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Redeveloped Division Initiated Self-Learning Module

Department of Education
i
– Division of Palawan
Earth and Life Science-SHS
Redeveloped Division Initiated - Self-Learning Module
Quarter 1 – Module 2: Common- Rock Forming Minerals: Its Physical and Chemical
Properties
Second Edition, 2021

Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any work
of the Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of the government
agency or office wherein the work is created shall be necessary for exploitation of
such work for profit. Such agency or office may, among other things, impose as a
condition the payment of royalties.

Borrowed materials (i.e., songs, stories, poems, pictures, photos, brand names,
trademarks, etc.) included in this module are owned by their respective copyright
holders. Every effort has been exerted to locate and seek permission to use these
materials from their respective copyright owners. The publisher and authors do not
represent nor claim ownership over them.

Published by the Department of Education, Division of Palawan

Schools Division Superintendent:
Roger F. Capa, CESO VI
OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendents:
Rufino B. Foz
Arnaldo G. Ventura

Development Team for

Development Team
Redevelopment Activity

Writer: Jenny Loren M. Echanes Writer: Jenny Loren M. Echanes

Content Editor: Liezel M. Camanga Content Editor: Jenny Loren M. Echanes
Language Editor: Kristine Hemor Illustrator/Lay out Artist: Harold D.
Garcellano
Management Team: Reviewer: Jenny Loren M. Echanes
Aurelia B. Marquez
Rosalyn C. Gadiano Management Team:
Rodgie S. Demalinao Aurelia B. Marquez
Rosalyn C. Gadiano
Rodgie S. Demalinao

Department of Education – MIMAROPA Region – Division of Palawan

Office Address: PEO Road, Barangay Bancao-Bancao, Puerto Princesa City
Telephone: (048) 433-6392
E-mail Address: [email protected]
Website: www.depedpalawan.com

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Introductory Message
This Self-Learning Module (SLM) is prepared so that you, our dear learners, can
continue your studies and learn while at home. Activities, questions, directions,
exercises, and discussions are carefully stated for you to understand each lesson.

Each SLM is composed of different parts. Each part shall guide you step-by-step
as you discover and understand the lesson prepared for you.

Pre-tests are provided to measure your prior knowledge on lessons in each SLM.
This will tell you if you need to proceed on completing this module or if you need
to ask your facilitator or your teacher’s assistance for better understanding of the
lesson. At the end of each module, you need to answer the post-test to self-
check your learning. Answer keys are provided for each activity and test. We trust
that you will be honest in using these.

In addition to the material in the main text, notes to the Teacher are also provided
to our facilitators and parents for strategies and reminders on how they can best
help you on your home-based learning.

Please use this module with care. Do not put unnecessary marks on any part of
this SLM. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises and tests. And
read the instructions carefully before performing each task

If you have any questions in using this SLM or any difficulty in answering the tasks
in this module, do not hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator.

Thank you.

iii
 Earth and Life
Science 
First Quarter 
Week 2

This module will help you master the nature of Earth and Life Science, specifically
about the different common rock- forming minerals, the process on how they were
formed and their physical and chemical properties. The scope of this module permits
you to explore on how to identify the different rock- forming minerals by using their
physical and chemical properties. There are almost 5000 known mineral species, yet
most rocks are formed from combinations of a few common minerals, referred to as
“rock-forming minerals”. In this module, you will know how these common rock-forming
minerals are formed and evolved over time.

MELCs: Identify common rock- forming minerals using their physical and chemical
properties. (S11/12ES-Ia-e- 9)

Objectives
1. Identify the different common- rock forming minerals.

2. Discuss the different physical and chemical properties of these common- rock
forming minerals.

3. Explain the economic importance of different common rock- forming minerals.

What I Know

Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate
sheet of paper.
1. Which of the following does not belong to the description of a mineral?
A. Definite chemical composition C. Organic
B. Definite atomic arrangement D. Naturally- occurring

2. Which of the following groups of minerals is most common in the earth’s crust?
A. Ore minerals C. Silicates
B. Oxides D. Sulfates

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3. It is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid material with a definite chemical
composition and an ordered internal structure.
A. Carbon dioxide C. Minerals
B. Fossil fuels D. Trees

4. Which of the following known minerals is the hardest according to the Moh’s
scale?
A. Calcite C. Gypsum
B. Diamond D. Quartz

5. Why is not color alone is very useful in mineral identification?

A. Many minerals have the same color.
B. One mineral can have many different colors.
C. The presence of one element can cause many colors.
D. All of the above

6. Which of the following physical properties of mineral describes its cleavage?

A. It is the appearance of light reflected from mineral surface.
B. It is the measure of the density of a mineral.
C. It is the measure of the strength of the chemical bonds in its structure.
D. It is the tendency of a mineral to break along planes of weakness.

