76

Suggested time allotment 3 hours

Chapter2
MODULE

1 Rock-Forming Minerals

INTRODUCTION
Rocks are composed of minerals. A mineral is a
naturally occurring substance which is usually solid,
crystalline, stable at room temperature and inorganic.
There are almost 5000 known mineral species,
yet the vast majority of rocks are formed from
combinations of a few common minerals, referred to as
“rock-forming minerals”. The rock-forming minerals
are: feldspars, quartz, amphiboles, micas, olivine,
garnet, calcite, pyroxenes.
Minerals occurring within a rock in small
quantities are referred to as “accessory minerals”.
Although accessory minerals are present in only small
amounts, they may provide valuable insight into the
geological history of a rock, and are often used to
ascertain the age of a rock. Common accessory
minerals are: zircon, monazite, apatite, titanite,
tourmaline, pyrite and other opaques.
Figure 1. Common rock-forming
In this module, you should be able to identify minerals(https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F
%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin
common rock-forming minerals using their physical %2F411446115939411874%2F&psig=AOvVaw0hJv0We_ioUr1AQ_t-
andchemical properties. Yk4q&ust=1592694825419000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjhxqF

At the end of Module 1, you are expected to answer the key question below:

What are the different physical and chemical properties of

minerals?

LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Demonstrate understanding about physical and chemical properties of
minerals;
2. Identify some common rock-forming minerals; and
3. Classify minerals based on chemical affinity.

EARTH AND LIFE SCIENCE

K to 12 – Basic Education Curriculum
 77

Let us determine how much you already know about different physical and chemical
properties of minerals. Take the test below.

Pre-Test
Multiple Choice
Select the correct letter.
1. It is a solid, inorganic, naturally occurring 7. How would you differentiate amphibole
substance with a fixed structure and a from olivine?
definite composition. A. by crystal shape
A. rock B. by luster
B. magma C. by basicity
C. salt D. by specific gravity
D. mineral 8. Which of the following is the easiest way to
2. It is the ability of a mineral to resist differentiate mica from quartz?
scratches. A. Measure their specific gravity.
A. luster B. Observe how they look like in the dark.
B. hardness C. Look at their overall shape.
C. cleavage D. Observe how they are broken.
D. crystal habit 9. Which of the following mineral is almost as
3. It describes how the mineral sparkles in hard as quartz?
light. A. diamond
A. luster B. feldspar
B. hardness C. amphibole
C. cleavage D. mica
D. crystal habit
4. Why does mica peel into thin sheets? Sander found an unknown mineral that has not
A. due to cleavage been reported before. He observed the behavior
B. due to its chemical composition of the mineral when he tried to cut and crush it.
C. due to its luster 10. What physical characteristic of the mineral
D. due to its color was examined by Sander?
5. Which of the following belong to mica? A. tenacity
A. hornblende and augite B. hardness
B. muscovite and biotite C. fracture
C. amphibole and hornblende D. cleavage
Hank, together with his colleagues, is in search
D. pyroxene and augite
for a mineral that is typically black in color. Its
6. Which is an amphibole?
crystal form is short and thick, with two
A. muscovite cleavages that are nearly a right angle.
B. pyroxene 11. What rock-forming mineral are they looking
C. biotite for?
D. hornblende A. pyroxene

EARTH AND LIFE SCIENCE

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 78
B. olivine D. quartz
C. amphibole

Glossary of Terms
Let’s learn about it!

List of important terms that you should familiarize and remember:

Cleavage - tendency of a crystalline substance to split into fragments bounded by plane surfaces. Although
cleavage surfaces are seldom as flat as crystal faces, the angles between them are highly characteristic and
valuable in identifying a crystalline material.
Crystal - any solid material in which the component atoms are arranged in a definite pattern and whose
surface regularity reflects its internal symmetry.
Fracture - appearance of a surface broken in directions other than along cleavage planes.
Inorganic compounds- include compounds that are made up of two or more elements other than carbon, as
well as certain carbon-containing compounds that lack carbon-carbon bonds, such as cyanides and
carbonates.
Luster- refers to the way in which the surface of a mineral reflects light, and is controlled by the kinds of
atoms present and their bonding.
Mineral - naturally occurring homogeneous solid with a definite chemical composition and a highly ordered
atomic arrangement; it is usually formed by inorganic processes.
Streak - the color of a mineral in its powdered form. It is usually obtained by rubbing the mineral on a hard,
white surface, such as a tile of unglazed porcelain, so as to yield a line, or streak, of fine powder.

