Science Name: ______
February 06, 2014
Welcome to the Spring 2014 Semester!
Quick Introduction to class: textbook check
Ms. Kit Mayberry at
Conceptual Physical Science Explorations, Hewitt, Pearson Publishing, 2007, 2003.
Science Name: ______
December 5, 2013
Today: Minerals
Background
Warm up: To Be or Not to Be (a Mineral) jumble (http://mr-bova.wiki.williamsvillek12.org/Unit+3-Rocks+%26+Minerals )
Minerals in earth science v. minerals in nutrition (both are inorganic crystalline solids)
Why are particular minerals abundant on Earth?
Stellar nucleosynthesis (iron, oxygen, silicon, magnesium, nickel, sulfur, calcium, aluminum)
Earth’s location in the solar system (metal v. rock v. gas/ice rich)
Electrical charge and ion size compatibility (some fit together better, atoms as oscillating particles, how pressure compresses ions, changing the fit and stability)
Lab
Warm up: Observing Salt crystals: Tray, Rock salt, river rock, hand lens, text. p 540:
Look at some crystals of rock salt under a hand lens and observe their general shape: are they spherical or cubic? There is no machine at the salt factory specifically designed to give salt crystals these cubic shapes, as opposed to round or triangular ones. The cubic shape occurs naturally and is an indication of how the sodium and chlorine atoms are arranged: in a three dimensional cubic lattice.
On the tray provide, use a river rock to crush a few salt cubes and then re-examine them under the hand lens. Do they fracture into random odd shapes or do they cleave into smaller cubes?
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Identifying Minerals Lab:
Instructions sheet
Data chart to record data
Luster: how light is reflected from the surface. Can be metallic, glassy, pearly, silky, adamantine or earthy.
Massing: use empty weigh boat to tare to zero, then mass mineral sample.
Do volume measurements last, since samples get wet! Make sure number labels stay affixed.
Use your data and the table of mineral characteristics to answer the Analyze and Conclude questions 1-4.
Always ask questions, especially if you are unclear!
Science Name: ______
December 5, 2013
Homework due next class:
1. Complete the questions from lab if not done in class.
2. Read Chapter 30, Minerals and Their Formation, p. 535-549,
3. completing the 4 concept check questions and
4. complete the matching key terms on page 550, #1-13.