Minerals

1. Minerals

2. What is a Mineral? A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid that has a crystal structure and a definite chemical composition.

3. Foldable • Create a horizontal tab foldable with 5 tabs labelled. • Naturally Occurring • Inorganic • Solid • Crystal Structure • Chemical Composition

4. A. Naturally occurring • A mineral has to be found on the earth's surface or dug up out of the crust, not made in a lab somewhere by people. • Examples of man- made objects are bricks, cement, and glass

5. B. Inorganic • This means that they do not come from living things. Since coal forms naturally in the crust and from living things it is not a mineral

6. C. Solid • Solids are substances that have a definite shape and a definite volume. • The particles are tightly packed and can not flow freely.

7. D. Crystal structure • The atoms that minerals are made of are connected to each other in a pattern.  • This pattern is called its crystal structure. • The flat sides form faces

8. Crystallization can tell us the conditions that formed a mineral • When melted rock, magma, comes together- it forms a solid crystal. As the liquid cools, more crystals are added to the surface and the crystal “grows” • The slower the cooling process, the larger the crystals • The faster the process, the smaller the crystals

9. Crystallization can tell us the conditions that formed a mineral • When a substance dissolves in water, the evaporation of the water leaves behind particles that “came together” in the solution and crystallized. • Gold found in water forms this way.

10. MOS IDEA • Create a crystal garden heating and cooling. • Observe what your crystals look like. • Measure the crystals • What variables affected the size o the crystals that formed.

11. E. Definite Chemical Composition • This means that there is a specific chemical formula for each mineral.  • The mineral pyrite is made of 1 atom of iron for every 2 atoms of sulfur. (FeS2) • Pyrite will have the same chemical formula regardless of where it is found.

12. Identifying Minerals Each mineral has its own characteristics or properties that help you identify it.

13. Identifying Mineralsa. Hardness • Hardness is one of the best clues to identify a mineral. • Mohs hardness scale ranks ten minerals from softest to hardest. • A mineral will scratch any mineral softer than itself.

14. Identifying MineralsB. Color • Color is a physical property that is easily observed, however not many minerals have distinct colors. • Malachite is always green • Azurite is always blue malachite

15. Identifying MineralsC. STREAK • Streak refers to the color of a mineral’s powder. • Testing a mineral’s streak is done on an unglazed piece of tile. • Although a mineral’s color may change its streak color does not.

16. Identifying MineralsD. Luster • Luster is another simple test for determining a mineral. • Luster refers to how a mineral reflects light. • Metals are often shiny other minerals may be glassy,waxy or pearly. Tourmanline has avitreous (glassy) luster.

17. Identifying MineralsE. Density • The density of a mineral always remains the same. • Density measures the “heaviness” of an object.

18. Identifying MineralsF. Crystal structure • Each mineral has a particular crystal structure. • There are 6 groups bases on the number and angle of the crystal faces. • If a crystal grows in an open space it produces perfectly shaped crystals, however if it grows in a tight space the crystal are often incomplete.

19. Identifying MineralsG. how it breaks • The way a mineral breaks apart also can help identify it. • If it splits easily along flat surfaces it has a property called cleavage. • However if it does not break evenly it has a characteristic type of fracture. Calcite has cleavage Copper will fracture

20. How do minerals form? • In general minerals can form in two ways: through crystallization of melted materials, and through crystallization of materials dissolved in water. • Magma that cools at a slow rate will produce large crystals while magma or lava that cools rapidly will produce small crystals.

21. Minerals are the source of metals, gemstones, and other materials used to make many products.

22. Gemstones • Gemstones are hard, colorful and have a brilliant or glassy luster. • Gemstones are valued for their color, luster and durability. • Once cut a gemstone is referred to as a gem.

23. Metals • Metals are useful because they can be stretched into wire or hammered into sheets. • Metal is use in making tool framing buildings and even the filament in a light bulb.

24. Other uses • Some minerals are used in foods, medicines, fertilizers and other building materials.