7. Which of the following mineral is the softest one?

A. Calcite C. Gypsum
B. Diamond D. Talc

8. Which of the following minerals is the most abundant mineral in ultramafic

rocks, an igneous and metaigneous rocks with a very low silica content?
A. Amphibole C. Sodium plagioclase
B. Olivine D. Quartz

9. What physical property of mineral that describes its color in its powdered form?
A. Color C. Luster
B. Hardness D. Streak

10. Which of the following mineral has a specific gravity of 19?

A. Calcite B. Fluorite C. Gold D. Quartz

11. Which of the oxides below is present on the surface of a reddish-brown rock?
A. Aluminum oxide C. Iron oxide
B. Calcium oxide D. Manganese oxide

12. To be considered a common rock-forming mineral, a mineral must:

A. Be one of the most abundant minerals in Earth’s crust.
B. Be one of the original minerals present at the time of a crustal rock’s
formation.
C. Be an important mineral in determining a rock’s classification.
D. All of the above

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 13. Which of the following is one of the 10 rock- forming minerals that make up
90% of Earth’s crust?
A. Copper C. Quartz
B. Fluorite D. Talc

14. To be a mineral, a substance must have the four characteristics, except.

A. It must be organic
B. It must be a crystalline solid
C. It must occur naturally
D. it must have a consistent chemical composition

15. Which of the following substances is inorganic?

A. Bone B. Leaves C. Rock D. Wood

What is It

In this module, you will explore about the different common rock- forming
minerals by understanding their physical and chemical properties. Are you excited to
learn? Then, be ready to begin and complete the tasks ahead.

Earth, being a terrestrial planet, is composed of rocks and minerals as part of the
geosphere. The geosphere is solid, and it includes the lithosphere, with the outermost
layer of our planet composed of the crust and the upper mantle. The lithosphere extends
to a depth of about 100 kilometers down the surface containing different rocks and
minerals from both the continents and the oceans.

A small group of these minerals make up almost 90% of the rocks of Earth’s crust.
These minerals are known as the common rock-forming minerals. Rocks are composed
of various forms of minerals.

Are the minerals present in our dietary foods and the minerals that we are talking
about here the same? Let’s find out!

A mineral is a naturally occurring material which is usually solid, crystalline,

unchanging at room temperature and are inorganic. There are almost 4000 known
mineral classes, most rocks are formed from combinations of a few common minerals,
referred to as rock forming minerals. Quartz, amphiboles, micas, olivine, garnet, calcite,
pyroxenes are some examples of minerals.

Minerals and rocks are significant building blocks of our dynamic Earth. They make up
the solid part of the lithosphere and provide us with valuable resources. Rocks are
mixtures of different minerals. Some rocks are made up of many minerals while others
are made of just one mineral. The minerals that make up rocks are called rock- forming

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minerals. Only a few minerals are rock- forming. Minerals are naturally occurring
homogenous inorganic solid substance (either element or compound) having a definite
chemical composition and characteristic crystalline structure or shape, color and
hardness.

Minerals that occur in tiny amounts within a rock are called “accessory minerals.”
Although accessory minerals are only present in tiny quantities, they can provide useful
insight into a rock’s geological history and are often used to determine a rock’ sage.

How can we differentiate a rock from a mineral? Minerals has the following
characteristic: minerals are inorganic, they are represented by a defined chemical
formula, and they have solid structures found in nature. A rock is any naturally occurring
solid mass or an aggregate of one or more minerals or mineraloid matter. It is categorized
by the minerals included, and its chemical structure and the way in which it is formed.
Rocks are frequently clustered into three main groups: igneous, metamorphic and
sedimentary rocks.

Let’s explore more about the different common rock- forming minerals.

