Allan Ludman and Stephen Marshak

Laboratory Manual
for Introductory
Geology
THIRD EDITION

Chapter 3
Minerals

©2015 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.

 Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition
Chapter Opener Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company
 Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition
Figure 3.1 Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company
 A mineral is a naturally occurring, crystalline,
inorganic, homogeneous solid, with a chemical
composition that is fixed or varies within certain
limits.

Silicon dioxide (SiO2)

 Mineral Identification

What properties do I need to know

to identify minerals?

• Luster • Cleavage
• Color • Specific Gravity
• Streak • Special Properties
• Hardness
Luster – how light is reflected off the
surface
Metallic Luster
Non metallic luster
Color vs. Streak
 Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition
Figure 3.2 Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company
Hardness
 Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition
Table 3.1 Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company
 Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition
Figure 3.3 Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company
Cleavage vs. Fracture (Figure 1.4) 

• Cleavage: Tendency of minerals to break along

planes of weakness

• Fracture: Break forms surface with no

relationship to internal structure
Cleavage vs. Fracture
Cleavage vs. Fracture
 Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition
Figure 3.4a Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company
 Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition
Figure 3.4b Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company
 Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition
Figure 3.4c Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company
 Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition
Figure 3.4d Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company
 Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition
Figure 3.4e Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company
 Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition
Figure 3.4f Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company
 Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition
Figure 3.4g Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company
 Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition
Figure 3.4h Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company
 Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition
Figure 3.6 (part 1) Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company
 Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition
Figure 3.6 (part 2) Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company
 Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition
Figure 3.6 (part 3) Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company
No Cleavage = Fracture
 Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition
Figure 3.5 Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company
 Specific Gravity  

Ratio of weight of a mineral to the weight of

water displaced
Estimate using “heft test”
 Special Properties

• Magnetism • Feel
• Double Refraction • Reacts with dilute HCl
• Taste (Hydrochloric Acid)
• Odor • Perfect Cleavage
 Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition
Figure 3.7 Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company
 Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition
Appendix 3.1a Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company
 Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition
Appendix 3.1b Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company
 Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition
Appendix 3.1b Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company
 Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition
Appendix 3.1c Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company
 Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition
Appendix 3.1c Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company
 Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition
Appendix 3.1c Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company
 IC
LL
TA
ME

Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition

Appendix 3.2, Table 1a Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company
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A LL
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N -M
NO

Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition

Appendix 3.2, Table 2a Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company
 Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, Third Edition
Appendix 3.3 Copyright © 2015 W. W. Norton & Company