FIAT LUX ACADEME

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EARTH AND LIFE SIENCES
Suhay No. 3: The Evolution of Earth:Properties of Rock-forming minerals
October 5-8, 2020
Name:___________________________ Level and
Section: ______________

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of this module, you are able to:

 identify common rock forming minerals using their chemical and physical properties
 differentiate igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks
 analyze the different factors contribute to the weathering of rocks
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

1. Why is it important to know the properties of minerals?

2. How are physical properties used to identify minerals?
3. What are the chemical properties of rock forming minerals?
ACTIVITY LOG

Essential Question/s
Input
Covid-19 Reminders
Glancing Back
Starter
Focused Discussion
Task 1
Task 2
Essential Understanding
Learning Log
Assessment
Self-Evaluation
Enrichment
Point of Clarification
INPUT

Glancing Back
Let us review your previous lesson about Earth’s Subsytem.
I know that you learned well from that lesson, so let us recall! What are the four subsytem of
the Earth?
Starter
Your safety is top priority during this COVID-19. Observe the following safety pre-cautions
below.

Safety Pre-Cautions
Sanitize hands on the way in and on the way out
Don’t touch your face
Wear a face mask at minimum when in the home doing any work
Limit interactions with the home
Don’t touch anythinGg that you don’t need to
Maintain separation distance from others
Carry disinfectants such as sanitizers, alcohols and etc.
Good morning!

All of you will answer the activity given below entitled IMAGINED UPON.

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 IMAGINE UPON!

If you will compare yourself to a

rock, what kind of rock are you?
Support your answer.

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Focused Discussion

Before I start, may I know who among you have knowledge about the properties of rock-
forming minerals?

I’d like to give you an infromation about the properties of rock-forming minerals.

Let me start with some general information.

In our previous lesson, we talked about the subsystems of the earth. The natural balance that
exists among the four subsystems allows living things to survive which continue to interact
among each other and with the environment. A lot of important raw materials are found in the
environment. Some of which are mineralbased. A mineral is defined as a naturally occurring,
usually inorganic solid with distinct chemical composition and an orderly crystalline structure. In
order to test whether a sample of matter is mineral, scientists need to assess the sample
according to the aforementioned characteristics. A silicate mineral contains silicon and oxygen
and may consist of a metal. Examples are feldspar, orthoclase and plagioclase. A nonsilicate
mineral is one that does not contain silicon and oxygen. Examples of which are gypsum,
galena, and corundum.

In this lesson you will to identify the common rock-forming minerals using their physical and
chemical properties. Let us start!

Every mineral is recognized according to its properties that exist as a result of its chemical
composition. Such properties may be identified subjectively or objectively such as by running a
test. The following are the properties of minerals.

1. Color
The property of mineral that can easily be observed is its color. In our previous lesson,you have
learned that color is the result of the reflection of visible light. Color is a useful property of
minerals. Corundum, a colorless mineral is composed of aluminum and oxygen atoms.

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Corundum that contains traces of chromium, forms a red gem called ruby. Another type of
corundum is sapphire, a blue colored gem as a result of traces of iron and titanium.
However, color alone may not be sufficient enough in identifying minerals since some minerals
may have almost the same color though they differ in their chemical structures.

2. Luster
The ability of mineral to reflect light from its surface is called luster. Metallic minerals have
metallic luster. This type of luster is manifested by the way polished metals reflect light. While
nonmetallic minerals have nonmetallic luster. Nonmetallic luster is classified into four types of
luster which are glassy luster (like quartz), waxy luster, pearly luster (like mica), and brilliant
luster (like diamond).

3. Streak
Streak refers to the color of mineral in powdered form. The color of mineral’s powdered form
may differ from its color in solid form. A mineral is rubbed against an unglazed ceramic tile to
observe its streak. Metallic minerals have streaks that are dark in color. For example, the streak
of a gold-colored pyrite is black in color. On the other hand, the streak of nonmetallic minerals is
generally light in color.

4. Cleavage and fracture

Cleavage refers to the ability of a mineral to split along a weak plane forming flat surface.
Calcite is an example of mineral that has cleavage in three directions. Onthe other hand,
fracture refers to the capacity of a certain mineral to break along curved surfaces. Quartz is an
example of mineral that has fracture.

5. Density
Density is defined as the compactness of a sample of matter. It is calculated as mass divided by
volume. Different samples of mineral of the same size differ in mass because of the different
elements that make up such minerals. Minerals containing heavy metals like uranium, lead,
silver and gold have densities that range from 7 to 20 g/cm3. The periodic table of elements
shows that each element has a unique density.

6. Hardness
The tendency of a mineral to resist abrasion (scratching) is termed as hardness. The Mohs
scale of hardness shows the arrangement of minerals from the softest (talc) to the hardest
(diamond). Hardness is the result of intermolecular bonding. The Mohs scale of mineral
hardness arranges minerals according to their scratch resistance. From the softest to the
hardest mineral, the sequence of the Mohs scale is as follows:Talc, Gypsum, Calcite, Fluorite,
Apatite, Feldspar, Quartz, Topaz, Corundum, and Diamond. Talc is the softest mineral while
diamond is the hardest Reaction with acids Minerals that contain carbonate CO3(2−) or CO3-2
react with acid. For example, a sample of calcite reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl).

7. Fluorescence
The ability of minerals to glow when bombarded with ultraviolet light is called fluorescence. In
this condition, minerals may not glow under ordinary light. This is because such minerals are
selective of the wavelength of light that causes it to glow. Calcite possesses this property.

8. Phosphorescence
Some minerals would continue to glow even after a source of ultraviolet light has been turned
off. This ability is called phosphorescence. The ore of lithium possesses this characteristic.