There are almost 5000 known mineral species, yet most rocks are formed from
combinations of a few common minerals, referred to as “rock- forming minerals.” The
rock forming minerals are feldspar, quartz, amphiboles, micas, olivine, garnet, calcite,
pyroxenes.

Minerals have distinct physical properties. Sometimes minerals form unique crystal
shapes that makes them immediately recognizable. A common table salt mineral called
halite continuously forms perfect cubes. This continuous formation is referred to as crystal
habit, wherein there is a tendency for samples of a mineral to repeatedly grow into
characteristic shapes. Minerals may also be classified according to their structure, we
call this as crystal structure, it describes the organized special arrangements of the atoms
in the internal structure of the mineral. You can identify a mineral by its appearance and
other properties.

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Color

Minerals are colored because

certain wave lengths of light are
absorbed, and the color results
from a combination of those wave
lengths that reach the eye.
Some minerals show
different colors along different
crystallographic axes. This is known
as pleochroism. What minerals
have the same color? Some
minerals always have the same
color, such as gold, whereas some
minerals, such as quartz, fluorite,
and calcite, come in all colors.
The presence and intensity of
certain elements determines a
specimen’s color.

Photo credit: http://geologycafe.com/images/minerals.jpg

1. Why is color an unreliable property in identifying minerals? _____________

Hardness
Hardness refers to the mineral resistance to scratching. This physical property of a
mineral depends on the chemical composition as well as the crystalized structure of a
mineral. To measure the minerals’ hardness level Moh’s Scale is employed. The scale has
ten indicators of hardness, the mineral with the higher index in the scale can scratch
those below its level. The table below showcases the levels of hardness of minerals in the
Moh’s Scale.

Table 1: Moh’s Scale of Hardness with field hardness guide

Scale Description Mineral

1 Rubbed off on a finger Talc
2 Scratches with a fingernail Gypsum
3 Scratched using a coin Calcite
4 Scratched moderately using a knife Fluorite
5 Scratched rigorously using a knife blade Apatite
6 Scratched by glass Feldspar
7 Scratch with quartz Quartz
8 Minerals that are too hard Topaz
9 to be included in the scale Corundum
10 Diamond

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2. Arrange the different minerals from hardest to softest one. _________

Color and Streak

One of the most distinct characteristics of a mineral is its color. Color is sometimes
caused by the presence of trace elements or compounds within a mineral and is one
of the least reliable hints of a mineral’s uniqueness. For example, the mineral quartz can
have clear, white, black, pink, blue, or purple colors. Streak is the color elicited by a
fine powder of the mineral when scratched on a streak plate, often it is different than
the color of the mineral in non- powdered form.

A Photo credit: B
https://www.quia.com/jg/1267940list.html

3. Which one describes the color of the minerals? Streak? ___________, ____________

Transparency and Luster

A mineral can be transparent if it allows light to pass through it. It is opaque

if light cannot pass through it, or you can’t see objects through it, like graphite. In
between is translucent, wherein a small amount of light can pass through the
mineral, but you can’t see clearly through it. Minerals which possess a metallic
luster therefore tend to exhibit a thick, dense, dark streak whereas those which
possess a non-metallic luster tend to produce a thinner, less dense streak which
is also lighter in color.

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4. What is the most lustrous minerals? __________________

Photo credit: https://www.geologyin.com/2014/03/luster-of-minerals.html

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 Transparency of Minerals

Opaque fluorspar Translucent Calcite Transparent quartz

Photo credit: https://www.pxfuel.com/en/free-photo-xealr

Cleavage and Fracture

Crystals often contain planes of

atoms along which the bonding between
the atoms is weaker than along other
planes. In such a case, if the mineral is
struck with a hard object, it will tend to
break along these planes. This property of
breaking along specific planes is termed
cleavage.

A mineral fracture when it is broken or

crushed. Fracture takes place when a
mineral sample is split in a direction which
does not serve as a plane of perfect or
distinct cleavage.
Photo credit: https://www.slideserve.com/anila/characteristics-of-
minerals

Fracture often takes place along a plane possessing difficult, indistinct, or missing
cleavage. Cleavage is a growth plane in the mineral, due to the structure of atoms.
So, cleavage is characteristic to the mineral (based on the structure) and a fracture
can happen independent on the mineral's atomic structure.

