Purchase Solution

Identifying physical properties of minerals

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

List the physical properties of minerals that you can use to identify a mineral sample using household items AND describe in detail how you would identify a rock-forming mineral using a reference sheet and items you would find around the house.

Purchase this Solution
Solution Summary

Answer defines a couple of basic mineral / geology terms and points to several references to assist in answering questions regarding how to ID rock-forming minerals

Solution Preview

OK ... for simple household items they are referring to two types of tests: either of vinegar or lemon juice for a simple carbonate test (if it fizzes with acid, its calcite), and hardness: (Moh's Hardness Scale) fingernail is H2, copper penny is H3 (real one..old ones are copper, new ones are ...

Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
Environmental Awareness 2020

This quiz is to test your knowledge and awareness on the current environmental issues that are posing a serious threat to the planet.

Energy

This quiz provides a brief review to different energy examples. How is energy evident in our world? This vocabulary is important to understand the connection between energy and matter.

Environmental Laws

The quiz tests some basic US environmental laws and policies.

United States and Canada Vocabulary

Assessment of basic vocabulary terms related to geography and resources in the United States and Canda.

Environment of the Earth

This quiz will focus on an introduction to basic Earth Science vocabulary. This info is important for an understanding of the principles involved with the study of the environment of the Earth.

View More Free Quizzes
Related BrainMass Solutions

  • Physical Properties of Minerals

    Color is one of the least reliable tests for identifying a mineral sample, but may provide some clues depending on the specimen. Various physical properties, in addition to crystal habit, can be used to identify different minerals.

  • Many of water's unique properties...

    Discussion: The unique physical properties, including a high heat of vaporization, strong surface tension, high specific heat, and nearly universal solvent properties of water are also due to hydrogen bonding.

  • Regional Metamorphosis

    Geologists study regional metamorphosis by identifying the gradiation in metamorphism (along convergent plate margins) through identifying the metamorphic minerals that are present.

  • Mineral Characteristics

    There are 5 properties of a mineral, list and define each one of them in your own words. 2. Minerals are identified by their physical characteristics. List and describe 6 of them below: a. Click here to enter text. b.

  • Mechanical and Chemical Weathering Processes

    Mechanical/physical weathering is the physical disintegration of a rock into smaller fragments, each with the same properties as the original. It occurs mainly by temperature and pressure changes.

  • Roles of Weathering in Different Climates.

    Dark colored grains, because of their absorptive properties, will expand much more than light colored grains.

  • Birthstone Information: Amethyst

    Picture: http://www.list-of-birthstones.com/Pictures%20of%20Birthstones/Amethyst%20birthstones2.jpg This solution lists properties of amethyst, the birthstone for February.

  • Organizational learning in mining companies

    You could also look into mining companies are who are outsourcing several aspects of physical assets to show that times are changing and even mining companies are beginning to realize that without people many of their functions would be impossible to

  • Identifying an unknown hydrocarbon

    The only difference in their physical properties is that cyclohexene a scent, whereas cyclohexane is an odourless liquid.

View More Related Solutions