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Laboratory Report
Identification of Minerals and Rock Slice Observation Experiment
1
Name: Wong Jun Yan Johnson
UID: 3035466681 CIVL2102 Laboratory Report (Mineral)
Contents
Identification of Minerals………………………………………………..………3
Introduction and Objectives………………………..………………….…….3
Equipment…………………………………………………………….…….3
Methodology………………………………………………………….…….4
Procedures…………………………………………………………….…….4
Results - Mineral Identification in Hand Specimens……..……………....….5
Discussion - Properties and Characteristics of Minerals…….…..………..…7
Discussion – Further Analysis and Identification of Minerals…....................8
Discussion - Possible Source of Errors and Limitations………….………13
Conclusion……………………………………………………………….13
Rock Slice Observation Experiment…………………………………………….14
Introduction and Objectives………………………..………………………14
Equipment…………………………………………………………………14
Methodology and Procedures………………………………………...……14
Rock Slice Details………………………………………………….………14
Results - Mineral Composition….…………………………………………15
Discussion – Analysis and Comparison of Results………………………16
Discussion - Possible Source of Errors and Limitations…….……………...16
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………17
2
Name: Wong Jun Yan Johnson
UID: 3035466681 CIVL2102 Laboratory Report (Mineral)
Identification of Minerals
Introduction and Objectives
Mineral is a naturally occurring chemical compound. Different minerals have different
physical properties, chemical properties and characteristics as their chemical structure
and composition are different. In order to distinguish different minerals provided, these
minerals are identified from their morphology and physical properties. The properties
include:
Form (Crystal or Aggregate)
Number of cleavage directions and cleavage angles
Shape of crystal specimen
Streak
Lustre
Hardness
Based on the aforementioned properties, different minerals can be distinguished.
Equipment
Different equipment are used to discover the properties of various minerals so as to
differentiate and identify different minerals.
Mohs’ scale of hardness box – A collection of nine minerals number 1 to 9 in order
of increasing hardness
3
Name: Wong Jun Yan Johnson
UID: 3035466681 CIVL2102 Laboratory Report (Mineral)
Pocket knife
Magnet
Methodology
Regarding the properties of minerals mentioned in the part of Objective, the methods
of testing and discovering various properties are ascribed below.
Form (Crystal or Aggregate)
By observation.
Number of cleavage directions and cleavage angles
By observation of the surface and reflection of mineral.
Shape of crystal specimen
By observation.
Streak
Scratch the porcelain streak plate with the testing mineral. There will be a scratch
on the surface of the plate. Observe the colour of the scratch.
Lustre
By observation.
Hardness
Mohs’ scale of hardness box is used. The box contains nine minerals number 1 to
9 in order of increasing hardness. The principles are stated below.
If a mineral scratches the testing mineral and there is a mark left on the testing
mineral (but no mark on the mineral), the mineral has a higher hardness than
the testing mineral.
If a mineral scratches the testing mineral and both the mineral and testing
mineral has no marks on itself, the hardness of them should be same or very
close to each other.
At the meantime, other equipment can be used to determine the hardness. For
instance, pocket knife used in laboratory has a hardness of about 5. Hence, by these
principles and methods the hardness of a mineral can be roughly determined.
Indeed, there are still other properties that can be used to identify minerals. For instance,
magnetism can be detected by placing a magnet near the mineral. If the mineral is rich
in iron component, it can be attracted. In addition, chemical properties can be found out
For example, acidic solution can dissolve calcite as calcite is rich in calcium carbonate.
Procedures
Determine systematically the physical properties and the crystal form, or the form of a
crystal aggregate of a mineral, as following:
4
Name: Wong Jun Yan Johnson
UID: 3035466681 CIVL2102 Laboratory Report (Mineral)
M4 ✓
M5 ✓
M10 ✓
M12 ✓
M14 ✓
M19 ✓
2. You are provided with six minerals with well-developed or perfect cleavages in one
or more directions. Identify the number of cleavage directions in each. (Note: Please
take special care not to damage any of the specimens)
Cleavage angle if 2 or
Specimen Number Number of cleavage directions
more directions
M8 4 90°
M9 3 75°
M10 1 /
M12 2 90°
M17 2 120°
3. Select the most appropriate term out of the following list to describe the shape of the
crystal specimens.
M4 Massive
M9 Rhombohedral/Diamond
M10 Fibrous
5
Name: Wong Jun Yan Johnson
UID: 3035466681 CIVL2102 Laboratory Report (Mineral)
M11 Prismatic
M14 Platy
M19 Granular
4. Streak is the colour of a mineral in powdered form. Identify the streak of the
specimens in the table.
M1 Grey
M2 Brown
M3 Brown
M4 Grey
M5 Reddish Brown
M18 White
5. Lustre is a term for the overall surface appearance of a mineral. There are two main
types – metallic (shiny like metals) and non-metallic e.g. vitreous or glassy, earthy or
dull. Complete the following table using ticks and supplement some more details (e.g.
appearance color & reflecting)
Non-metallic
Specimen Number Metallic
Vitreous/Glassy Earthy
M3 ✓ (grey)
M5 ✓ (grey)
M6 ✓ (black)
M11 ✓ (translucent)
M14 ✓ (dark brown)
M16 ✓ (white)
6. Determine the hardness using the hardness box provided and complete the following
table.
