Senior High School

Earth Science
Quarter 1 – Module 1.3
Physical and Chemical Properties
of Common Minerals
 COPYRIGHT 2020

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 Senior High School

Earth Science
Quarter 1 – Module 1.3
Physical and Chemical Properties
of Common Minerals

ii
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:

Welcome to the Earth Science Self-Learning Module on the Physical and

Chemical Properties of Common Minerals!

This module was collaboratively designed, developed and reviewed by educators both
from public and private institutions to assist you, the teacher or facilitator in helping the
learners meet the standards set by the K to 12 Curriculum while overcoming their
personal, social, and economic constraints in schooling.
This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and independent
learning activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this also aims to help
learners acquire the needed 21st century skills while taking into consideration their
needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the body of the
module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies that will help

you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator, you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this module. You
also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to manage their
own learning. Furthermore, you are expected to encourage and assist the learners as
they do the tasks included in the module.
For the learner:

Welcome to the Earth Science Self-Learning Module on the Physical and

Chemical Properties of Common Minerals!
This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities for
guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be enabled to
process the contents of the learning resource while being an active learner.

iii
This module has the following parts:

Activity : This will bring understanding to what you already know

and experience to what you should learn further.

Analysis : In this phase, you will process and classify what is valid
and not for a more in-depth understanding.

Abstraction : This part leads you in reinforcing what you know and
should know more. Exercises are presented for
independent practice to solidify your understanding and
skills of the topic.

Application : This stage brings you to a more practical way that you are
going to use what you have learned and think new ways
on how it can be improved further.

iv
 CONTENTS OF THE MODULE
Page
Content Standard 1
Performance Standard 1
Learning Competency 1
Learning Objectives 1

DAILY LEARNING TASK:

Day Learning Task

1 Introduction 1
Pre-Test 2-4
Review of the Previous Module 4
2 Presentation of the New Module 5
Activity 5-6
Analysis 7
3 Abstraction 7-13
4 Application 13
Reflect 14
Learn More 14
5 Post-Test 15-17
Glossary 18
References 19
Answer Key 20-21

1
CONTENT STANDARD
The learners shall enable to demonstrate an understanding on the three
main categories of rocks.

PERFORMANCE STANDARD
The learners shall be able to make a plan that the community may use
to conserve and protect its resources for future generations.

LEARNING COMPETENCY
Identify common rock-forming minerals using their physical and
chemical properties (S11ES-Ib-5)

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the module, you should be able to:
 demonstrate understanding about physical and chemical properties of
minerals and will be able to identify certain minerals using specific
tests;
 identify some common rock-forming minerals; and
 classify minerals based on chemical affinity.

INTRODUCTION

Minerals are part of our daily lives. Some people even consider minerals as
their life-long hobby (i.e. gemstone collection). The importance and use of minerals
have contributed much to mankind development for millenia. Over time, humans have
developed a systematic way of identifying minerals.

The term “mineral” refers to the naturally occurring, inorganic solid with orderly
crystalline structure and a definite chemical composition. It is the basic building block
of rocks.
In this module, you will learn about the understanding on the minerals.
Specifically, you will get to learn about the physical and chemical properties of
minerals and will be able to identify certain minerals using specific tests. In addition,
you will get to know in identifying some common rock-forming minerals, and classifying
minerals based on chemical affinity.

1
PRE-TEST
Directions: Read each item carefully and identify what is asked or described. Encircle
the letter of the best answer. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

“This is your first task. I wish you good luck!”

1. What refers to the basic building block of rocks?

A. Gem
B. Jewelry
C. Mineral
D. Stone

2. Which of the following is the quality and intensity of reflected light exhibited by the
mineral?
A. Color
B. Crystal form
C. Fracture
D. Luster

3. Based on the Mohs Scale of Hardness, which of the following minerals can be
scratched with a fingernail?
A. Apatite
B. Diamond
C. Gypsum
D. Topaz

4. The mineral found in table salt is halite. As a result, seasoning is its primary use to
flavor many types of food. Which of the following characteristics correctly describes
the cleavage property of halite?
A. Light
B. Non-metallic
C. Perfect cubic
D. Salty

5. Mohs Scale of Hardness is a test simply determining the hardness of a mineral by

scratching them with common objects of known hardness (e.g. copper coin -3.0-3.5).
Below are some of its advantages EXCEPT
A. It can be scaled quantitatively.
B. It can be done without or few kits – handy.
C. It can be used to roughly identify minerals using scratch kits.
D. It can be done anywhere, anytime as long as the place is not dark.

