Lab-Aids: Mineral Structure - Cleavage and Fracture Experiment Kit
This engaging activity is used to help students identify minerals by their physical properties of cleavage and fracture. Mineral samples (included) are used to show cleavage in one, two, three, four, and six directions. Other minerals in the kit are used to demonstrate the conchoidal and uneven properties of fracture. This is an excellent activity to follow up crystal structure or earth chemistry units.
Scientific Concepts:
Identify minerals by physical properties of cleavage and fracture
Sort samples by fracture and cleavage
Determine angles between cleavage planes
Understand the angular relationships between cleavage direction
Correlate cleavage and fracture properties with commercial uses of these minerals
Content List:
1Teachers Guide
30Student Worksheets and Guides
15Goniometers Specimens
5Flourite
8Obsidian
8Serpentine
5Biotite mica
5Calcite
5Halite
5Hornblend
5Microcline feldspar
5Sphalerite
Classroom Planning:
To complete this kit requires one ~50-minute class period