Minerals

1. Minerals

2. EQ: What are minerals? Standard: S6E5b. Investigate the contribution of minerals to rock composition.

3. There are five characteristics of a mineral

4. Five characteristicsof a mineral: • Solid—A mineral is always a solid, with a definite volume and shape.

5. Five characteristicsof a mineral: • Solid—A mineral is always a solid, with a definite volume and shape. • Inorganic—A mineral cannot form from materials that were once part of a living thing. Inorganic means “not living”.

6. Five characteristicsof a mineral: • Solid—A mineral is always a solid, with a definite volume and shape. • Inorganic—A mineral cannot form from materials that were once part of a living thing. Inorganic means “not living”. • Naturally Occurring—A mineral is formed by processes in the natural world.

7. Five characteristicsof a mineral: • Solid—A mineral is always a solid, with a definite volume and shape. • Inorganic—A mineral cannot form from materials that were once part of a living thing. Inorganic means “not living”. • Naturally Occurring—A mineral is formed by processes in the natural world. • Crystal Structure—The particles of a mineral line up in repeating patterns, called crystals, with faces that meet up at sharp edges and corners.

8. Five characteristicsof a mineral: • Solid—A mineral is always a solid, with a definite volume and shape. • Inorganic—A mineral cannot form from materials that were once part of a living thing. Inorganic means “not living”. • Naturally Occurring—A mineral is formed by processes in the natural world. • Crystal Structure—The particles of a mineral line up in repeating patterns, called crystals, with faces that meet up at sharp edges and corners. • Definite Chemical Composition—A mineral always contains certain elements in definite proportions.

9. Five characteristicsof a mineral: • Solid—A mineral is always a solid, with a definite volume and shape. • Inorganic—A mineral cannot form from materials that were once part of a living thing. Inorganic means “not living”. • Naturally Occurring—A mineral is formed by processes in the natural world. • Crystal Structure—The particles of a mineral line up in repeating patterns, called crystals, with faces that meet up at sharp edges and corners. • Definite Chemical Composition—A mineral always contains certain elements in definite proportions.

10. EQ: How can I identify a mineral? Standard: S6E5b. Investigate the contribution of minerals to rock composition.

11. Properties of a mineral: • Color

12. Properties of a mineral: • Color • Streak—the color of a mineral’s powder. A streak test can help to identify a mineral. Streak and color are often different.

13. Properties of a mineral: • Color • Streak—the color of a mineral’s powder. A streak test can help to identify a mineral. Streak and color are often different. • Luster--how light is reflected from a mineral’s surface. Examples include metallic, glassy, silky, dull, waxy, earthy.

14. Properties of a mineral: • Color • Streak—the color of a mineral’s powder. A streak test can help to identify a mineral. Streak and color are often different. • Luster--how light is reflected from a mineral’s surface. Examples include metallic, glassy, silky, dull, waxy, earthy. • Density—how compact a substance; mass per unit volume.

15. Properties of a mineral: • Color • Streak—the color of a mineral’s powder. • Luster--how light is reflected from a mineral’s surface. • Density—how compact a substance; mass per unit volume. • Hardness—the ability of a mineral to scratch another mineral. Mohs hardness scale ranks ten minerals from softest to hardest. Talc can be scratched by a fingernail; diamond can scratch all other substances.

16. Properties of a mineral: • Hardness—the ability of a mineral to scratch another mineral. Mohs hardness scale ranks ten minerals from softest to hardest. Talc can be scratched by a fingernail; diamond can scratch all other substances. • Crystal Systems—six basic groups based on crystal faces; often only visible under a microscope. Groups include cubic, hexagonal, tetragonal, orthorhombic, monoclinic, and triclinic.

17. Properties of a mineral: • Hardness—the ability of a mineral to scratch another mineral. Mohs hardness scale ranks ten minerals. • Crystal Systems—six basic groups based on crystal faces; often only visible under a microscope. Groups include cubic, hexagonal, tetragonal, orthorhombic, monoclinic, and triclinic. • Cleavage—when a mineral splits easily along flat surfaces. Examples—prismatic, cubic, octahedral

18. Properties of a mineral: • Crystal Systems—six basic groups based on crystal faces; often only visible under a microscope. Groups include cubic, hexagonal, tetragonal, orthorhombic, monoclinic, and triclinic. • Cleavage—when a mineral splits easily along flat surfaces. Examples—prismatic, cubic, octahedral • Fracture—how a mineral looks when it breaks apart in an irregular way. Examples—splintery, uneven, hackly

19. Properties of a mineral: • Crystal Systems—six basic groups based on crystal faces • Cleavage—when a mineral splits easily along flat surfaces. Examples—prismatic, cubic, octahedral • Fracture—how a mineral looks when it breaks apart in an irregular way. Examples—splintery, uneven, hackly • Tenacity—the resistance of mineral particles to being separated. Examples—brittle, malleable, elastic

20. Properties of a mineral: • Crystal Systems—six basic groups based on crystal faces • Cleavage—when a mineral splits easily along flat surfaces • Fracture—how a mineral looks when it breaks apart in an irregular way • Tenacity—the resistance of mineral particles to being separated. Examples—brittle, malleable, elastic • Special Properties—unique properties not shared by all minerals, such as magnetism, fluorescence, radioactivity, reactivity