Reading Resources and Instructional Activities

Can I answer this?

Q1. Cite examples of minerals used in our daily lives. E.g.,halite (salt) for cooking.
Q2. What equipment do we use to cut a piece of glass?
Q3. Do you consider water a mineral? Why or why not?
Q4. How about snowflake, or tube ice? Are these minerals? Support your answer.

Activity 1: Grouping rocks by color

Instructions:
 Put the collected rock samples on the table labelled with sample colors.
 Place each sample inside the transparent plastic and label each as #1, #2,
…etc.
 Indicate its color.

EARTH AND LIFE SCIENCE

K to 12 – Basic Education Curriculum
  Examine each rock sample using a hand lens (if available).
 Compare rock samples according any schemes convenient for you. 79

Q5. Can you classify rocks according to color?

Q6. Are rocks with the same color have the same physical properties?
Q7. Is it possible that rocks with the same color are of different kinds?

Activity 2: Grouping rocks by hardness

Caution: You need to wear protective glass or clear googles (if available) in performing activity 2. Please
observe extra care when hammering a rock sample.

Instructions:
 Break the rock samples using your hammer.
 Place all broken parts in its original plastic
bag.
 Indicate its color inside.
 Scratch the surface of the rock samples using
any the following (if available):
a. fingernail
b. coin
c. knife/glass
d. steel nail
e. masonry drill bit
f. steel file
 Classify the samples using the scale below:
Very soft – can be scratched using fingernail
Soft – can be scratched using coin
Hard – can be scratched using knife/glass/steel nail
Very hard – can be scratched using masonry drill bit/steel file

Q8. Do all rock samples with the similar color have similar hardness?
Q9. Do you have rock sample(s) that can be scratched using your fingernail?
Q10. Do you have rock sample(s) that can only be scratched using your masonry drill bit or steel file?
Q11. What is the hardness of the majority of your rock samples? Hard or soft?
Q12. Do the rocks break along the plane or just scattered into fragments?

Activity 3: Grouping rocks by streak

Instructions:
 Use the same rock samples from your previous activity.
 Pulverize a small rock sample by pounding or striking a hammer.

EARTH AND LIFE SCIENCE

K to 12 – Basic Education Curriculum
  Place the powder inside the clear plastic bag and label the sample
number and its streak/color.

Q13. Do the color on the surface of the rock sample the same with that 80 of
the color of its powdered form?
Q14. What is the usual streak of your rock samples?

Activity 4.Identifying Minerals Using Rock Identification Chart

Instructions:
 Use the Rock Identification Chartbelow as your visual guide in identify minerals.
 Use the results of your previous activities to identify your rock samples

Figure 2. Rock Identification Chart

Source: https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F
%2Fwww.vagabondgeology.com%2Frocks--rock-
identification.html&psig=AOvVaw2eysY-DyCcieYWUTkh-
xvh&ust=1592704336618000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjhxqFw
oTCIjtspykj-oCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAR

Q15. Did you able to classify rocks as igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary?

Let’s learn about it!

Identification of Minerals
There are several laboratory and field techniques used to distinguish minerals based on physical and
chemical properties. Some minerals can be identified with the use of high-powered instruments while
some can be assessed through their physical properties.

