Question

A geologist working in a national park finds a mineral. He is carrying a lit that contains a penny, a hand lens, a piece of tile, a geologic hammer, and a jackknife. Describe how the geologist can use these items to determine some of the mineral's characteristics.

Answer 1

The geologist can use the following items in the kit to determine the characteristics of the mineral.

1) Penny - used to compare the hardness of the mineral. Approximate hardness of a copper penny is 3.

2) hand lens - can also be used to compare the hardness of the mineral. Its glass can be used as a scratch plate. It can also be used to check for the luster of the mineral.

3) tile - rubbing the mineral on the unglazed part of the tile will provide a powdered streak of the mineral which is used to identify the mineral and its color.

4) geological hammer - used to break the mineral to check whether it has cleavage or not and to identify its fractures.

5) jackknife - used to identify the tenacity of the mineral. The minerals' tenacity can be brittle, malleable, sectile, flexible, or elastic.