2
6. Crystal form or habit is the external shape of a crystal or groups of crystals is
displayed / observed as these crystals grow in open spaces. It defines the relative
growth of the crystal in 3 dimensions which are its length, width and height. In
congruence tot this, what habit has the rapid growth of crystals in one dimension while
slow in other dimensions?
A. Bladed
B. Blocky/cubic or equant
C. Needle-like
D. Prismatic

7. What mineral has been registered with a cleavage in 2 directions at 90°?

A. Biotite
B. Calcite
C. Orthoclase
D. There is no definite answer due to information insufficiency.

8. Which of the mineral groups given below accounts to over 90% of the rock-forming
minerals of the Earth’s crust?
A. Carbonates
B. Halides
C. Silicates
D. Sulfides

9. Which among the following mineral groups, if any, contain silicon?

A. Carbonates
B. Halides
C. Silicates
D. Sulfides

10. What mineral is produced in the synthesis of diamond (C) and silicate (SiO 4)?
A. Barite
B. Olivine
C. Quartz
D. Talc

11. Specific gravity (SG) is the ratio of the weight of a mineral to the weight of an equal
volume of water. A bucket of silver has an SG of 10 than that of the water (SG 1). This
means that ________________.
A. the silver weighs one-tenth than that of the water.
B. the silver weighs ten times less than that of the water.
C. the silver weighs ten times more than that of the water.
D. the silver weighs one-hundred times than that of the water.

3
12. Which of the choices below is the resulting mineral upon synthesizing bismuth and
sulfide?
A. Fluorine
B. Galena
C. Magnetite
D. Olivine

13. Classify the resulting mineral for the following synthesis: gold + oxide.
A. Hematite
B. Pyrite
C. Quartz
D. Talc

14. Which of the following is the correct set of arrangement of minerals in ascending
order?
A. Calcite, apatite, fluorite, feldspar
B. Diamond, apatite, gypsum, talc
C. Feldspar, calcite, fluorite, topaz
D. Fluorite, quartz, topaz, corundum

15. South sea pearl is named as the national gem of the Philippines after a presidential
decree signed by Philippine President Fidel Ramos in October 1996. Produced from
Pinctada oysters, south sea pearls can only be cultured in tropical waters. Contrary to
popular belief, they are not categorized as minerals. Why?
A. They are not naturally-occurring.
B. They are not inorganic solid.
C. They don’t have a definite chemical composition.
D. They don’t have an ordered internal structure.

“Congratulations!!! You made it!”

“If you think all your answers are correct, very good! This shows that you
already know much about the topics in this module. You may still study the module to
review what you already know. Who knows, you might learn a few more new things as
well.”
“If you think you got a low score, don’t feel bad. This means that this module
is for you. It will help you to understand some important concepts that you can apply
in your daily life. If you study this module carefully, you will learn the answers to all the
items in the test and a lot more!”

“Are you ready? Let’s go!”

4
REVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS MODULE
The previous module is all about the understanding of the subsystems (i.e.
lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere) that make up the Earth, and
how these spheres are interconnected. You also found out what made our planet
consist of four subsystems, across whose boundaries matter and energy flow.

EXERCISE
Answer the activity below.
1. Enumerate the four (4) major systems that make up the Earth.
2. How are the spheres interconnected to one another?

“You can do it!”

PRESENTATION OF THE NEW MODULE

The term “mineral” refers to the naturally occurring, inorganic solid with orderly
crystalline structure and a definite chemical composition. It is the basic building block
of rocks. In the case of liquid water, it is not a mineral since it is not solid and crystalline.
Tube ice is not because it is not naturally occurring. Snow flake meets all requirements
in defining a mineral.

ACTIVITY

“MINERAL PRODUCTS FROM A TO Z”

Directions: Starting with the letter “A” and ending with the letter “Z”, name a mineral
product that begins with each letter of the alphabet. Write the answers on the table
provided below.
MINERAL PRODUCTS FROM A TO Z
LETTER MINERAL PRODUCT
A
B
C
D
E
F
G

5
 H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z

Guiding Question:
1. What is the connection of the given task in the activity?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________.

