Mastermines

NatCopper.jpg

this week I learned a lot about the tests that scientists use to identify minerals. We were playing a game called Mastermines and I learned all about the tests. We went to different mines and found minerals. Then we brought the minerals back to the lab and identified them. We used luster test, cleavage test, structure test, color test, density, hardness, conductivity, and streak. For the streak, we rubbed the mineral on a porcelain plate and a powdery color came off of it. Diamond was white. On cleavage, we hit the mineral and determined clean break or no clean break. Feldspar had clean break. On density, we measured the weight and volume of the mineral. On the color test, we found out what color they were. Garnet was red-brown. On structure, we found out what the crystal structure of the mineral was. There were triclinic, monoclinic, cubic, hexagonal, and a rectangular one. On hardness, we scratched the mineral with different rocks to determine where it fell on the Moh's hard scale. Borax was a 2. On the luster, we shone a light on the mineral to see if it was vitreous, adamantine, dull, metallic, or pearly. Copper was metallic. For the conductivity, we had to find out how well each mineral could conduct electricity. Borax was an insulator. I also learned how to use the machines at each test.

S&EP: SP2
I used a worksheet to keep track of my data on the mastermines game. We had to keep track of a lot of data. I did some of my project at home.