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Mystery Minerals
http://www.beloit.edu/sepm/Rocks_and_minerals/mystery_minerals.html
From DLESE Community Collection (DCC)
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In this activity, students will discover that minerals have specific characteristics that help to identify them. They will learn that minerals are formed by inorganic processes, are crystalline solids with an internal orderly arrangement of atoms, have specific chemical compositions, and have specific physical and chemical characteristics. They will also learn that minerals are commonly identified by the physical properties they possess, such as hardness, color, crystal shape, specific gravity, and streak. In addition, they will discover some other useful properties such as reaction with hydrochloric acid or a characteristic taste. They should also understand that color is not always a useful property for identifying minerals because it can vary. The students will also develop listening and observational skills and learn the uses of a few common minerals.
Intended for grade levels:
  • Primary (K-2)
  • Intermediate (3-5)
Type of resource:
  • For the classroom:
    • Classroom activity
    • Guide for instructor
Subject:
  • Geological Sciences:
    • Mineralogy or petrology
Technical requirements:
No specific technical requirements, just a browser required
Cost / Copyright:
No cost
Copyright and other restrictions information is unknown.
DLESE Catalog ID: DLESE-000-000-008-473
Educational standards:
  • National Science Education Standards (NSES):
    • K-4:
      • Unifying concepts and processes:
        • Systems, order, and organization
      • B - Physical science:
        • Properties of objects and materials
      • D - Earth and space science:
        • Properties of earth materials
    • 5-8:
      • Unifying concepts and processes:
        • Systems, order, and organization
      • B - Physical science:
        • Properties and changes of properties in matter
      • D - Earth and space science:
        • Structure of the earth system
Related resources:
This resource is part of 'K-12 Earth Science'
http://www.beloit.edu/sepm/index.html
Resource contact / Creator / Publisher:
Contributor: Society for Sedimentary Geology
http://www.sepm.org/

Author: Susan Morgan
Department of Geology
Utah State University

Contact: Carol Mankiewicz
Beloit College