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 Photo credit: https://www.slideshare.net/MelisaKelly/22-mineral-properties

5. Can a mineral have both cleavage and fracture? Why? _________________

Crystal habit
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
fibres.
Photo credit: https://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/education/jewelry-glossary/mineral-crystal-habit/

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 Photo credit: https://opentextbc.ca/geology/chapter/2-6-mineral-
properties/

(a) (b) (c)

6. Identify what kind of crystal habit does the three (3) minerals have?

Tenacity
Tenacity refers to a mineral's resistance to breaking, bending, or otherwise being
deformed. Tenacity is particularly useful in telling some of the metallic minerals apart.

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Gold is malleable, pyrite (and most other look-a-likes) is not. Gold is also sectile and – in
thin sheets – flexible.

Tenacity refers to a mineral's toughness or resistance to breaking or being

deformed. Minerals such as halite, calcite and fluorite are brittle, as their molecules are
held together by weak ionic bonds. Native Aluminum has a malleable tenacity.

Photo credit: https://www.slideserve.com/nickan/physical-properties-of-

minerals

7. What is the most tenacious mineral in the world? ________________

Specific gravity

Specific gravity is the "heaviness" of a mineral. It is defined as a number that

expresses the ratio between the weight of a mineral and the weight of an equal volume
of water. This describes the mineral’s density in comparison to the density of standard
measures like water. It can be measure using a balance scale.

Materials with specific gravity greater than 1.000 (1.035 in the ocean) sink;
materials with specific gravity less than 1.000 (1.035 in the ocean) float. Lead has the
highest specific gravity - 11.35, except for gold. How do you find the specific gravity of
a mineral?

To determine the specific gravity of a mineral, you simply take a sample of ore of
known size and put it into a volume of water. Weigh the water that was displaced by
the mineral. This will give you the ratio between the mineral and the water.
Most common silicate minerals have a specific gravity between about 2.5 and 3.0.

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 8. What mineral has the highest specific gravity? Least specific gravity?
__________, ____________.

What are Rock-Forming Minerals?

Scientists have identified over

4,000 different minerals. A small group
of these minerals make up almost 90%
of the rocks of Earth’s crust. These
minerals are known as the common
rock-forming minerals.

To be considered a common rock-

forming mineral, a mineral must: A) be
one of the most abundant minerals in
Earth’s crust; B) be one of the original
minerals present at the time of a crustal
rock’s formation; and, C) be an
important mineral in determining a
rock’s classification.

Photo credit: https://brainly.com/question/13995413

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The Most Abundant Minerals in Earth's Crust: Known as the "common rock-forming
minerals", they are minerals present at the time of a rock's formation and are important
minerals in determining the rock's identity.

Minerals that easily meet these criteria include: plagioclase feldspars, alkali
feldspars, quartz, pyroxenes, amphiboles, micas, clays, olivine, calcite and dolomite.

Feldspars

Feldspars (KAlSi3O8–NaAlSi3O8–CaAl2Si2O8) - are a collection of rock-forming

tectosilicate minerals that make up by weight about 41% of the mainland surface of the
Earth. In both intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks, feldspars crystallize from magma as
veins and are also present in many kinds of metamorphic rock. It is regarded as
anorthosite rock made almost completely of calcium plagioclase feldspar. In many kinds
of sedimentary rocks, feldspars are also discovered.

Photo credit: Photo credit:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jsjgeology/ Feldspar https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/mil
32499528651 d-method-turns-common-mineral-into-
fertiliser/3008112.article
Quartz

Quartz is a mineral consisting of carbon and water particles in a constant frame

of SiO4 silicon-oxygen tetrahedral, sharing each carbon between two tetrahedral,
providing SiO2 a general chemical formula. Quartz is Earth’s second most common
mineral, behind feldspar, in the continental crust.

Photo credit: https://czo-archive.criticalzone.org/national/blogs/post/why-should-we-care-about-quartz/

There are two forms of quartz:

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A.) The normal α-quartz and the B.) β- Quartz high-temperature, both chiral. There is an
abrupt transformation from α-quartz to β-quartz at 573 ° C (846 K). Since the transition is
followed by a substantial quantity shift, ceramics or rocks that pass through this
temperature limit can readily be induced to fracture.

