First, what is specific gravity (SG) and why is it important to rock collectors? SG is a measurement of a substance's density (degree of compactness) based on its mass concentration. It is determined by comparing the density of the mineral specimen to the density of water. As a control substance, water is assigned an SG of 1.
Some minerals are denser than others, so a quantity of one mineral will weigh more than an equal weight amount of another mineral which you could have tried on one of our mineral scales.
For
the layman, it is done by water displacement
and requires a beaker and a scale. The weight of the
beaker is taken and written down, as well as the weight of the
specimen. The beaker is
partially filled up with water, and the level of the water is noted.
The mineral is put
into the beaker with water, and the water level rises. The
difference in the amount of
water before the specimen was put in and after it was put in is
noted. The mineral is
taken out, and the water is spilled out. Then the beaker is filled
with the amount of
water that the specimen displaced and measured. The difference in
weight of the beaker
when it was empty and the current measurement (the beaker with the
displaced water) is the
weight of the displaced water. The weight of the displaced water has
the same volume as
the specimen, but a different mass. The weight of the specimen is
divided by the weight of
the displaced water, and that number attained is the specific
gravity of that specimen. - See more at:
http://www.minerals.net/resource/property/specificgravity.aspx#sthash.tCH5qDhJ.dpuf
For the rock collector, density is easily calculated by water displacement
and requires a beaker and a scale. as part of your rock and mineral collecting tools. The weight of the
beaker is taken and written down, as well as the weight of the specimen. The beaker is
partially filled up with water, and the level of the water is noted. The mineral is put
into the beaker with water, and the water level rises. The difference in the amount of
water before the specimen was put in and after it was put in is noted. The mineral is
taken out, and the water is spilled out. Then the beaker is filled with the amount of
water that the specimen displaced and measured. The difference in weight of the beaker
when it was empty and the current measurement (the beaker with the displaced water) is the
weight of the displaced water. The weight of the displaced water has the same volume as
the specimen, but a different mass. The weight of the specimen is divided by the weight of
the displaced water, and that number attained is the specific gravity of that specimen. Its that simple. Don't forget to visit our website to see our wide selection of rock collection box and display cases.
For your reference, here's a List of Minerals and their Specific Gravity
| Substance | SPECIFIC GRAVITY |
|---|---|
| Amber | 1.05-1.30 |
| Lucite | 1.19 |
| Jet | 1.30-1.35 |
| Quartz | 1.544-1.533 |
| Topaz | 1.62-1.64 |
| Ivory | 1.7-2.0 |
| Opal | 2.1 |
| Obsidian | 2.3-2.6 |
| Lapis lazuli | 2.4-2.9 |
| Moonstone | 2.56-2.62 |
| Aquamarine | 2.67-2.71 |
| Emerald | 2.67-2.78 |
| Coral | 2.68 |
| Turquoise | 2.6-2.8 |
| Amethyst | 2.63-2.65 |
| Pearl | 2.60-2.78 |
| Nephrite | 2.90-3.02 |
| Glass | 3.15-4.20 |
| Peridot | 3.27-3.36 |
| Jadeite | 3.35 |
| Azurite | 3.7-3.9 |
| Diamond | 3.52 |
| Chrysoberyl | 3.70-3.72 |
| Malachite | 3.75-3.95 |
| Sapphire | 3.99-4.00 |
| Ruby | 3.97-4.08 |
| Zircon | 3.90-4.71 |
| Hematite | 4.95-5.16 |
| Pyrite | 5.0-5.2 |
| Tantalite | 5.18-8.20 |
| Gold | 19.3 |
Testing
For
the layman, it is done by water displacement
and requires a beaker and a scale. The weight of the
beaker is taken and written down, as well as the weight of the
specimen. The beaker is
partially filled up with water, and the level of the water is noted.
The mineral is put
into the beaker with water, and the water level rises. The
difference in the amount of
water before the specimen was put in and after it was put in is
noted. The mineral is
taken out, and the water is spilled out. Then the beaker is filled
with the amount of
water that the specimen displaced and measured. The difference in
weight of the beaker
when it was empty and the current measurement (the beaker with the
displaced water) is the
weight of the displaced water. The weight of the displaced water has
the same volume as
the specimen, but a different mass. The weight of the specimen is
divided by the weight of
the displaced water, and that number attained is the specific
gravity of that specimen. - See more at:
http://www.minerals.net/resource/property/specificgravity.aspx#sthash.tCH5qDhJ.dpuf
For
the layman, it is done by water displacement
and requires a beaker and a scale. The weight of the
beaker is taken and written down, as well as the weight of the
specimen. The beaker is
partially filled up with water, and the level of the water is noted.
The mineral is put
into the beaker with water, and the water level rises. The
difference in the amount of
water before the specimen was put in and after it was put in is
noted. The mineral is
taken out, and the water is spilled out. Then the beaker is filled
with the amount of
water that the specimen displaced and measured. The difference in
weight of the beaker
when it was empty and the current measurement (the beaker with the
displaced water) is the
weight of the displaced water. The weight of the displaced water has
the same volume as
the specimen, but a different mass. The weight of the specimen is
divided by the weight of
the displaced water, and that number attained is the specific
gravity of that specimen. - See more at:
http://www.minerals.net/resource/property/specificgravity.aspx#sthash.tCH5qDhJ.dpuf
For
the layman, it is done by water displacement
and requires a beaker and a scale. The weight of the
beaker is taken and written down, as well as the weight of the
specimen. The beaker is
partially filled up with water, and the level of the water is noted.
The mineral is put
into the beaker with water, and the water level rises. The
difference in the amount of
water before the specimen was put in and after it was put in is
noted. The mineral is
taken out, and the water is spilled out. Then the beaker is filled
with the amount of
water that the specimen displaced and measured. The difference in
weight of the beaker
when it was empty and the current measurement (the beaker with the
displaced water) is the
weight of the displaced water. The weight of the displaced water has
the same volume as
the specimen, but a different mass. The weight of the specimen is
divided by the weight of
the displaced water, and that number attained is the specific
gravity of that specimen - See more at:
http://www.minerals.net/resource/property/specificgravity.aspx#sthash.tCH5qDhJ.dpuf
For
the layman, it is done by water displacement
and requires a beaker and a scale. The weight of the
beaker is taken and written down, as well as the weight of the
specimen. The beaker is
partially filled up with water, and the level of the water is noted.
The mineral is put
into the beaker with water, and the water level rises. The
difference in the amount of
water before the specimen was put in and after it was put in is
noted. The mineral is
taken out, and the water is spilled out. Then the beaker is filled
with the amount of
water that the specimen displaced and measured. The difference in
weight of the beaker
when it was empty and the current measurement (the beaker with the
displaced water) is the
weight of the displaced water. The weight of the displaced water has
the same volume as
the specimen, but a different mass. The weight of the specimen is
divided by the weight of
the displaced water, and that number attained is the specific
gravity of that specimen. - See more at:
http://www.minerals.net/resource/property/specificgravity.aspx#sthash.tCH5qDhJ.dpuf
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