“Very good! I know you can do it. Now it’s time for you to EXPLORE the mystery
behind those words. You’re doing great!”

6
ANALYSIS

Directions: Justify your answer in a brief and concise manner. Write it on a one-half
crosswise paper.

1. Define what a mineral is. Give emphasis to the five requirements for a material
to be considered a mineral (i.e. naturally occurring is not man-made or machine-
generated, inorganic is not a byproduct of living things, etc.).

2. Do you consider water a mineral? Why or why not? How about snowflake or
tube ice?

“Good job! I told you can do this.”

ABSTRACTION

Different Mineral Properties

1. Luster. This refers to the quality and intensity of reflected light exhibited by the
mineral.
A. Metallic. This is generally opaque and exhibits a resplendent shine similar to a
polished metal; and
B. Non-metallic. This characterizes to vitreous (glassy), adamantine
(brilliant/diamond-like), resinous, silky, pearly, dull (earthy), greasy, etc.

2. Hardness. This is a measure of the resistance of a mineral (not specifically surface)

to abrasion.

Mohs Scale of Hardness is the test of hardness scale designed by German

geologist/mineralogist Friedrich Mohs in 1812. This test compares the resistance of a
mineral relative to the 10 reference minerals with known hardness. It determines the
hardness of a mineral by scratching them with common objects of known hardness
(e.g. copper coin -3.0-3.5).

7
 Figure 1. Mohs Scale of Hardness

Source: instructables.com

Figure 2. Common everyday objects that can be used for hardness test

Source; Commission on Higher Education

8
 Figure 3. List of Pros and Cons in Using Mohs Scale of Hardness

Source: Commission on Higher Education

“Are you able to learn something? Read on!”

3. Color and Streak

Color is a unique identifying property of certain minerals (e.g. malachite –

green, azurite – blue). There are lots of minerals that share similar or identical color/s.
Additionally, some minerals can exhibit a range of colors. The mineral quartz for
instance, can be pink (rose quartz), purple (amethyst), orange (citrine), white
(colorless quartz) etc. The different colors and varieties of quartz is the resulting
apprearance of impurities within the crystal structure. The color of some minerals can
also be changed by the process called weathering.

On the other hand, streak is the color of a mineral in its powdered form. In
geology, it is noted that the color of a mineral could be different from the streak. For
example, pyrite (FeS2) appears golden color (hence the other term of pyrite which is
Fool’s Gold) but has a black or dark gray streak.

Streak is a better diagnostic property as compared to color. Streak is inherent

to almost every mineral. Color may be unreliable for identification as impurities within
the minerals may give the minerals a different color.

9
 Figure 4. Color vs streak of a hematite (Fe2O3)

Source: instructables

4. Crystal Form/Habit
The external shape of a crystal or a group of crystals is seen or observed as to
which the crystals grow in open spaces. The form reflects the supposedly internal
structure of atoms and ions of the crystal (i.e. mineral). It is the natural shape of the
mineral before the development or formation of any cleavage or fracture. Some
examples include bladed, equant, platy, prismatic, reniform and tabular. A mineral that
does not have a crystal structure is described to be an amorphous.
The crystal form is also defined as the relative growth of the crystal in 3
dimensions: length, width and height.

10
 Figure 5. Crystal Form/Habit

Source: slideshare.net

Left picture: blocky/cubic or equant (it has equal growth rate in three
dimensions). Middle picture: bladed habit (it resembles a blade, with
varied growth rates in 3 dimensions).

Right picture: needle-like habit (rapid growth of crystals in one

dimension while slow in other dimensions).

5. Cleavage
This property occurs when some minerals break along parallel repetitive planes
of weakness to form smooth, flat surfaces. These planes of weakness are inherent in
the bonding of atoms that makes up the mineral. The planes of weakness are parallel
to the atomic planes and appear to be repeating within the mineral. When minerals
break evenly in more than one directions, cleavage is described by the number of
cleavage directions and the angle(s) between planes (e.g. cleavage in 2 directions at
90 degrees to each other).

Figure 6. Mineral Cleavage

Source: commons.wikimedia.org

Left photo shows one cleavage direction (biotite).

