Earth and Life Science

Quarter 1 – Module 3:
Minerals

CO_Q1_ELS SHS
Module 3
Earth and Life Science
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 1 – Module 3: Minerals
First Edition, 2021

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 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.

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 What I Know

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
B. Hardness
C. Luster
D. Streak
2. Quartz can break other than along planes of cleavage. What is the property
of mineral that shows this characteristic?
A. Cleavage
B. Fracture
C. Hardness
D. Streak
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
B. Fracture
C. Hardness
D. Tenacity
4. Which property refers to the resistance of minerals to scratching?
A. Cleavage
B. Fracture
C. Hardness
D. Luster
5.What are the building blocks of rocks and it is mostly found in the
geosphere?
A. elements
B. minerals
C. ore
D. soil
6.In its powdered form, the mineral hematite is reddish. Which mineral
property is described?
A. color
B. luster
C. streak
D. hardness
7. Which is not a property that can be used to identify a mineral?
A. luster
B. streak
C. hardness
D. opaque

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 8. What is the property of minerals that reflects light on its surface?
A. Crystal structure
B. color
C. streak
D. luster
9. Which refers to a naturally occurring, inorganic solid that has a definite
crystalline structure and chemical composition?
A. compound
B. crystal
C. mineral
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
B. hardness
C. 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
B. calcite
C. gypsum
D. silica
12. What constitutes the size, shape and arrangement of mineral grains in a
rock?
A. permeable origin
B. porosity
C. cement
D. texture
13. Which of the following is not a characteristic of a mineral?
A. crystal structure
B. naturally occurring
C. organic
D. solid
14. What refers to the tendency for a mineral to break along flat surfaces?
A. cleavage
B. hardness
C. ductility
D. tenacity
15. What is the solid form of a mineral produced by a repeating pattern of
atoms?
A. crystal
B. density
C. element
D. fracture

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 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

In this module, you are going to encounter activities that will enhance the teaching-
learning process about minerals. You will deal with the characteristics of minerals
and its exhibited properties. As you answer the questions, you will be expected to
explore and understand the concepts about minerals, thus establishing awareness
on the importance of minerals in the process.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Directions: Complete the crossword puzzle by identifying what is being described.

Across
2 1. It is solid inorganic
substance of natural
1 3 occurrence.
4. It is a mineral found in
pencil.

Down
5
2. It is a mineral found in
4 salt.
3. It has definite shape and
volume.

5. It is also known as
sodium chloride.

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 What’s New

Identify the following objects below. Then using the Internet or other possible
sources, determine what type of minerals are present in each of the presented
objects in the table. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

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.

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Characteristics of Minerals
Arrange the jumbled letters to find the appropriate criteria to determine whether a
material is classified as a mineral or not. Write your answers on a separate sheet of
paper.

1. N L T L A U R Y N G O I R U C C
______________________-a term which identifies minerals as part of Earth’s
natural processes.

2. C A I I R O G N
______________________- means a substance is not a product of an organism but
rather 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 NOITOCMOPSI
____________________- 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- term which identifies mineral as part of earth’s
natural processes.
2. inorganic- means a substance is not a product of an organism.
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

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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)

10 - Diamond
9 - Corundum
8 - Topaz
7 - Quartz
6 - Orthoclase
5 - Apatite
4 - Fluorite
3 - Calcite
2 - Gypsum
1 - 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.
i. Sectility- ability of minerals to be sliced by a knife.

Did you know?

The Mohs scale (pronounced MOZE) was introduced in 1822. It originated
when Friedrich Mohs chose ten minerals and assigned numbers to them based
on the relative ease or difficulty in which stone can be scratched by another.

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Prepare a list of minerals based on the Mohs Scale of Hardness and identify some
products that make use of these minerals. Do this on a separate sheet

Minerals Products that contain the Mineral.

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. Over all sheen of mineral

____________________________________________

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 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

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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.

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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). Write your answer on a separate
sheet of paper.

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

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
B. Hardness
C. Luster
D. Streak

2. Quartz can break other than along planes of cleavage. What is the property
of mineral that show this characteristic?
A. Cleavage
B. Fracture
C. Hardness
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
B. Fracture
C. Hardness
D. Tenacity

4. Which property refers to the resistance of mineral to scratching?

A. Cleavage
B. Fracture
C. Hardness
D. Luster

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5.What are the building blocks of rocks and it is mostly found in the
geosphere?
A. minerals
B. soil
C. ore
D. elements

6.In its powdered form, the mineral hematite is reddish. Which mineral
property is best described?
A. color
B. luster
C. Streak
D. hardness

7. Which is not a property that can be used to identify a mineral?

A. luster
B. streak
C. hardness
D. opaque

8. What is the property of mineral that reflects light on its surface?

A. Crystal structure
B. color
C. streak
D. luster

9. What is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid that has a definite crystalline

structure and chemical composition?
A. compound
B. crystal
C. mineral
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
B. luster
C. hardness
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
B. gypsum
C. calcite
D. silica

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12. What constitutes the size, shape and arrangement of mineral grains in a
rock?
A. permeable origin
B. porosity
C. cement
D. texture

13. Which of the following is not a characteristic of a mineral?

A. naturally occurring
B. solid
C. Organic
D. crystal structure

14. What do you call tendency for a mineral to break along flat surfaces?
A. cleavage
B. hardness
C. ductility
D. tenacity

15. What is the solid form of a mineral produced by a repeating pattern of

atoms?
A. crystal
B. density
C. element
D. fracture

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 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. Do this on a separate sheet of paper.

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Finding the Perfect Match
Take at least 5 photos of minerals that are found in our day to day living. Identify
the said minerals and state their unique characteristics and significance. A sample
template is provided below. Do this on a clean sheet of bond paper.

Name: ______________________________ Name: _____________________________

Characteristics: ______________________ Characteristics: ____________________
______________________________________ ____________________________________
Significance: _________________________ Significance: _______________________
______________________________________ ____________________________________

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 Module 3
CO_Q1_ELS SHS 16
Additional activities Post Test What I can do
1. Streak 1. C 1. Answer may vary.
2. Hardness 2. B
3. Malleability 3. A
4. Luster 4. B
5. Ductility 5. A
6. C
7. D
8. D
9. C
10. C
11. A
12. D
13. C
14. A
15. A
What I Have Learned What's More Pre Test/Post test
1. Luster 1. Ductility 1. C 6. C 11.A
2. Streak 2. Luster 2. B 7. D 12. D
3. Cleavage 3. Malleability 3. A 8. D 13.C
4. Fracture 4. Sectility 4. C 9. C 14.A
5. Hardness 5. brittleness 5. A 10.C 15 A
Matching Type
1. C What’s New
2. D A.1. Pencil
3. B 2.Table salt
4. E 3.Cellphone
5. A 4.Car
5.Bridge
B 1 Naturally occurring
2.Inorganic
3.Homogeneous solid
4.crystalline structure
5. chemical composition
Answer Key
References

Thompson G.R. and Turk J. (2012).Introduction to Earth Science. Cengage Learning

Asia PTE Ltd.(Philippine Branch)
Religioso, T. F. and Vengco, L. G.(2016) You and the Natural World: Earth and
Life Science. Phoenix Publishing House

Olivar II, J.S., Rodolfo, R.S. and Cabria, H.B. (2016) Exploring Life Through Science
Series: Earth Sence. Phoenix Publishing House

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