EARTH AND LIFE SCIENCE

K to 12 – Basic Education Curriculum
 Physical Properties of Minerals
Physical properties are useful when working in the field, where there is usually no access to complex
analytical techniques. Although a particular mineral has different forms, the fundamental physical 81
properties are still the same. Useful physical properties to identify a mineral include color, streak, luster,
specific gravity, hardness, cleavage, tenacity, and crystal habit.
 Color is one of the most obvious characteristics of a mineral, but generally not the most useful
diagnostic feature. Depending on impurities, individual mineral types may come in a vast variety
of colors. For example, ruby and sapphire are differently colored types of the mineral corundum
(Al2O3). The red color of ruby is due to the presence of the element chromium. Sapphires may
come is a vast variety of colors; blue is the most familiar color, but yellow, orange, green, pink,
orange and brown varieties are also known. Garnets may also come in a large range of colors,
depending on their composition. They can be found with virtually any color, although blue garnets
are exceptionally rare. It is therefore advisable not to rely on color alone to identify a mineral.
 TheStreakof a mineral refers to the color of the mark it leaves behind after being rubbed against a
piece of unglazed porcelain. Hematite provides a good example of how streak works. While this
mineral is usually black, silver or brown-red in hand sample, its streak is always a dark blood-red.
Chalcopyrite is usually golden-brown in hand sample, but has a green-black streak. Streak can be
used only for minerals with a Mohs hardness of 7 or less, as minerals with a hardness greater than
7 will themselves scratch the streak plate.
 Luster is the relative differences in the opacity and transparency of a mineral as light is reflected
on its surface. This describes the 'sparkles' of the mineral surfaces.
Adamantine – diamond-like luster; such minerals are usually transparent and have a high
refractive index; e.g. diamond, cerussite, cubic zirconia
Dull or earthy – no reflections; e.g. kaolinite
Greasy – the appearance of being coated with an oily substance; may also be greasy to the
touch; e.g. opal
Pearly– the whitish iridescence of materials such as pearls; e.g. stilbite
Vitreous – like glass; e.g. calcite, quartz, beryl
Silky – like silk fabric; e.g. satin spar (a variety
of gypsum)
Resinous – like a resin; e.g. fire opal
Metallic – metal-like in appearance; e.g. pyrite
 Specific gravity is the ratio of the weight of the
mineral to the weight of the water with an equal
volume.
 Hardness is a measure of how resistant a mineral
is to scratching. This physical property is
controlled by the chemical composition and
structure of the mineral. Hardness is commonly
measured on the Mohs scale. This is defined by ten
minerals, where each mineral can scratch those
with a lower scale number. Diamond (hardness 10)
can scratch everything below it on the Mohs scale,
but cannot itself be scratched, whereas quartz
(hardness 5) can scratch calcite (hardness 3) but
not corundum (hardness 9).

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 82

 Minerals are composed of atoms, which, for each

mineral, have a characteristic arrangement. Figure 3. Mohs Scale of Hardness
Weaknesses in the chemical bonds between these Source:
atoms cause planes of weakness in the crystal https://i.pinimg.com/564x/df/fa/6c/dffa6c9f697edd062d
a51204c6a03211.jpg
structure. Cleavage is an indication of how well a
mineral break along these planes of weakness, and may be a good diagnostic characteristic.
Cleavage may be described as “perfect”,” good”, “distinct” or” poor”. In transparent minerals or
in thin sections viewed though a microscope, cleavage may be seen as a series of parallel lines.
The number of cleavage planes in a mineral may also aid its identification. Cleavage typically
occurs in either one, two, three, four or six directions. Micas easily split along their one plane of
cleavage to form thin sheets. Amphiboles exhibit two cleavage planes. Iceland spar, a variety of
calcite, cleaves readily along three planes of weakness into distinctive rhombs. Galena breaks
along three cleavage planes producing cubic fractions. Fluorite and diamond show cleavage in
four directions. Sphalerite exhibits cleavage in six directions. Not every mineral display
cleavage. For example, quartz does not have a weakness in its crystal structure, and therefore
does not exhibit cleavage. When a quartz specimen is broken with a hammer, it displays
conchoidal (shell-like) fracture.
 Fracture refers to the texture or shape of the mineral’s surface when the mineral breaks into
forms other than flat surfaces.
 Tenacity refers to the behavior of the mineral under deformation or stress such as cutting,
crushing, bending, or hitting.
 Crystal habit refers to the characteristic shape of a mineral unit (either an individual crystal or an
aggregate of crystals). Crystals with well-developed faces are referred to as “euhedral”; for
example, garnet crystals are often euhedral. Minerals may also occur as aggregates of crystals; for
example, asbestos is usually found as an aggregate of very fine fibers.

The following list gives examples of different crystal habits and examples of common minerals
that may exhibit each habit.
Acicular – needle-like, e.g.
natrolite, rutile
Bladed – blade-like, slender and
flattened, e.g. kyanite
Botryoidal – grape-like masses,
e.g. hematite, malachite
Columnar – long, slender prisms,
e.g. calcite, gypsum
Cubic – cube-shaped, e.g. pyrite,
galena, halite
Dendritic – tree-like, branching in
multiple directions, e.g.
pyrolusite, native copper, native
silver
Fibrous – very slender prisms,
e.g. asbestos, tremolite

