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,Laboratory 3A: An Introduction to Minerals: ESS 101 B Au 23: Introduction To Geology And Societal Impacts 12/10/23, 12:13 PM
Laboratory 3A: An Introduction to Minerals
Due Oct 22 at 11:59pm Points 3.5 Questions 9
Available Oct 13 at 9am - Oct 22 at 11:59pm Time Limit None
Allowed Attempts 2
Instructions
ATTENTION : You must complete this lab BEFORE you complete Laboratory 3B: Mineral
Identification (https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/1664976/quizzes/1922418) . Lab 3A will teach you
about the characteristics we use to describe minerals. Lab 3B will have you use the
characteristics to identify minerals.
If you do not first complete Lab 3A, Lab 3B will be difficult/impossible.
This quiz was locked Oct 22 at 11:59pm.
Attempt History
Attempt Time Score
LATEST Attempt 1 7 minutes 3.5 out of 3.5
Answers will be shown after your last attempt
Score for this attempt: 3.5 out of 3.5
Submitted Oct 22 at 3:02pm
This attempt took 7 minutes.
Learning Goals
https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/1664976/quizzes/1922411 Page 1 of 36
,Laboratory 3A: An Introduction to Minerals: ESS 101 B Au 23: Introduction To Geology And Societal Impacts 12/10/23, 12:13 PM
By completing this lab, students will learn:
The technical definition of a mineral
The different physical properties of a mineral and how they form
How to use common diagnostic properties to identify a mineral
Introduction
A. Minerals
Minerals are the basic building blocks that make up the solid Earth.
Therefore, any study of the solid Earth must begin with an
understanding of minerals.
A mineral, by definition, is a (1) naturally occurring, (2) solid, (3) usually
inorganic element or compound with a (4) definite crystalline structure
and (5) chemical composition which varies only within specific limits.
Common examples are quartz, diamond, garnet, talc, and halite (salt).
Some useful hints about what a mineral is/isn't:
1. Although compounds produced in a laboratory can have many
of the characteristics of a mineral, they are not naturally
occurring and therefore are not minerals.
2. Minerals are solids, therefore liquids and gases are not
considered minerals.
3. Nearly all minerals are inorganic, that is, not produced by living
organisms.
4. Minerals have a distinct crystalline structure (Figure 3-1). Each
mineral has an orderly, predictable arrangement of atoms. For
example, the minerals graphite and diamond are both made of
carbon but what makes them unique is a significant difference
in the way the atoms are arranged (Figure 3-1). (A mineraloid
https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/1664976/quizzes/1922411 Page 2 of 36
, Laboratory 3A: An Introduction to Minerals: ESS 101 B Au 23: Introduction To Geology And Societal Impacts 12/10/23, 12:13 PM
differs from a mineral in that it lacks crystalline structure (i.e.,
is amorphous). For example, opal is a mineraloid; it has the
same composition as quartz but lacks the crystal structure.)
5. Minerals have a definite chemical composition that can be
expressed as a specific chemical formula. Quartz, for instance,
is composed of silicon and oxygen and has the formula SiO2.
Some minerals have more complex compositions. Garnet's
formula, for instance, is A3B2(SiO4)3, where A and B represent
a variety of elements such as Ca, Mg, Fe, and Mn. Although the
exact composition of garnet can vary, the ratio between A and
B is constant — 3 atoms of A for every 2 atoms of B.
Figure 3-1. The atomic structure of (a) diamond and (b) graphite.
