How can mineralogists tell a diamond in the rough from a chunk of table salt? Science scholars find out through an interactive that demonstrates the characteristics of minerals used for identification purposes. Topics include hardness, luster, taste, smell, and fracture tests for unknown minerals.

Concepts

minerals, hardness, luster, making observations

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Provide rock samples and assign a scratch test lab to give pupils some practice
• Extend the lesson by pairing learners for some mineral research to discover other information, such as abundance and where they are found

Classroom Considerations

• Set aside extra time if you plan to have the class watch the 11-minute video in the Explore More section of the interactive
• Register for a free CK-12 account to access the resource

Pros

• The resource shows practical techniques for mineral identification that don't require expensive lab equipment
• Teachers can use questions found in the content for multiple assessments

Cons

• None