EARTH AND LIFE SCIENCE

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 Foliated or lamellar – layered structure, parts easily into very thin sheets, e.g. muscovite,
biotite
Granular– aggregates of crystals,
e.g. bornite, scheelite
Hexagonal– six-sided, e.g. quartz,
hanksite
83
Figure 4. Crystal
habitshttps://www.britannica.com/science/cr
Massive – no distinct shape, e.g. turquoise, realgar
Octahedral– eight-sided, e.g. diamond, magnetite
Platy – flat, tablet shape, e.g. wulfenite
Prismatic – elongate, prism like, e.g. tourmaline, beryl
Radialor stellate – radiating outwards from a central point, star-like, e.g. wavellite, pyrophyllite

Chemical Properties of Minerals

All minerals have a certain arrangement of elements in their crystal structure. They can be
represented by a chemical formula, which presents the proportions of atoms that constitute them. For
example, the mineral quartz has a chemical formula SiO 2. Its crystal structure is a continuous framework
of silicon-oxygen tetrahedra.

The chemical properties of minerals depend on their chemical formula and crystal structure.
Solubility and melting point are chemical properties commonly used to describe a mineral.

 Solubility refers the ability of a substance to dissolve in a solvent at a specified temperature. For
example, biotite, a mineral commonly found in igneous rocks, is soluble in both acid and base
solutions. The dissolution releases the loosely-bound potassium ions in the mineral.
 Melting point refers to the temperature at which solid turns into liquid. Minerals composed of
atoms that are tightly bonded within the crystal structure have high melting points. For example,
quartz melts above 1670°C.

Using their chemical properties, minerals are identified by how they react to certain substances.

Below is a brief summary of the different classes of mineral with common examples and usage:
Silicate Class- largest group of minerals Uses:
• contains silicon and oxygen, with o microchips (conductivity)
some aluminum, magnesium, iron o glass and ceramics
and calcium o quartz crystals (vibrations)
• Mafic (magnesium)
• Felsic (feldspar) Carbonate Class- deposited in marine
Common examples: environments
o Olivine • shells of dead planktons
o Pyroxene • places with high evaporation rates
o Amphibole • in karsts and caves
o Muscovite • in stalactites and stalagmites
o Feldspar Common examples:

EARTH AND LIFE SCIENCE

K to 12 – Basic Education Curriculum
 o Aragonite • carry histories of changes in Earth’s
o Calcite magnetic field
o Malachite • precipitates close to Earth’s surface
o Aragonite • oxidation products during
weathering
Uses: • accessory minerals in igneous rocks
o carbon paper Common examples:
o glass and ceramics o Hematite
o rayon o Corundum
o soap and detergent Uses:
o inorganic sunscreen
o livestock mineral supplement
o flame retardant
o soda ash
o coloring agent
Sulphate Class- where salty waters o Alkali batteries
slowly evaporate
• places with high evaporation rates Sulphide Class- contains most of the
• water-sediments economically significant minerals to
man 84
Common examples:
o Barite • includes copper, lead, and zinc
o Gypsum
Common examples:
o Celestite
o Acanthite
o Chalcocite
Uses:
o plaster
Uses:
o algaecide
o photocells (CdS)
o mineral supplement
o fungicide
o epsom salt
o infrared sensors (PbS)
o surfactant
o photoluminescent strips in
o lead-acid battery
emergency lights (ZnS)
Halide Class- contains natural salts
Phosphate Class- important biological
• in lakes, ponds, and other landlocked
minerals
seas
• found in bones and teeth of animals
(Phosphorous)
Common examples:
Common examples:
o Halite
o Turquoise
o Flourite
o Wavellite
Uses:
o Apatite
o metal-halide lamps
Uses:
o steel and aluminum
o phosphate fertilizers
o fertilizer
o health nutrients
o rock salt
o phosphate salts
Oxide Class- most important class to
Element Class- contains pure native
human civilization
elements

EARTH AND LIFE SCIENCE

K to 12 – Basic Education Curriculum
  usually metals Uses:
 pure form o jewelries, coins
Common examples: o wires
o Gold o cosmetics
o Copper o pipes, guns, fish sinkers, alloy
o Bismuth

In the laboratory, the composition and crystal structure of minerals can be analyzed through chemical
and instrumental analysis. Crystallographic techniques such as X-ray diffraction are performed to
determine the crystal structure of the mineral.

Common Rock-Forming Minerals

85 and
The most common rock-forming minerals are quartz, feldspar, mica, pyroxene, amphibole,
olivine. All of the following silicate minerals, except for quartz, are mineral groups.

