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7.10: Special Physical Properties

  • Page ID
    5577
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    Overview

    Several minerals have unique properties that aid in their identification. Tenacity refers to the way a mineral resists breakage. If a mineral shatters like glass, it is said to be brittle (like quartz), while minerals that can be hammered are malleable (like copper, Figure 7.18). Minerals may be elastic, in which they are flexible and bend like a plastic comb, but return to their original shape (like mica, Figure 7.19). Sectile minerals are soft like wax and can be separated with a knife (like gypsum).

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    Some minerals react when diluted hydrochloric acid is placed on them. Carbonate minerals (minerals that include CO3 in their chemical formula) will effervesce or fizz when acid is applied to them. When you test a mineral with acid, be cautious and use just a drop of the acid. Use your magnifying glass to look closely for bubbles (Figure 7.20). The acid is very dilute and will not burn your skin or clothing, but wash your hands after use (gloves and goggles are provided). Also, make sure that you rinse with water and wipe off the acid from the minerals that you test.

     

    Minerals may be magnetic, and this property is simply tested by seeing if your nail is attracted to a mineral. Magnetite is an example of a magnetic mineral. The mineral halite is simply table salt, so it will taste salty. Graphite is used in pencils and makes a nice smudge when rubbed along the paper. Talc will feel soapy when touched.

     

    Specific gravity is the ratio of a mineral’s weight to the weight of an equal volume of water. A mineral with a specific gravity of 2 would weigh twice as much as water. Most minerals are heavier than water, and the average specific gravity for all minerals is approximately 2.7. Some minerals are quite heavy, such as pyrite with a specific gravity of 4.9-5.2, native copper, with a specific gravity of 8.8-9.0, and native gold at 19.3, which makes panning useful for gold, as the heavy mineral stays behind as you wash material out of the pan.

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    This page titled 7.10: Special Physical Properties is shared under a CC BY-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Deline, Harris & Tefend (GALILEO Open Learning Materials) .

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