Lesson: Cohesive Properties of Minerals Geology

In this lesson, we will learn how to describe and compare some of the cohesive properties of minerals: hardness, cleavage, fracture, malleability, ductility, and other properties.

Lesson Plan

Students will be able to

define what mineral hardness is and describe the Mohs scale of hardness and its applications,
define what mineral cleavage is and mention the different types,
define what mineral fracture is and give examples,
compare between mineral fracture and mineral cleavage,
define mineral malleability and ductility and give examples,
recognize and define other physical properties including specific gravity, magnetic properties, thermal properties, taste, touch and smell.

Lesson Worksheet

Q1:

Which of the following best describes the cleavage of mica?

Q2:

Which of the following minerals has a Mohs hardness of 7?

Q3:

The following is a description of a common mineral: The mineral is colorless and transparent and has a conchoidal fracture, no cleavage, and a hardness of 7 on Mohs’ scale of hardness. Identify the mineral from its cohesive properties.