Middle photo has cleavage in 2 directions at 90° (orthoclase).

Right photo has 3 cleavage directions at 74° (calcite)

It is relevant to clearly distinguish a crystal habit from cleavage. Although both

are dictated by crystal structure, crystal habit forms as the mineral is growing, hence,
it relies on how the individual atoms in the crystal come together. On the other hand,
cleavage is the weak plane that develops after the crystal is formed.

11
6. Fracture
Some minerals do not have cleavages but exhibit broken surfaces which form
in an irregular and a non-planar orientation. Quartz is a good example for this
occurrence. It has an inherent weakness in the crystal structure that is not planar.
Conchoidal, fibrous, hackly, and uneven among others are some of the examples of
fracture.

7. Specific Gravity
This property refers to the ratio of the weight of a mineral to the weight of an
equal volume of water. For instance, a bucket of silver (SG 10) would weigh 10 times
more than a bucket of water (SG 1). It is a measure to express the density (i.e. mass
per unit volume) of a mineral. The specific gravity of a mineral is numerically equal to
density.

8. Others
Magnetism, odor, taste, tenacity and reaction to acid are just some of certain,
unique properties of minerals that actually help in their identification. Moreover, the
following scenarios are clear manifestation of other properties in identifying the
characteristics of some minerals: magnetite is strongly magnetic; sulfur has distinctive
smell; halite is salty; and calcite fizzes with acid as with dolomite but in powdered form.

Mineral Groups
Note: The most likely response would be on the grouping basis of physical properties.
Although physical properties are useful for mineral identification, some minerals
however may exhibit wider range of properties to include chemical compositions.

12
 Figure 7. Synthesis of Mineral Groups

Source: Commission on Higher Education

1. Silicates – minerals containing 2 of the most abundant elements in the Earth’s crust,
namely, silicon and oxygen. When linked together, these two elements form the silicon
oxygen tetrahedron - the fundamental building block of silicate minerals. Over 90% of
the rock-forming minerals belong to this group. Aside from Si (46.6 % by wt.) and O
(27.7%), the other most common elements that make the earth’s crust are Al (8.1), Fe
(5.0), Ca (3.6), Mg (3.1), Na (2.8) and K (2.6).
2. Oxides – minerals containing Oxygen anion (O2-) combined with one or more metal
ions.
3. Sulfates – minerals containing Sulfur and Oxygen anion (SO4)- combined with other
ions.
4. Sulfides – minerals containing sulfur anion (S2)- combined with one or more ions.
Some sulfides are sources of economically important metals such as copper, lead and
zinc.
5. Carbonates – minerals containing the carbonate anion (CO3)2- combined with other
elements.
6. Native Elements – minerals that form as individual elements.
a. Metals and Inter-metals – minerals with high thermal and electrical
conductivity, typically with metallic luster, low hardness (gold, lead);
b. Semi-metals – minerals that are more fragile than metals and have lower
conductivity (arsenic, bismuth); and
c. Nonmetals – nonconductive (sulfur, diamond)
7. Halides – minerals containing halogen elements combined with one or more
elements.

APPLICATION

Think of 5 minerals and their common uses and identify the specific
property/properties that made them for that purpose (e.g. graphite, having a black
streak and hardness of 1-2, is used in pencils due to its ability to leave marks on paper
and other objects). Write it on a whole sheet of paper.

“That was excellent! You may now proceed.”

13
REFLECT

““You did it well! Congratulations on finishing the supplementary learning

module! You have just had an amazing learning journey and for sure, you will also do
the same in the succeeding modules.”

For the last time, share your final insights by completing the following
sentence prompts. It was such a wonderful learning experience with you.

1. One thing I found interesting about this topic is

______________________________________________________________
..
2. One thing that I cannot forget in this module is
_____________________________________________________________.

3. Another thing I would like to learn is

_____________________________________________________________.

LEARN MORE!

“Since learning is considered as a continuous process, I have a task for you;

please have time to work on it.”