Amphibole

Amphibole is a significant cluster of inosilicate minerals that form prisms or needle-

like crystals, consisting of SiO4 tetrahedral double chain, connected at the vertices and
usually carrying ions of iron and/or magnesium in their constructions. Amphiboles may
be green, black, white, yellow, blue, or brown. Amphiboles are presently classified by
the International Mineralogical Association as a mineral super group, within which there
are two categories and several subgroups.

Amphibole
Photo credit: https://www.slideshare.net/romit07/amphibole-group-of-minerals, https://www.sandatlas.org/amphiboles/
https://www.123rf.com/photo_71672689_collection-of-various-hornblende-in-amphibole-mineral-stones-isolated-on-white-background.html

Mica

The mica group of sheet silicate (phyllosilicate) minerals involves several near-
perfect basal cleavages associated products. They are all monoclinic, with a tendency
towards pseudo hexagonal crystals, and in chemical composition are comparable. The
almost ideal cleavage is clarified by the hexagonal sheet-like structure of its atoms,
which is the most prominent feature of mica. The term mica comes from the Latin term
mica, which means a crumb to glitter, and is likely affected by micare.

Mica
Photo credit: https://mineralseducationcoalition.org/minerals-database/mica/

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Olivine

Mineral olivine has a formula of (Mg2 +, Fe2+) 2SiO4 zinc iron silicate. It is therefore a kind
of nesosilicate or orthosilicate. The earth’s upper mantle’s main element, it is a prevalent
mineral in the subsurface of Earth, but it weathers rapidly on the ground. Olivine contains
only small quantities of non-oxygen, silicon, magnesium and iron components. The extra
components frequently found in the greatest levels are manganese and nickel.

Olivine
Photo credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivine

Garnet

Garnets are a set of minerals of silicate that have been used as gemstones and
abrasives since the Bronze Age. All garnet species have comparable physical
characteristics and crystal shapes but vary in chemical composition. The various species
are pyrope, almandine, spessartine, gross (hessonite or cinnamon-stone and tsavorite
variants), uvarovite and andradite. Two solid solution series are made up of garnets:
pyrope-almandine-spessartine and uvarovite-grossular-andradite.

Photo credit: https://www.geologyin.com/2018/03/garnet-

Garnet
group-colors-and-varieties-of.html

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Calcite

Calcite is a mineral carbonate and the most stable calcium oil polymorph
(CaCO3). The mineral hardness scale of Mohs, based on the contrast of scratch
hardness, describes value 3 as “calcite”. Other calcium carbonate polymorphs are
aragonite and vaterite minerals. Over time scales of days or less, aragonite will change
to calcite at temperatures above 300 ° C, and vaterite is even less stable.

Calcite
Photo credit: http://www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com/jhbnyc/calcite.htm

Pyroxenes

Pyroxenes (frequently shortened to Px) are a set of significant minerals discovered

in many igneous and metamorphic rocks that form rock inosilicate. Pyroxenes have the
overall formula XY(Si, Al)2O6 where X depicts calcium, sodium, iron (II) or potassium and
more commonly zinc, manganese or lithium, and Y includes ions of lower magnitude
such as chromium, aluminum, iron (III), magnesium, cobalt, manganese, scandium,
titanium, vanadium or even metal (II).

Pyroxene

Photo credit: https://www.slideshare.net/joqwerty/the-pyroxene-group-of-minerals03

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Dolomite
Dolomite is a common rock-forming mineral. It is a calcium magnesium
carbonate with a chemical composition of CaMg (CO 3)2. It is the primary component of
the sedimentary rock known as dolostone and the metamorphic rock known as
dolomitic marble. Limestone that contains some dolomite is known as dolomitic
limestone.

Dolomite
Photo credit: http://nevada-outback-
gems.com/mineral_information/dolomite_mineral_info.htm

Clay
Clay minerals commonly form at the expense of primary rock-forming minerals.
Such minerals may have formed by chemical reactions involving crystallization of gels or
may owe their delicate euhedral form to precipitation of new material and epitactic
growth upon detrital clay particles.

Photo credit: https://www.alamy.com/stock- Clay mineral Photo credit: https://www.alamy.com/stock-

photo/clay-mineral.html photo/clay-mineral.html

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 Photo credit: http://www.geologypage.com/2019/07/rock-forming-minerals.html#ixzz6SlXa34d0

The chemical properties of minerals mainly reflect the chemical properties of

the atoms present in each. These mineral properties depend on the way the atoms are
bound in the mineral's crystal structure.

