Earth & Life Science – 2nd Week

What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you master the properties of minerals. The
scope of this module permits it to be used in many different learning situations. The language used recognizes the
diverse vocabulary level of students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard sequence of the course. But
the order in which you read them can be changed to correspond with the textbook you are now using.
The module is divided into two lessons, namely:
Lesson 1 – Minerals and their Characteristics
– Different Properties of Minerals
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. identify the examples of minerals;
2. explain the different characteristics of minerals;
3. differentiate minerals based on their properties; and
4. develop awareness on the importance of minerals around us.
Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Pyrite is a yellowish mineral that looks like gold and is commonly called fool’s gold. What is the property of mineral
exhibited by pyrite wherein it reflects light and with metallic look?
A. Color B. Luster C. Hardness D. Streak
2. Quartz can break other than along planes of cleavage. What is the property of mineral that show this
characteristic?
A. Cleavage C. Hardness B. Fracture D. Tenacity
3. Some minerals like mica has surfaces with planes of weak bonds in the crystals. Thus, its crystals can be peeled
like layers of onion. Which is the property exhibited by mica?
A. Cleavage C. Hardness B. Fracture D. Tenacity
4. Which property refers to the resistance of mineral to scratching?
A. Cleavage C. Hardness B. Fracture D. Luster
3. What are the building blocks of rocks and it is mostly found in the geosphere?
A. minerals C. ore B. soil D. elements
4. In its powdered form, the mineral hematite is reddish. Which mineral property is described?
A. color C. Streak B. luster D. hardness
7. Which is not a property that can be used to identify a mineral?
A. luster C. hardness B. streak D. opaque
8. What is the property of mineral that reflects light on its surface?
A. Crystal structure C. streak B. color D. luster
9. What is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid that has a definite crystalline structure and chemical composition?
A. compound C. mineral B. crystal D. rocks
10. During the 1800’s, miners can identify real gold from pyrite through biting the surface of the mineral. If a bite
mark is exhibited, then the said mineral is considered real gold. What property is tested in this scenario?
A. cleavage C. hardness B. luster D. streak color
11. What is a carbonate mineral that occurs in a different crystal form and is less common than either calcite or
dolomite?
A. aragonite C. calcite B. gypsum D. silica
12. What constitutes the size, shape, and arrangement of mineral grains in a rock?
A. permeable origin C. cement B. porosity D. texture
13. Which of the following is not a characteristic of a mineral?
A. naturally occurring C. Organic B. solid D. crystal structure
14. What do you call to the tendency for a mineral to break along flat surfaces?
A. cleavage C. ductility B. hardness D. tenacity
15. What is the solid form of a mineral produced by a repeating pattern of atoms?
A. crystal C. element B. density D. fracture

Lesson 1 Minerals
Minerals make up the rocks beneath your feet, the soil that supports plants, and the deep rock of Earth’s mantle. Any
thorough study of Earth must include an understanding of minerals. But it is not sufficient to study minerals isolated
from the rest of the planet. Rather we can learn more by observing the ways that minerals interact with other Earth
systems.
What’s In
This module contains activities that will enhance the teaching -learning process among learners about the minerals. It
deals with the characteristics of minerals and the properties exhibited by the minerals. As the learners answer the
questions they will be able to explore and understand the concepts about minerals. Moreover, they will develop
awareness on the importance of minerals.
What’s New
Name the following pictures below. List down the usage of these object in our daily
activities. What do the objects presented below imply?
 We are using these products made from minerals daily. Graphite is the mineral used in wooden pencil. Halite
is the mineral found in salt. Your cellphone is made up of different minerals. The cars that we drive, the roads
that we travel, the building that we live in, are some examples of products derived from minerals

Arrange the jumbled letters to find the appropriate criteria to determine whether a material is classified as a mineral
or not.
1. N L T L A U R Y N G O I R U C C
___________________________- It is a product of Earth’s natural processes.
2. C A I I R O G N
___________________________- It must be product of Earth’s physical processes.
3. S O U E N E G O M O H D I L O S
___________________________- have definite shape and volume.
4. E N I L L A T S Y R C E S R T R U C U T
_________________________- atoms are arranged in order of increasing pattern.
5. L M C E H A I N O I T O C M O P S I
__________________________- represented by chemical formula
What is It
What are Minerals?
Minerals are the building blocks of rocks. Mineralogists use the criteria to
determine whether a material is classified as a mineral or not.
Characteristics of Minerals
1. naturally occurring- a product of Earth’s natural processes
2. inorganic- it must be product of Earth’s physical processes.
3. homogeneous solid- minerals should have definite volume and rigid shape
4. definite chemical composition—represented by a chemical formula
5. orderly crystalline structure- atoms of minerals are arranged in an
orderly and repeating pattern
Properties of Minerals
To identify minerals, mineralogists observe the following properties:
a. Color - mineral’s color may change depending on the surface.
b. Streak - color of mineral in powdered form.
c. Hardness - minerals resistance to scratching
Mohs Scale of Hardness (Diamond is the Hardest with a scale of 10)
Diamond Corundum Topaz Quartz Orthoclase Apatite Fluorite Calcite Gypsum Talc
d. Cleavage - mineral’s resistance to being broken and fracture
e. Crystalline structure or habit
f. Diaphaneity/amount of transparency - ability to allow light to pass
through it. This is affected by chemical makeup of the mineral sample.
g. Luster - how light is reflected off a surface
h. Tenacity - describes the minerals reaction to stress.
Brittleness- a mineral turns into powder
Malleability a mineral can be flattened by pounding with a hammer. Ductility- A mineral can be stretched into wire.
Flexible but inelastic-Minerals are bent but they remain in the new position. Flexible and elastic- Minerals are bent,
and they bring back to their original position. Sectility- ability of minerals to be sliced by a knife. Prepare a list of
minerals based on the Mohs Scale of Hardness and identify some products that make use of these minerals.

