2.2: Activity 2 - Minerals
- Page ID
- 14436
\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)
You will need to study the mineral specimens provided to fill in the blanks in the table below. Use the following guidelines for completing the table:
- Color: Describe what you see. Munsell color designations are not necessary.
- Luster: Write in either “M” for metallic or “N” for nonmetallic.
- Hardness: Soft (S) minerals can be scratched by a fingernail. Medium (M) minerals can be scratched by a penny. Hard (H) minerals cannot be scratched by a penny and can scratch glass.
- Cleavage: Note whether present (1, 2, or 3 directions) or absent (0 directions).
- Plant-available nutrients: Refer to the list of essential elements and to Tables 3 and 4. Write in the chemical symbol of nutrients that are released and used by plants by weathering of minerals.
| Mineral | Color | Luster (M or N) | Hardness (S, M, or H) | Cleavage (yes/no) | Plant-available nutrients from Minerals (Table 4) (atomic symbol & charge) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pyrite | |||||
| calcite | |||||
| gypsum | |||||
| hornblende | |||||
| muscovite | |||||
| plagioclase | |||||
| orthoclase | |||||
| quartz |
1) Which of the minerals in Table 3 is most resistant to weathering?
2) Of the eight most common elements in the earth’s crust, which ones are essential elements that are released to plants by the weathering of minerals?
______________ ______________ ______________ ______________
3) Name the source of each of the following plant-essential elements:
C ______________
H ______________
O ______________
N ______________