All minerals have a certain formation of elements inside its crystal structure. They
can be represented by a chemical formula, which presents the quantity of atoms that it
if built on. For example, the mineral calcite has a chemical formula of CaCO₃. The
chemical properties of minerals relays on the chemical formula and the crystal structure.
Solubility and melting point are chemical properties that are commonly used to describe
a mineral.

Solubility refers the ability of a substance to dissolve in a solvent at a specified

temperature. For example, Halite, commonly known as rock salt, is a type of salt mineral
that is soluble in water.

Melting point refers to the temperature at which solid turns into liquid. Minerals
composed of atoms that are strongly bonded within the crystal structure have high
melting points. For example, olivine melts above 1900°C. In the laboratory, the
composition and crystal structure of minerals can be analyzed through chemical and
instrumental examination and experiments.

Crystallographic methods such as X-ray diffraction are performed to determine

the crystal structure of the mineral. Crystallographic methods depend on the analysis of
the diffraction patterns of a sample targeted by a beam, usually x-rays are most used.
Other beams used include electrons or even neuron beam

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 What I Can Do

Activity 1. Use Me Up!

Direction: Think of two (2) uses of the following rock- forming minerals.

1. Quartz _______________, _______________

2. Clay _______________, _______________

3. Feldspar _______________, _______________

4. Calcite _______________, _______________

5. Olivine _______________, _______________

Activity 2. My Worth!
Choose one example of rock-forming minerals found in your home and explain its
importance to you.

____________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________.

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 What’s More

Activity 3. Rock my World

Directions: This is done individually. Get a picture of a common rock- forming mineral
found in your area. Paste the picture in your answer sheet. Give at least three trivial
facts/ information about your chosen rock- forming mineral.

1. _____________________________________

2. _____________________________________

3. _____________________________________

What I Have Learned

Direction: Supply the missing word on the space provided for each item.

I have learned that in order to be considered a common rock-forming

mineral, a mineral must: ________, __________, ________.
In order to measure the minerals’ hardness level, __________ was used.
I also learned that, the hardest mineral was _________ and the softest one
is _________.
The most abundant minerals in Earth's crust, known as common rock- forming
minerals includes ________, __________, _________,
________ is the building block of rocks.
The minerals with a highest specific gravity are the _________ while the
_________ has least one.
_________, _________, ________, _________, _________, _______.

I also learned that, _________ is the least reliable physical property of minerals.
Finally, I have learned that the chemical properties of minerals relays on the
____________and the ________.

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 Assessment

Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate
sheet of paper.

1. It is the ability of a mineral to break along its weakness plain.

A. Cleavage C. Hardness
B. Crystal Habit D. Luster

2. Which of the following does not belong with the description of a mineral?
A. Definite chemical composition C. Naturally produced
B. Definite atomic arrangement D. Organic

3. What mineral is the softest of all?

A. Amphibole C. Quartz
B. Diamond D. Talc

4. It refers to the ability of a substance to dissolve in a solvent at a specified

temperature
A. Boiling point C. Solubility
B. Luster D. Specific gravity

5. Which test is used to identify a mineral looks at the color of the residue left over
after the mineral is rubbed on a porcelain plate?
A. Color test C. Scratch test
B. Hardness test D. Streak test

6. Which of the following minerals is abundant in the continental crust?

A. Basaltic C. Pyroxenes
B. Plagioclase feldspar D. Silicates

7. What property of mineral describes how it sparkles in light?

A. Cleavage C. Hardness
B. Crystal habit D. Luster

8. What can you infer about graphite mineral from the fact that you can scratch it
with just your fingernail?
A. It's not very lustrous C. It's not very hard
B. Its streak is black colored D. It has fracture

9. Which mineral ranked as the highest on the Moh’s hardness scale?

A. Calcite C. Quartz
B. Diamond D. Talc

10. Which physical property of mineral requires no tools, scales, or other equipment
to determine?
A. Color C. Hardness
B. Fracture D. Weight

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11. What word describes the material involved in a streak test?
A. Fractured C. Powdered
B. Liquid D. Scratched

