorite, Apatite, Feldspar, Quartz, Topaz, Corundum, and Diamond. Talc is the softest
mineral while diamond is the hardest.

7. Reaction with acids

Minerals that contain carbonate CO3-2 react with acid. For example, a sample of
calcite reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl).

8. Fluorescence

The ability of minerals to glow when bombarded with ultraviolet light is called
fluorescence. In this condition, minerals may not glow under ordinary light. This is because
such minerals are selective of the wavelength of light that causes it to glow. Calcite
possesses this property.

9. Phosphorescence

Some minerals would continue to glow even after a source of ultraviolet light has
been turned off. This ability is called phosphorescence. The ore of lithium possesses this
characteristic.

Table 1: Illustration of Some Common Minerals

Ore Minerals and Its Metals Industrial Minerals Gem 3

Aluminum (Bauxite) Gypsum Ruby

Silver (Argentite) Clay

Potash
Phosphates

Talc

Halite

Coal

4
Table 1. List of Important Minerals

Summary
• Minerals have distinct properties and identities.
o Color refers to the ability of minerals to reflect regions of the visiblelight.
o Luster is defined as the ability of mineral to reflect light in its surface.
o Streak is the color of mineral in powdered form.
o Cleavage is the ability of minerals to split along weak plane.
o Fracture refers to the capacity of minerals to break along curvedsurfaces.
o Density is the compactness of minerals.
o Hardness is defined as the tendency of minerals to resist abrasion.
o Reaction with acids describes how minerals react with acids like HCL.
o Fluorescence is the ability of minerals to glow when bombarded withultraviolet
light.
o And phosphorescence refers to the ability of minerals to continueglowing even
after a source of ultraviolet light has been turned off.

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DepEd Division of Cagayan de Oro City

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Telefax: ((08822)855-0048
E-mail Address: cagayandeoro.city@deped.gov.ph