Quartz has a chemical

composition of SiO2. It is a glassy- Figure 5. Quartz
looking hard substance with white (https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F
%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki
streaks. Despite its hardness, with a %2FQuartz&psig=AOvVaw2tZsthbBPGf1Jkrk7qUJQ2&us
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Pure quartz is clear and transparent. CWoQr4kDegUIARDuAQ)
Colored varieties of quartz are due to elemental impurities built into its lattice.
The grains of quartz, in general, are irregular in shape.

Feldspar has a chemical Figure 6. Feldspar

composition ofXAl(1-2) Si(3-2) O8, (https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F
%2Fwww.healingwithcrystals.net.au
where X is K, Ca, orNa. It is quite %2Ffeldspar.html&psig=AOvVaw1aBMJ3X9LxGqYvL4v
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hard with a Mohs hardness of 6. It is ved=2ahUKEwicjPjZy4_qAhVK4pQKHcAICRkQr4kDeg
a light-colored material, usually UIARDaAQ)
white, but they can have lighter shades of red or green. It has a glassy luster. In
rocks, feldspar forms rectangular crystals that break along flat faces.

Mica is any group of hydrous potassium aluminum silicate minerals. The

most common examples are clear muscovite and black biotite. Mica is soft, with
Mohs hardness ranging from 2 to 2.5.
It is easily identified by its perfect Figure 7. Mica
(https://link.quipper.com/en/organizations/547ffb0fd2b76d0
cleavage, reducing it to thin smooth 002002393/curriculum#curriculum)
flakes. Its shine is responsible for the flashes of light in
rocks such as granite and slate.

Pyroxene minerals have a general

Figure 8. Pyroxene
composition of XY(Al, Si)2O6where (https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F
X isCa or Mg and Y is either Mg, %2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki
%2FPyroxene&psig=AOvVaw3Q4bdHhh1Wkq1qzGQtn0o
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this group. It has a glassy luster with
streaks of white, light green, or light brown. It is generally black in color and has stubby prismatic
crystals. Its key feature is its two cleavages at around 90°.

EARTH AND LIFE SCIENCE

K to 12 – Basic Education Curriculum
 Figure 9. Amphibole
Amphibole has a dark color with a (https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F
%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki
Mohs hardness ranging from 5 to 6. %2FAmphibole&psig=AOvVaw3nFErnGRjFMALDpvm_d
Hornblende is the most common Nnd&ust=1592715361447000&source=images&cd=vfe&v
ed=2ahUKEwjDoYaczY_qAhUQR5QKHSm0BvsQr4kDeg
amphibole. It has a glassy luster andan UIARC_AQ)
opaque characteristic. Its crystals are very long and very thin.

Olivine is a silicate mineral with a Figure 10. Olivine

(https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F
general chemical composition of (Mg, Fe)2 %2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki
%2FOlivine&psig=AOvVaw3vUcnvqsk-
SiO4, but calcium, manganese, and nickel EL1XR4WePAai&ust=1592715483811000&source=image
can be substituted for magnesium and iron. s&cd=vfe&ved=2ahUKEwj347LWzY_qAhXBI6YKHZaT
C0kQr4kDegUIARDLAQ)
It is known for its distinct olive-green color
and commonly used in the gemstone industry as peridot. It is a glassy looking and 86
transparent substance that is almost as hard as quartz. Its crystals have a granular shape.

MINERAL GROUPS
The most stable and least ambiguous basis for classification of minerals is basedon their chemical
compositions.
Element Element Element Element Element Element
Element + S2
+ SiO4 + O2 + SO4 + CO3 +Halogens
Native Silicate Oxide Sulfate Sulfide Carbonate Halide
Gold Quartz Hematite Gypsum Pyrite Calcite Chlorine
Bismuth Olivine Magnetite Barite Galena Dolomite Fluorine
Diamond Talc Chromite Anhydrite Bornite Malachite Halite

The elements listed below comprise almost 99% of the minerals making up theEarth’s crust.
% by weight of Earth’s
Element Symbol % atoms
crust
Oxygen O 46.6 62.6
Silicon Si 27.7 21.2
Aluminum Al 8.1 6.5
Iron Fe 5.0 1.9
Calcium Ca 3.6 1.9
Sodium Na 2.8 2.6
Potassium K 2.6 1.4
Magnesium Mg 2.1 1.8
All other elements 1.4 <0.1

Q16. List five minerals and their common uses. Identify the specific property/properties that makes the
mineral suitable for those uses. For example, graphite, having a black streak and hardness of 1-2, is
used in pencils due to its ability to leave marks on paper and other objects.

