Rocks and Minerals: Mineral Detectives
Clip: Special | 1m 4sVideo has Closed Captions
How do you identify a mineral?
Could you be a mineral detective? Find out how scientists identify different kinds of minerals.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Science Trek is a local public television program presented by IdahoPTV
Major Funding by the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation and Idaho National Laboratory. Additional Funding by the Friends of Idaho Public Television and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Rocks and Minerals: Mineral Detectives
Clip: Special | 1m 4sVideo has Closed Captions
Could you be a mineral detective? Find out how scientists identify different kinds of minerals.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Science Trek
Science Trek is a place where parents, kids, and educators can watch short, educational videos on a variety of science topics. Every Monday Science Trek releases a new video that introduces children to math, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) career potentials in a fun, informative way.[MUSIC] JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN, HOST: Believe it or not, it's hard to recognize a mineral.
A rock is made up of one or more minerals.
Minerals are made up of 92 different elements that join together in various ways.
Scientists identify them with properties like.
Color: Some minerals have a distinct color.
Streak: Streak is the color of the mineral in a powdered form.
Rub the mineral on unglazed porcelain and you'll see its true color.
Luster: Luster is how shiny a mineral is.
Hardness: Hardness is how well the mineral resists scratching.
The softness mineral is talc, and the hardest mineral is diamond.
Cleavage: Cleavage describes the way a mineral splits when it's broken apart.
There are other properties like shape, smell, taste, (uh, please don't do that) and my favorite, magnetism.
[CLICK] Scientists identify minerals to learn about the earth's geological history and to find resources needed to make things.
For more information about rocks and minerals, check out the Science Trek website.
You'll find it at ScienceTrek.org
Rocks and Minerals: Rock Smarts
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: Special | 1m 4s | Test your rock & mineral smarts—are you a Rock Star? (1m 4s)
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Science Trek is a local public television program presented by IdahoPTV
Major Funding by the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation and Idaho National Laboratory. Additional Funding by the Friends of Idaho Public Television and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.