Magical Minerals - January Assignment
You must complete the following ten short-answer questions. Each one is worth three points.
1. What are the four criteria required for something to be called a mineral?
2. Which of the following would not be a mineral?
a) quartz grains on a sandy beach
b)ice in your freezer
c)ice on a pond in the winter.
3. Name two physical properties of a mineral that we can use to identify it.
4. An unknown mineral will scratch quartz, but not topaz. What is its hardness on the Moh's scale of hardness?
5. Name a magical property of quartz.
6. Name a magical property of diamond.
7. What is the difference between "karats" of gold and "carats" of diamond?
8. What mineral gives a brilliant white light in fireworks?
9. What is the mineral name for table salt?
10. What colour is kaolinite?
Do only ONE of the following three questions. (You can do more if you're interested, but you will still receive only a maximum of 30 points). Each month, there will be three types of optional question - a research question, an opinion question, and a "thinking" question, so you can choose whichever one you like best.
Question One:
Using your local library or resources on the internet, find out some information about your birthstone, or any other gemstone or mineral that interests you. The following is a list of birthstones:
January: Garnet
February: Amethyst (Choose another month, since amethyst/quartz was discussed in the lesson).
March: Aquamarine
April: Diamond (Choose another month, since diamond was discussed in the lesson.)
May: Emerald
June: Pearl (not really a mineral) or Moonstone
July: Ruby
August: Peridot
September: Sapphire
October: Opal or Tourmaline
November: Yellow Topaz or Citrine
December: Blue Topaz or Turquoise
Here are some questions to get you started (not all of these may apply, and you don't have to answer all of them, and you can provide additional information if you find it). Is the gemstone name the same as the mineral name? Does it have other names? What colour is your mineral/gemstone? Can it be other colours? What are some other physical properties (crystal shape, hardness, specific gravity, etc.) of your mineral? What is the chemical composition of your mineral? Is the composition fixed or can it vary? In what localities is your mineral found? Is your mineral common or rare? Are there other uses for your mineral besides a gemstone? Does your mineral have any magical properties? Can your mineral be made synthetically?
Question Two:
Do you think rocks, minerals, or crystals have magical or super-natural powers? Why or why not? (ie. you have to say more than yes or no! You need to have several sentences to receive full marks. Also, there is no "right" or "wrong" answer here, I just want to see that you've thought about the question, and can write a few sentences expressing your opinion.)
Question Three:
In the lesson, it was discussed that one reason gold is valuable is that it does not tarnish easily. We can see that the physical and chemical properties of minerals dictate their uses and the value humans place on them. List some physical and/or chemical properties that would make a mineral useful for:
a)A gemstone
b)A building stone
c)An electrical wire
d)A coin
Your assignment will be due on FEBRUARY 15. Please include your full HOL name and HOL ID.
Please submit all homework as text in the body of the email to:
[email protected]
Attachments will not be opened.
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