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Essay: Finding the density of minerals (lab)

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  • Published: 15 June 2022*
  • Last Modified: 22 July 2024
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  • Words: 1,154 (approx)
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Introduction

  • Apatite is a mineral that is known for its source of phosphorous, which is use for many living things. Apatite also comes in a majority of colors, For example they are blue, green, clear, yellow, and etc. The most accepted density average of Apatite is 3.19 g/cm3. The uses of Apatite are for the making of of phosphate fertilizer, and is used chemical industries(1-N/A,N/D). Apatite can be found in many different places such as The United States, Africa, Mexico and etc(2-N/A,N/D).
  • Anthracite is type of coal and is also one of the four main types of coal in the world(Sly Padhy,Sep,5,2017). Anthracite is used for used for the same purpose as other coal, to generate energy. Anthracite coal is the cleanest burning coal, because anthracite produces more heat rather than smoke(Wendy Sunshine,Apr,18,2017). Anthracite can be found and mined in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Of all the other types of coal anthracite is the rarest types of coal, also it it much more expensive than all the of types of coal.
  • Garnet is a mineral group and not just one mineral(5-N/A,N/D). There are many different  types of rocks that fall into the garnet mineral group,some examples of garnet are pyrope,almandine,grossular,and uvarovite. The garnet mineral group can be divided into two different groups, one group is garnet that contains calcium and the other group is garnet that contains aluminum. The types of Garnet can be found in the United States, South Africa and Brazil(Chris Ralph, Feb,2014). Garnet is used many many reasons, garnet is used for jewelry, an indicator for geologic travels, waterjet cuttings, filtering water, and abrasive powderings(Hobart King, N/D).
  • Granite is one of the most common igneous rocks on Earth, and Granite can be found around the Earth’s surface(Hobart King,N/D). The use of granite is often for construction, some examples of what is built with granite are buildings,pavements,floor tiles,and bridges.Granite can be found on the Earth’s continental crust,for examples many mountain ranges have granite located in them(Charles Spencer, N/D).

Materials

  • 1 Plastic Graduated Cylinder
  • 4 Different Mineral Samples
  • Water
  • Electric Balance
  • Calculator

Procedure

  1. Check to make sure that the mineral samples are small enough to fit into the graduated cylinder. Use tongs to handle samples. DO NOT PICK THEM UP WITH YOUR HANDS!!!
  2. Take a selfie with sample A
  3. Place sample A on the balance and record its mass in the data table.
  4. Place water into the Plastic Graduated Cylinder and record this volume in the data table. About 20mL of water is an adequate volume. You must record the exact volume of the water with sample A in it in the data table.
  5. Carefully place the sample A in the cylinder of water. Try not to spill any of the water with Sample A in it in the data table.
  6. Read the level of the water on the scale of the graduated cylinder. Record the level of the water with sample A in it in the data table.
  7. Calculate the volume of water displaced by the Sample A.
  8. Remove the water and mineral from the cylinder.
  9. Repeat steps 2-7 for samples B, C , and D.

Results

DATA TABLE #1

  • Sample A
  • Sample B
  • Sample C
  • Sample D

Observations

(What do you see?)

-Blue Color

Has little -Crystal in it.

-Smooth and Metallic looking

-Black

-Many little patterns on it

– Sharp

-very dark reddish color

Mass of Mineral (g)

10.6g

5.0g

8.5g

1.0g

Initial Volume of Water Without Mineral (mL)

57.0mL

62.0mL

78.0mL

65.0mL

Volume of Water with Mineral(mL)

60.0mL

65.0mL

81.0mL

66.0mL

Volume of Water Displaced (mL)

3.0mL

3.0mL

3.0mL

1.0mL

Volume of Water Displaced (cm3)

3cm3

3cm3

3cm3

1cm3

DATA TABLE #2

Apatite

Anthracite

Garnet

Granite

Accepted Density

3.19g/cm3

1.35g/cm3

3.865g/cm3

2.7g/cm3

Calculate the Densities of the Four Minerals

Sample A  Sample B

10.6g =  3.53g/cm3  8.4g=2.8g/cm3

3cm3  3cm3

Sample C  SampleD

5.0g= 1.6g/cm3  1.0g= 1g/cm3

3cm3   1.0cm3

Calculate the Percent Error

Sample A Percent Error

3.53-3.19 x 100 = 10.7%

3.19

Sample B Percent Error

1.6-1.35 x 100= 19%

1.35

Sample C Percent Error

2.8-2.7 x 100 = 3.7%

2.7

Sample D Percent Error

1.0- 3.865 x 100 = -74.1%

3.865

DATA TABLE#3

  • Sample A
  • Sample B
  • Sample C
  • Sample D

Calculated Density(g/cm3)

3.53g/cm3

1.6g/cm3

2.8g/cm3

1g/cm3

Identity by Name

Apatite

Anthracite

Granite

Garnet

Calculated Percent Error

10.7%

19%

3.7%

-74.1%

Calculating the Density of a Liquid

1)Density of Water

D=vm =  16.2g  = 0.28g/cm3

57cm3

2) The Actual of Density of water is 1.00g/cm3 calculate percent error.

M-A x   100 = 0.28-1.00 x 100 = -72%

A  1.00

DATA TABLE # 4

Water

Calculated Density

0.28g/cm3

Calculated Percent Error

-72%

SELFIES

Discussion

Each of the mineral samples can range in different densities, because each of the minerals are made of different minerals or substances,for example Anthracite is not very dense because it is mostly made up of carbon, because it a type of coal. And Apatite is denser, because it is made up of more different substances than Anthracite.

The density can be a way to tell specific values of minerals, because with density you can find the mass and volume of an object determining how much of a substance you have. Another characteristic that can determine 2 minerals apart is the hardness. Hardness can determine 2 minerals, because the hardness of a mineral tells how tough it is. For example, the minerals with scratches tell us that isn’t very hard, and one that doesn’t have scratches is hard.

Subduction is when two tectonic plates collide into each other very slowly (Mary Ellen Ellis, n.d). The process of subduction is when some tectonic plates are moving around in the earth’s crust, and when two plates with the lithosphere,one of the plates can sink under one of the other. The role that density plays in subduction is that one of the tectonic plates will be denser than the other and the densest goes under the other.

References

1 and 2) GemSelect(n.d).  About Apatite – History and Introduction. Retrieved

September 27, 2017 from

https://www.gemselect.com/gem-info/apatite/apatite-info.php

3).   COAL Investing News(2017). Coal 101: What is Anthracite. Retrieved September 27, 2017 from https://investingnews.com/daily/resource-investing/industrial-metals-investing/coal-investing/coal-101-what-is-anthracite/

4 The Balance(2017). All About Anthracite Coal. Retrieved September 27, 2017 from https://www.thebalance.com/what-is-anthracite-coal-1182544

5.  Minerals.net(n.d.). The Garnet Mineral Group. Retrieved September 27, 2017 from http://www.minerals.net/mineral/garnet.aspx

6. ICMJ”s Prospecting and Mining Journal(2013). All About Garnets. Retrieved September 27, 2017 from https://www.icmj.com/magazine/article/all-about-garnets-2324/

7.  Geology.com(n.d). What is Garnet?. Retrieved September 27. 2017 from http://geology.com/minerals/garnet.shtml

8. Geology.com(n.d). What is Granite? Retrieved September 27, 2017 from http://geology.com/rocks/granite.shtml

9. Study.com(n.d.). What is granite?-Definition and Colors. Retrieved September 27, 2017 from http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-granite-definition-colors-quiz.html

Originally published 15.10.2019

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