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Learn about the key characteristics of minerals, including their natural occurrence, inorganic composition, solid structure, crystal system, and identifying properties such as color, streak, luster, density, hardness, and special properties.
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Minerals Characteristics of Minerals
Minerals are… • Naturally occurring (not man made) Yes - Diamonds No – Cubic Zirconia
Minerals are… • Inorganic (non-living) From non-living carbon From carbon of plants Not a mineral Mineral
Minerals are… • Solid – definite volume, definite shape
Minerals are… • Definite chemical (fixed) composition • Solid – definite volume, definite shape A mineral always contains certain elements in definite proportions
Minerals have… • Crystal structure – a repeating pattern of particles
Write a definition for a mineral A mineral is…
Write a definition for a mineral A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a crystal structure and a definite chemical composition.
Solid Naturally Occurring Inorganic Composition Element or Compound
Identifying Minerals • Color
Identifying Minerals • Color • Streak – color of the mineral as a powder - we use a streak plate (unglazed porcelain) to create the powder How do we perform a Streak test everyday? Using a pencil.
Identifying Minerals • Luster – how light reflects off the surface of a mineral Metallic (like metal) Nonmetallic – glassy, waxy, greasy, pearly, dull, silky, earthy
Identifying Minerals • Density – mass per unit volume density= mass/volume
Identifying Minerals • Density – mass per unit volume density= mass/volume Mass = 72 g Volume = 9 cm3 Density = ? 8 g/cm3 • Hardness – how easily a mineral can be scratchedMoh’s Scale Softest (1) - Hardest (10)
Identifying Minerals • Crystal systems cubic tetragonal hexagonal orthorhombic monoclinic triclinic
Identifying Minerals • Breakage Cleavage - breaks along flat surfaces Fracture – breaks in an irregular way
Identifying Minerals • Special Properties Magnetic (magnetite) Optical properties (some calcite) Fizzes with HCl (calcite) Taste (halite) Smell (sulfur)