And that will be the end of our discussion for this week.

You may now proceed to you Task (No. 1 and 2).

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TASK 1
Identify the minerals based on the given physical and chemical properties.

Physical/Chemical Properties Mineral

1.pink or white, wavy lines, right angles, 2 cleavage planes
2.black and splintery, 2 cleavage, barely scratches glass
3. glassy, used to make glass, no cleavage planes
4.olive green, sugary, component of peridotite (mantle)
5.talcum powder, scratch with fingernails, too small crystals
6.salty taste, perfect cubic cleavage, NaCl crystals
7.many colors, doesn’t scratch glass, 4 cleavage planes,
hydrofluoric acid
8.scratch with fingernail, Pencil “lead”, slippery
9.yellow streak, used to make sulfuric acid, cluster of
brittle crystals
10.gray streak, iron oxide, magnetic, high specific
Gravity

TASK 2
Physical Properties of Minerals
Fill out the graphic organizer below. Write down the concepts about minerals and its
properties.

ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDING

 The phsical and chemical properties of mineral are the following:

a) color f) density
b) luster g) hardness
c) streak h) reaction with acids
d) cleavage i) fluorescence
e) fracture j) phosphorescence

LEARNING LOG

Write down the characteristics of the following type of rock.

1. IGNEOUS
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2. SEDIMENTARY
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3. METAMORPHIC
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ASSESSMENT

Let me examine your learning from previous and present lessons. Read each
questions carefully. Encircle the letter of your choice.

1. What the significant contribution of the fact that Jupiter is Earth’s neighbor in the solar
system?
A. Its strong gravity energizes the earth
B. Its strong gravity attracts Kuiper belts
C. Its strong gravity balances the earth in its orbit
D. Its strong gravity attracts space debris away from the Earth

2. What do you called to the shield that protects the life forms from harmful solar radiation?
A. aurora
B. atmosphere
C. magnetic field
D. North and South pole

3. What will happen if the earth is bigger than its current size?
A. It will not be able to sustain life
B. It will not have a moon on its orbit
C. It will move farther away from the sun
D. It will attract materials more strongly towards its center

4. Which of the following statements is TRUE about the earth’s subsystem?

A. Most of the liquid water found in earth’s surface is potable
B. If the earth had been bigger than its current size, it would have less gravity
C. It takes 500 seconds from light from the sun to reach the surface of the earth
D. Earth is the only planet in the solar system having water in three phases: solid, liquid
and gas

5. What substance in the stratosphere is responsible for absorbing high-energy radiation

from the sun?
A. Ozone
B. Methane
C. Carbon dioxide
D. Diatomic oxygen

6. Which of the following is the correct sequence of atmospheric layer from the bottom up?
A. stratosphere-mesosphere-troposphere-thermosphere
B. troposphere-thermosphere- stratosphere-mesosphere
C. stratosphere- troposphere-thermosphere-mesosphere
D. troposphere-stratosphere-mesosphere-thermosphere

7. Which of the following statement is TRUE?

A. Solar flares are deflected by gravity
B. Magnetosphere is part of the lithosphere
C. Aurora borealis is the result of falling space debris
D. The earth’s magnetic north pole serves as its geographic south pole

8. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. Minerals may exist in solid form
B. Metallic minerals have light streak
C. The biggest of the four subsystems is the lithosphere
D. The biggest of the four subsystems is the hydrosphere

9. How does matter and energy flow in the atmosphere?

A. By the movement of air due to the difference in temperature
B. By the movement of air due to the difference in concentration
C. By the movement of air due to the difference in chemical composition
D. All of these

10. Which of these best exemplifies the flow of energy in the biosphere?
A. Food chain
B. Water cycle
C. Photosynthesis
D. Cellular respiration

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 11. Which of its property in readily manifested show observation when a sample of mineral
is being studied in the laboratory?
A. color
B. streak
C. luster
D. hardness

12. What properties of mineral is exemplified in the scenario when a certain mineral is white
in color after it is bombarded with ultraviolet light, its color changes into light red?
A. color
B. luster
C. streak
D. fluorescence

13. What property of mineral enables it to continue glowing even after a source of ultraviolet
light has been turned off from it?
A. luster
B. asterism
C. fluorescence
D. phosphorescence

14. What mineral has the capacity to scratch all other minerals?
A. Topaz
B. Quartz
C. Fluorite
D. Diamond

15. What is an example of mineral with diamond?

A. brilliant luster
B. glassy luster
C. pearly luster
D. waxy luster

SELF-EVALUATION

Rate yourself from 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest while 5 being the highest) on the level of
understanding that you are able to attain for this module:

1 2 3 4 5

ENRICHMENT

For further learning kindly visit the link given below. Use a separate sheet to writes your insight
about the video then attached it with this module.
Identifying Common Minerals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2zFLCZKTQk&t=427s
POINT OF CLARIFICATION

Please write any questions or points of clarification about the content of this module:
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REFERENCES

Books
David, O., Albano, P. & Estira, F. (2019). Earth and Life Science. DIWA Learning System Inc.
Second Edition. Makati City
Refran, J., Tolentino, P. & Genuino, R. (2016). Earth and Life Science. Vibal Group Inc. Quezon
City
Digital Sources
"Physical Properties of Minerals Student Activity Lab." Accessed July 10, 2020.
https://www.cpalms.org/Public/PreviewResourceLesson/Preview/156535.
"Physical Properties of Minerals- Graphic Organizer." Teachers Pay Teachers.
Accessed July 10, 2020. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/PhysicalProperties-of-
Minerals-Graphic-Organizer-2224536.
YouTube. n.d. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2zFLCZKTQk
YouTube. n.d. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MvXv66b5h4
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