MINERALS PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN MINERALS

1. Diamond
2. Corundum
3. Topaz
4. Quartz
5. Orthoclase
6. Apatite
7. Fluorite
8. Calcite
9. Gypsum
10. Talc

What’s More
Understanding Science Words
The pictures below show the common minerals and their properties or uses. Identify other properties exhibited by
the minerals. Choose your answer from the given choices.

BRITTLENESS MALLEABILITY DUCTILITY LUSTER SECTILITY

1. All true minerals can be drawn into wires _________________________

2. Overall sheen of mineral ___________________________________________
3. A mineral can be hammered /flattened _____________________________
4. A mineral can be cut by a knife ___________________________________
5. A mineral can be turned into powder________________________________
What I Have Learned
Fill in the Blanks
Identify the prominent properties exhibited by the following minerals. Fill in the blanks to form the appropriate term
that best fits the described mineral property.
1. L __ __ T __ R - a manner by which mineral reflects light. Pyrite - a. k a. fool’s gold
2. S __ R __ __ K - color of mineral in powdered form. Hematite- both types leave the same powder
3. __ L __ __V __ G __ - tendency of mineral to break along flat surfaces Mica crystal can be peel like layers of onion
4. __ R __ C __U __ __- the manner breaks other than along planes of cleavage. Quartz creates smooth, curved
surfaces
5. H __R __ __ __S__ - resistance of mineral to scratching and it is the most commonly used property for identifying
minerals. Diamond has a scale of 10

HARDNESS FARCATURE CLEAVAGE STREAK LUSTER

Matching Type
Match the properties of minerals in column A with the description of mineral properties in column B.
Column A Column B
_____1. Mohs hardness scale A. describes the mineral reaction to stress
_____2. Sectility B. true color of mineral
_____3. Streak C. a ranking of mineral from softest hardest
_____4. Crystal D. ability of mineral to be cut by knife
_____5. Tenacity E. repeating pattern in minerals in solid
What I Can Do

List some of the uses of minerals around us.

MINERALS USES
1. Halite Mineral found in table salt;as preservatives
2.
3.
4.
5.
Reflect Upon
Upon knowing the value of minerals in our everyday life, as a student how can you help in conserving and preserving
the natural sources of these minerals? (For example, graphite is a mineral found in pencil).
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

Assessment

Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Pyrite is a yellowish mineral that looks like gold and is commonly called fool’s gold. What is the property of mineral
exhibited by pyrite wherein it reflects light and with metallic look?
A. Color C. Luster B. Hardness D. Streak
2. Quartz can break other than along planes of cleavage. What is the property of mineral that show this
characteristic?
A. Cleavage C. Hardness B. Fracture D. Tenacity
3. Some minerals like mica has surfaces with planes of weak bonds in the crystals. Thus, its crystals can be peeled
like layers of onion. What is the property exhibited by mica?
A. Cleavage C. Hardness B. Fracture D. Tenacity
4. Which property refers to the resistance of mineral to scratching?
A. Cleavage C. Hardness B. Fracture D. Luster
5.What are the building blocks of rocks and it is mostly found in the geosphere?
A. minerals C. ore B. soil D. elements
6.In its powdered form, the mineral hematite is reddish. Which mineral property is best described?
A. color C. Streak B. luster D. hardness
7. Which is not a property that can be used to identify a mineral?
A. luster C. hardness B. streak D. opaque
8. What is the property of mineral that reflects light on its surface?
A. Crystal structure C. streak B. color D. luster
9. What is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid that has a definite crystalline structure and chemical composition?
A. compound C. mineral B. crystal D. rocks
10. During the 1800’s, miners can identify real gold from pyrite through biting the surface of the mineral. If a bite mark
is exhibited, then the said mineral is considered real gold. What property is tested in this scenario?
A. cleavage C. hardness B. luster D. streak color
11. What is a carbonate mineral that occurs in a different crystal form and is less common than either calcite or
dolomite?
A. aragonite C. calcite B. gypsum D. silica
12. What constitutes the size, shape and arrangement of mineral grains in a rock?
A. permeable origin C. cement B. porosity D. texture
13. Which of the following is not a characteristic of a mineral?
A. naturally occurring C. Organic B. solid D. crystal structure
14. What do you call tendency for a mineral to break along flat surfaces?
A. cleavage C. ductility B. hardness D. tenacity
15. What is the solid form of a mineral produced by a repeating pattern of atoms?
A. crystal C. element B. density D. fracture

Additional Activities

Putting together
Directions: Complete the concept map below.
PROPERTIES MINERALS
1. Shows the true color
2. Resistance to scratching
3. Can be flatten into thin sheets
4. Show how light is reflected on the surface
5. Can be drawn into wires

Brainstorming Assume you are a mineralogist that discovered a new type of mineral. To inform not only
the academe but also the common people, you are then tasked to make an infographic that will state its
characteristics, properties, and significance (whether economic, health and scientific). Present these
important data through a concept map a separate sheet of paper.