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Mineral Characteristics

Mineral Characteristics. Minerals occurs naturally Minerals are solids Minerals have definite compositions Minerals have atoms that are arranged in orderly patterns. Minerals are not and never were alive. (inorganic). How minerals form. Minerals form in two main ways The magma process

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Mineral Characteristics

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  1. Mineral Characteristics • Minerals occurs naturally • Minerals are solids • Minerals have definite compositions • Minerals have atoms that are arranged in orderly patterns. • Minerals are not and never were alive. (inorganic)

  2. How minerals form • Minerals form in two main ways • The magma process • The pressure process

  3. The Magma Process • Magma rises from deep in the Earth • Magma is molten rock • When the magma begins to cool, atoms, molecules, and ions move closer together and bond together. • Over time, molecules of compounds mass together as grains of minerals.

  4. The Pressure Process • When a rock is subject to high temperature and pressure, the minerals can begin to break down chemically. • The temperature and pressure becomes great enough to change the minerals in a solid state, without melting them. • The atoms, molecules, and ions recombine in new ways, forming new minerals.

  5. Structure of Minerals • All minerals have crystalline structures • The shape of the crystal is determined by the arrangement of the ions. • The slower the crystal forms, the larger the crystal. • The shape of the crystal determines its hardness. • Pressure and temperature affect the crystal structure.

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