12. What kind of test is used in order to determine the crystal structure of the mineral
using X- ray diffraction?
A. Crystallographic test C. Specific gravity test
B. Hardness test D. Streak test

13. This mineral test determines if light passes through the mineral sample.
A. Hardness C. Streak
B. Luster D. Transparency

14. What do all rocks have in common?

A. Contain minerals C. Same shape
B. Same color D. Same size

15. Minerals have different properties to help scientists/ geologists identify them.
Which is NOT a property used to identify minerals?
A. Color B. Hardness C. Luster D. Size

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 23
Assessment (Posttest) What is It
1. It is because some
minerals can take more
What’s More
1. A 9. B than one color due to
impurities. (Possible ans.)-
2. D 10. A Students ans. may vary
Note: Student’s answer
3. D 11. D may vary 2. (From hardest to softest)
Diamond, corundum, topaz,
quartz, feldspar, apatite,
4. C 12. A
fluorite, calcite, gypsum and
talc.
5. D 13. D
3. Color: A, Streak: B
4. Adamantine
6. C 14. A 5. All minerals exhibit
fracture, even those that
7. D 15. D exhibit cleavage.
(Possible ans.)- Students
8. C ans. may vary.
6. Crystal habit
a. cubes/ cubic
b. hexagonal prism
c. compound forms
7. Gold
8. Highest: Osmium, Least:
Ice
What I Can Do What I Have Learned What I know (Pretest)
Activity 1 1. Most abundant in 1. C
earth’s crust; original 2. C
Note: Student’s answer 3. C
minerals present and
may vary 4. B
important minerals in
determining rock 5. D
6. D
classification.
Activity 2 7. D
2. Moh’s scale
8. B
Note: Student’s answer 3. Diamond; talc
9. D
may vary 4. Plagioclase feldspar, 10.C
Alkali feldspar, Quartz 11.C
5. Minerals 12.D
6. Highest: Osmium; 13.C
lowest/Least: Lithium 14.A
7. Color 15.C
8. Chemical formula
and crystal structure
Common- Rock Forming Minerals: Its Physical and Chemical Properties
Answer Key
References

Ang, Roly Bayo B., Coronacion, Maria Lourdes G. Jorda, AnnaMae T., Restubog, Anna
Jamille and Moncada, Maria Noemi M. 2016 “Earth and Life Science for Senior
High School: Educational Resources Corporation

Olivar, Jose Tolentino II, Ramos, Anna Cherylle M. and Ramos, Ramos, John
Donnie A. 2016. “Exploring Life Science through Science Series”: Earth and Life
Science: Phoenix

Olivar, Jose Tolentino II, Rodolfo, Raymond S., Cabria, Hillel B. and Ramos, John
Donnie A. 2016. “Exploring Life Science through Science Series”: Earth
Science: Phoenix

Internet/Web References:

Rock Forming Minerals: 10 Most Common Rock Forming Minerals

Read more: http://www.geologypage.com/2019/07/rock-forming-
minerals.html#ixzz6S3CR3S87. Date Accessed: July 12, 2020

The Common Rock-Forming Minerals

Most of Earth’s crust is comprised of a small number of minerals.
Article by: Hobart M. King, Ph.D., RPG
https://geology.com/minerals/rock-forming-minerals/ Date Accessed: June 04,
2020

What are common- rock forming minerals? https://brainly.com/question/13995413

Date Accessed: July 02, 2020

What is the most common rock? http://geologycafe.com/images/minerals.jpg

https://www.quia.com/jg/1267940list.html. Date Accessed: July 15, 2020

https://earthscience.xyz/mineral_classification

https://www.geologyin.com/2014/03/luster-of-minerals.html

https://www.pxfuel.com/en/free-photo-xealr. Date Accessed: July 10, 2021

https://www.slideserve.com/anila/characteristics-of-minerals

https://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/education/jewelry-glossary/mineral-
crystal-habit/

http://nevada-outback-gems.com/mineral_information/dolomite_mineral_info.htm

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/clay-mineral.html

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Department of Education – SDO Palawan

Curriculum Implementation Division Office

2nd Floor DepEd Palawan Building
Telephone no. (048) 433-3292

Learning Resources Management Section

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Telephone No. (048) 434-0099

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