EARTH AND LIFE SCIENCE

K to 12 – Basic Education Curriculum
 I need to explore!

Q17. Silicates like quartz are among the Earth’s most important natural resources. There would be no
computers, phones, glass, or bricks. All of these rely on silicate minerals as raw materials. What other
minerals are known to have important uses like silicates?

I should try it!

87you
Q18. Research on the different kinds of minerals found in common products (e.g. lipstick, glass) that
use every day.

What do I think?

Q19. Is there a possibility for the physical characteristics of rock minerals to change over time? Explain
your answer.

 A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic, solid material that has a fixed structure and a definite
chemical composition.
 Minerals can be distinguished based on physical and chemical properties.
 Useful physical properties to identify a mineral include color, streak, luster, specific gravity, hardness,
cleavage, tenacity, and crystal habit.
 The chemical properties of minerals depend on their chemical formula and crystal structure. Solubility
and melting point are chemical properties commonly used to describe a mineral.
 The most common rock-forming minerals are quartz, feldspar, mica, pyroxene, amphibole, and olivine.

How much I have learned?

The following questions will determine how much you have learned from the module.

Posttest
Essay

EARTH AND LIFE SCIENCE

K to 12 – Basic Education Curriculum
 1. Summarize the different characteristics that define a mineral.
2. Which among the following mineral groups, if any, contain silicon: halides, carbonates or sulfides?
Explain.
3. Which is more abundant in the Earth’s crust: silicates or all the other mineral groups combined? Explain.
4. An unknown opaque mineral has a black streak and has a density of 18g/cm 3. Is the mineral metallic or
non-metallic?
5. How does streak differ from color, and why is it more reliable for rock identification?
6. Differentiate between habit and a cleavage plane.
7. Is it possible for a mineral to have a prismatic habit without having any cleavage? Why or why not? If
yes, give an example.
8. Define “rock-forming mineral,” and give three examples.
88

Activity Rubrics
ACTIVITY
NEEDS MEETS EXCEEDS
NOT VISIBLE
IMPROVEMENT EXPECTATIONS EXPECTATIONS
(4) (6) (8) (10)
Followed the scientific methods in
performing the activity.
Followed the safety protocols the
working area.
Can present the results properly with
sufficient MOVs.
Entries on the Activity Notebook were
properly written and well-organized.

Enrichment Activity Rubrics

ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY
NEEDS MEETS EXCEEDS
NOT VISIBLE
IMPROVEMENT EXPECTATIONS EXPECTATIONS
(4)
(6) (8) (10)
Content
Listed five minerals and their
common uses.
Relevance
Identified the
specificproperty/properties that 75
makes the mineral suitable for
those uses.
Coherence
The idea was presented logically
and consistently.
Neatness
The answers were written neatly
and legibly.

Evaluation Rubrics
EVALUATION
NEEDS MEETS EXCEEDS
NOT VISIBLE
IMPROVEMENT EXPECTATIONS EXPECTATIONS
(4) (6) (8) (10)

EARTH AND LIFE SCIENCE

K to 12 – Basic Education Curriculum
 Can summarize the different characteristics
that define a mineral.
Can explain how mineral groups, if any,
contain silicon: halides, carbonates or
sulfides.
Can identify and explain which is more
abundant in the Earth’s crust: silicates or all
the other mineral groups combined.
Can identify an unknown opaque mineral
either metallic or non-metallic that has a
black streak and has a density of 18g/cm3.
Can distinguish how does streak differ from
color, and explain why is it more reliable for
rock identification.
Can differentiate between habit and a
cleavage plane.
Can explain the possibility for a mineral to
have a prismatic habit without having any 89
cleavage and be able to give examples.
Can define “rock-forming mineral,” and give
three examples.

References and Links

1) Cleavage. https://www.britannica.com/science/cleavage-mineralogy(accessed: June 20, 2020)

2) Crystal. https://www.britannica.com/science/crystal(accessed: June 20, 2020)
3) Earth and Life TG pp. 45-55
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9) Streak. https://www.britannica.com/science/streak(accessed: June 20, 2020)

EARTH AND LIFE SCIENCE

K to 12 – Basic Education Curriculum