Directions: Answer in a brief and concise manner. Write it on a whole sheet of paper.
Summary questions related to the lesson (i.e. questions in bold font are difficult
questions).
1. What are the characteristics that define a mineral?
2. Which among the following mineral groups, if any, contain silicon: halides,
carbonates or sulfides?
3. Which is more abundant in the Earth’s crust: silicates or all the other mineral groups
combined? Explain.
4. An unknown opaque mineral has a black streak and has a density of 18g/cm3. Is
the mineral metallic or non-metallic?
5. What is the difference between a mineral's streak and color? Why is streak
more reliable for rock identification?
6. Differentiate habit and a cleavage plane.
7. Is it possible for a mineral to have a prismatic habit without having any
cleavage? Why or why not? If yes, give an example.

14
POST-TEST

Directions: Read each item carefully and identify what is asked or described. Encircle
the letter of the best answer. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

“This is your last task and I wish you good luck!”

1. South sea pearl is named as the national gem of the Philippines after a presidential
decree signed by Philippine President Fidel Ramos in October 1996. Produced from
Pinctada oysters, south sea pearls can only be cultured in tropical waters. Contrary to
popular belief, they are not categorized as minerals. Why?
A. They are not naturally-occurring.
B. They are not inorganic solid.
C. They don’t have a definite chemical composition.
D. They don’t have an ordered internal structure.

2. Which of the choices below is the resulting mineral upon synthesizing bismuth and
sulfide?
A. Fluorine
B. Galena
C. Magnetite
D. Olivine

3. Which among the following mineral groups, if any, contain silicon?

A. Carbonates
B. Halides
C. Silicates
D. Sulfides

4. Crystal form or habit is the external shape of a crystal or groups of crystals is

displayed / observed as these crystals grow in open spaces. It defines the relative
growth of the crystal in 3 dimensions which are its length, width and height. In
congruence tot this, what habit has the rapid growth of crystals in one dimension while
slow in other dimensions?
A. Bladed
B. Blocky/cubic or equant
C. Needle-like
D. Prismatic

5. Based on the Mohs Scale of Hardness, which of the following minerals can be
scratched with a fingernail?
A. Apatite
B. Diamond
C. Gypsum
D. Topaz

15
6. Which of the following is the quality and intensity of reflected light exhibited by the
mineral?
A. Color
B. Crystal form
C. Fracture
D. Luster

7. The mineral found in table salt is halite. As a result, seasoning is its primary use to
flavor many types of food. Which of the following characteristics correctly describes
the cleavage property of halite?
A. Light
B. Non-metallic
C. Perfect cubic
D. Salty

8. Which of the mineral groups given below accounts to over 90% of the rock-forming
minerals of the Earth’s crust?
A. Carbonates
B. Halides
C. Silicates
D. Sulfides

9. What mineral is produced in the synthesis of diamond (C) and silicate (SiO 4)?
A. Barite
B. Olivine
C. Quartz
D. Talc

10. Which of the following is the correct set of arrangement of minerals in ascending
order?
A. Calcite, apatite, fluorite, feldspar
B. Diamond, apatite, gypsum, talc
C. Feldspar, calcite, fluorite, topaz
D. Fluorite, quartz, topaz, corundum

11. What refers to the basic building block of rocks?

A. Gem
B. Jewelry
C. Mineral
D. Stone

16
12. Mohs Scale of Hardness is a test simply determining the hardness of a mineral by
scratching them with common objects of known hardness (e.g. copper coin -3.0-3.5).
Below are some of its advantages EXCEPT
A. It can be scaled quantitatively.
B. It can be done without or few kits – handy.
C. It can be used to roughly identify minerals using scratch kits.
D. It can be done anywhere, anytime as long as the place is not dark.

13. What mineral has been registered with a cleavage in 2 directions at 90°?
A. Biotite
B. Calcite
C. Orthoclase
D. There is no definite answer due to information insufficiency.

14. Specific gravity (SG) is the ratio of the weight of a mineral to the weight of an equal
volume of water. A bucket of silver has an SG of 10 than that of the water (SG 1). This
means that ________________.
A. the silver weighs one-tenth than that of the water
B. the silver weighs ten times less than that of the water
C. the silver weighs ten times more than that of the water
D. the silver weighs one-hundred times than that of the water

15. Classify the resulting mineral for the following synthesis: gold + oxide.
A. Hematite
B. Pyrite
C. Quartz
D. Talc

“Hey, I would like to send my congratulations to you! You’re so amazing.”

“I hope you got a perfect score by this time. But if you still have some errors,
you may read the module again and do some additional research.”