M4 4
M9 3
M10 2
M11 7
M13 6
6
Name: Wong Jun Yan Johnson
UID: 3035466681 CIVL2102 Laboratory Report (Mineral)
The above figure shows different minerals. In light of the aforementioned properties,
we can distinguish and classify different minerals. The properties and characteristics
used will be discussed in detail below.
The first step is to find out the form of mineral – whether it is in form of crystal or
aggregate. The arrangement of materials in specimen affects the form of mineral.
After that, shape of the crystal specimens is discussed. Different minerals have various
geometric shapes formed in the environment and it is governed by mineral’s internal
structures. Different terms are used to describe the shape of it:
For the form of aggregate:
Massive: Indiscernible crystals are too fine to observe
Granular: Aggregates of anhedral crystals in matrix
For the form of crystal:
Prismatic: Well-developed crystal faces parallel to the vertical axis
Fibrous: Fiber-like structures bonded together
Rhombohedral/Diamond: Cube-liked structure
Platy: Flat, tablet-shaped
Next, streak refers to the color of the mineral in powdered form. Streak is different from
the color of the mineral. The powder of the mineral has a more consistent characteristic
color, thus being crucial in mineral identification.
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Name: Wong Jun Yan Johnson
UID: 3035466681 CIVL2102 Laboratory Report (Mineral)
Moreover, lustre is used to describe the overall surface appearance of mineral. Lustre
refers to the way that mineral reflects light. Minerals can be classified as metallic or
non-metallic based on their appearance. Metallic means shiny as metal under light. On
the other hand, non-metallic minerals can be distinguished as vitreous/glassy or earthy.
Earthy is used to describe minerals with a dull reflective surface.
Specimen Mineral
Photo Characteristics
Number Name
8
Name: Wong Jun Yan Johnson
UID: 3035466681 CIVL2102 Laboratory Report (Mineral)
Metallic appearance
Brown or reddish
M03 Galena
brown in colour
It has a brown streak
Reddish Brown in
colour and it is in the
form of aggregate
M05 Hematite It has a metallic
appearance
It has a reddish brown
streak
Brown or reddish
brwon in colour
M07 Geothite Forms prismatic
needle-like crystals
It has a brown streak
9
Name: Wong Jun Yan Johnson
UID: 3035466681 CIVL2102 Laboratory Report (Mineral)
Greenish colour in
light of the impurities
It has four cleavage
M08 Fluorite
directions and
cleavage angle is 90°
It has a white streak
Colourless and
translucent
It has a prismatic shape
M11 Quartz
and it has a vitreous
appearance
It has a white streak
10
Name: Wong Jun Yan Johnson
UID: 3035466681 CIVL2102 Laboratory Report (Mineral)
Reddish white or
bluish white in colour
M13 Plagioclase
Quite brittle
It has a white streak
White in colour
It has an earthy
M16 Kaolinite
appearance
It has a white streak
11
Name: Wong Jun Yan Johnson
UID: 3035466681 CIVL2102 Laboratory Report (Mineral)
Colour is in brown or
M18 Pyroxene reddish brown
The streak is white
It may seem to be
reddish in colour due
to the oxidation of iron
M19 Olivine It has a shape of
granular
It is in the form of
aggregate
As there is a myriad of properties and characteristics for different minerals, only some
of the obvious and unique characteristics are discussed in the aforementioned table.
12
Name: Wong Jun Yan Johnson
UID: 3035466681 CIVL2102 Laboratory Report (Mineral)
Conclusion
Through different tests and comparisons, the minerals can be compared and classified.
The findings are mentioned above with respect to various objectives and properties of
minerals. In addition, the details of each properties, possible source of errors and
limitations are discussed.
To sum up again, the table below shows the mineral names of different specimen
numbers identified.
Specimen Number Mineral Name Specimen Number Mineral Name
M01 Pyrite M11 Quartz
M02 Sphalerite M12 K-Feldspar
M03 Galena M13 Plagioclase
M04 Chlcopyrite M14 Biotite
M05 Hematite M15 Muscovite
M06 Magnetite M16 Kaolinite
M07 Geothite M17 Hornblende
M08 Fluorite M18 Pyroxene
M09 Calcite M19 Olivine
M10 Gypsum M20 Chlorite
13
Name: Wong Jun Yan Johnson
UID: 3035466681 CIVL2102 Laboratory Report (Mineral)
Equipment
Polarized light microscopy (Leica DM 750P)
Computer (connected to the microscopy)
14
Name: Wong Jun Yan Johnson
UID: 3035466681 CIVL2102 Laboratory Report (Mineral)
Biotite
Feldspar
Quartz
Figure 6: Polarized light microscopy image of granite sample with grid lines
15
Name: Wong Jun Yan Johnson
UID: 3035466681 CIVL2102 Laboratory Report (Mineral)
In the above experiment, the percentage composition of minerals found in the granite
slice is discovered. The composition of mineral in granite sample found is:
Types of minerals Found percentage composition
Quartz 22.7%
Feldspar 62%
Biotite / Hornblende / Olivine 15.3%
16
Name: Wong Jun Yan Johnson
UID: 3035466681 CIVL2102 Laboratory Report (Mineral)
The usage of box counting method is not accurate and precise enough to determine
the exact mineral content of rock. It is just a rough judgement.
The light intensity of microscopy may affect the judgement of different minerals.
Conclusion
In this laboratory session, the mineral composition of rock slice is analyzed by the usage
of polarized light microscopy and box counting method of the microscopic image of
part of the rock slice. At the meantime, different source of errors and limitations are
discussed.
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