Diagrammatic inserts show bonding relationships of carbon atoms. In diamond,
each carbon atom is strongly bonded (covalent bonds) to four adjacent carbon
atoms. In graphite, each carbon atom is strongly bonded to only three
neighboring atoms. Strongly bonded atoms in graphite occur in sheets, which
are only loosely attached to one another by weak van der Waal forces.
https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/1664976/quizzes/1922411 Page 3 of 36
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,Laboratory 3A: An Introduction to Minerals: ESS 101 B Au 23: Introduction To Geology And Societal Impacts 12/10/23, 12:13 PM
Laboratory 3A: An Introduction to Minerals
Due Oct 22 at 11:59pm Points 3.5 Questions 9
Available Oct 13 at 9am - Oct 22 at 11:59pm Time Limit None
Allowed Attempts 2
Instructions
ATTENTION : You must complete this lab BEFORE you complete Laboratory 3B: Mineral
Identification (https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/1664976/quizzes/1922418) . Lab 3A will teach you
about the characteristics we use to describe minerals. Lab 3B will have you use the
characteristics to identify minerals.
If you do not first complete Lab 3A, Lab 3B will be difficult/impossible.
This quiz was locked Oct 22 at 11:59pm.
Attempt History
Attempt Time Score
LATEST Attempt 1 7 minutes 3.5 out of 3.5
Answers will be shown after your last attempt
Score for this attempt: 3.5 out of 3.5
Submitted Oct 22 at 3:02pm
This attempt took 7 minutes.
Learning Goals
https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/1664976/quizzes/1922411 Page 1 of 36
,Laboratory 3A: An Introduction to Minerals: ESS 101 B Au 23: Introduction To Geology And Societal Impacts 12/10/23, 12:13 PM
By completing this lab, students will learn:
The technical definition of a mineral
The different physical properties of a mineral and how they form
How to use common diagnostic properties to identify a mineral
Introduction
A. Minerals
Minerals are the basic building blocks that make up the solid Earth.
Therefore, any study of the solid Earth must begin with an
understanding of minerals.
A mineral, by definition, is a (1) naturally occurring, (2) solid, (3) usually
inorganic element or compound with a (4) definite crystalline structure
and (5) chemical composition which varies only within specific limits.
Common examples are quartz, diamond, garnet, talc, and halite (salt).
Some useful hints about what a mineral is/isn't:
1. Although compounds produced in a laboratory can have many
of the characteristics of a mineral, they are not naturally
occurring and therefore are not minerals.
2. Minerals are solids, therefore liquids and gases are not
considered minerals.
3. Nearly all minerals are inorganic, that is, not produced by living
organisms.
4. Minerals have a distinct crystalline structure (Figure 3-1). Each
mineral has an orderly, predictable arrangement of atoms. For
example, the minerals graphite and diamond are both made of
carbon but what makes them unique is a significant difference
in the way the atoms are arranged (Figure 3-1). (A mineraloid
https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/1664976/quizzes/1922411 Page 2 of 36
, Laboratory 3A: An Introduction to Minerals: ESS 101 B Au 23: Introduction To Geology And Societal Impacts 12/10/23, 12:13 PM
differs from a mineral in that it lacks crystalline structure (i.e.,
is amorphous). For example, opal is a mineraloid; it has the
same composition as quartz but lacks the crystal structure.)
5. Minerals have a definite chemical composition that can be
expressed as a specific chemical formula. Quartz, for instance,
is composed of silicon and oxygen and has the formula SiO2.
Some minerals have more complex compositions. Garnet's
formula, for instance, is A3B2(SiO4)3, where A and B represent
a variety of elements such as Ca, Mg, Fe, and Mn. Although the
exact composition of garnet can vary, the ratio between A and
B is constant — 3 atoms of A for every 2 atoms of B.
Figure 3-1. The atomic structure of (a) diamond and (b) graphite.
Diagrammatic inserts show bonding relationships of carbon atoms. In diamond,
each carbon atom is strongly bonded (covalent bonds) to four adjacent carbon
atoms. In graphite, each carbon atom is strongly bonded to only three
neighboring atoms. Strongly bonded atoms in graphite occur in sheets, which
are only loosely attached to one another by weak van der Waal forces.
https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/1664976/quizzes/1922411 Page 3 of 36