17
GLOSARRY
The following terms used in this module are defined as follows for you to be guided:

Cleavage - a property where some minerals break along parallel repetitive

planes of weakness to form smooth, flat surfaces.

Color - the resulting appearance of impurities within the crystal structure.

Crystal Form/Habit - the natural shape of the mineral before the development or
formation of any cleavage or fracture.

Hardness - a measure of the resistance of a mineral (not specifically surface) to

abrasion.

Luster - refers to the quality and intensity of reflected light exhibited by the mineral.

Mineral - a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with orderly crystalline structure and a
definite chemical composition. It is the basic building block of rocks.

Mohs Scale of Hardness - the test of hardness scale designed by German

geologist/mineralogist Friedrich Mohs in 1812.

Specific Gravity - the ratio of the weight of a mineral to the weight of an equal
volume of water.

Streak - the color of a mineral in its powdered form.

18
REFERENCES

Book
Teaching Guide for Senior High School. Earth Science. (2016). Commission on
Higher Education, pp. 55-65.

Image Credits

Fig. 1. Sattler87. How to identify a mineral. Instructables.

Accessed November 19, 2020.
https://content.instructables.com/ORIG/FNF/J44A/HY5NRO97/FNFJ44AHY5
NRO97.png?auto=webp&frame=1&fit=bounds&md=7d4ba069ecf295d16c11a
1dbf82fd458

Fig. 2. Commission on Higher Education. Minerals and Rocks. 2013. PDF.

Commission on Higher Education. EC-TEC Commercial, No. 32 St. Louis
Compound 7, Baesa, Quezon City. Accessed November 19, 2020. 58.

Fig. 3. Commission on Higher Education. Minerals and Rocks. 2013. PDF.

Commission on Higher Education. EC-TEC Commercial, No. 32 St. Louis
Compound 7, Baesa, Quezon City. Accessed November 19, 2020. 59.

Fig. 4. Sattler87. How to Identify a Mineral. 2020. Website. Instructables.

Accessed November 19, 2020.
https://content.instructables.com/ORIG/FNF/J44A/HY5NRO97/FNFJ44AHY5
NRO97.png?auto=webp&frame=1&fit=bounds&md=7d4ba069ecf295d16c11a
1dbf82fd458

Fig. 5. Accessed November 19, 2020.

http://www.slideshare.net/davidprestidge/earth-lecture-slide-chapterfive
page46 of 74

Fig. 6. Accessed November 19, 2020.

commons.wikimedia.org

Fig. 7. Commission on Higher Education. Minerals and Rocks. 2013. PDF.

Commission on Higher Education. EC-TEC Commercial, No. 32 St. Louis
Compound 7, Baesa, Quezon City. Accessed November 19, 2020. 62.

19
ANSWER KEY

Exercise
1. Atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere are the four (4) major systems
of the Earth.
2. Answers may vary.

Activity
Answers may vary.

Guiding Question
Answers may vary.

Analysis
Answers may vary.

Application
Answers may vary.

Reflect
Answers may vary.

Learn More
1. Inorganic, naturally occurring, crystalline, solid and must have a consistent
chemical composition
2. None. The identified mineral groups are non-silicates.
3. Silicates. Silicon and oxygen are the main components of silicates and these are
the two most abundant elements in the Earth’s crust.
4. The mineral is more likely to be metallic because it is opaque and metallic minerals
are usually heavy and with dark streaks.
5. Streak is the color of a mineral in powdered form. It is more reliable because it is
inherent to most minerals. Color is not reliable because mineral can be formed with
varieties of color, an effect of impurities and weathering.
6. Habit is the external shape of a crystal that is developed during the formation of the
mineral. Cleavage plane is a plane of weakness that maybe formed in a crystal after
the crystal formation.
7. Yes, the prismatic habit is simultaneously developed while the mineral is growing.
During the process, there is no repetitive plane of weakness being created which
makes the mineral break only by fracturing. An example of this scenario is quartz.

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Para sa mga katanungan o puna, sumulat o tumawag sa:

Department of Education – Schools Division of Surigao del Norte

Peñaranda St., Surigao City
Surigao del Norte, Philippines 8400
Tel. No: (086) 826-8216
Email Address: surigao.delnorte@deped.gov.ph

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