What is a Mineral?
A mineral is a naturally occurring substance that
is inorganic and has a unique chemical and
crystalline structure.
Inorganic = Not living
What do all minerals have in common.
• 1. Natural
• 2. not living
• 3. Unique, crystalline and
chemical Structure
• Create a cheat sheet for test
Minerals in the earths crust
• 1800
• Quartz
50
silicate
Pg. 26 Skip a line between mineral
names.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
1. Halite2. Calcite3. Magnetite4. Lodestone5. Sulfur6. Mica7. Pyrolusite8. Bentonite-
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
9. Feldspar10. Fluorite11. Graphite
12. Bauxite13. Quartz14. Hematite15. Barite-
Making observations:
• Color
• Shiny, not shiny
• Smooth or rough
• Smell
pg 26
As you walk around the stations, write down
observations about the mineral samples. You will
have 30 seconds at each station.
Observations:
What characteristics do all minerals have in
common?
Ch. 5 Minerals of the Earth’s
Crust
Warm up Question
•
•
•
•
•
What is thought to cause gravity?
A. The moon and earths relationship
B. Iron ore on the surface.
C. Convection currents in the upper mantle.
The rotation of the earth around the sun.
What is a Mineral?
• Natural, usually inorganic solid
substance with a crystal structure.
– Inorganic=nonliving
Pyromorphite
What do all minerals have in
common?
All:
1. Are formed by natural processes.
2. Are NOT alive and NEVER were alive and
not made by living things.
3. Are solids with a definite volume and
shape.
4. Are elements or compounds with a
unique chemical makeup
5. Are made up of particles that are
arranged in a pattern that is repeated
over and over (called a CRYSTAL)
Minerals in the Earth’s Crust
• There are more than 3000 different types of
minerals, but only 20 are common.
• Quartz(SiO2)is the most common mineral in
the Earth’s crust.
Warm up
• A Biotic factor that might be studied in an
ecosystem is the
A. Size of soil particles.
B. Percent of soil moisture.
C. Rate of algae growth.
D. pH of lake water.
Groups of Minerals
• Minerals are grouped by the elements
they are made of.
Beryl (Emerald)
Calcite
Amethyst
Mineral
Group
Characteristics
Contain
1. Silicates
Oxygen &
Silica
The most abundant
group of minerals
Make up 95% of the
Earth’s crust
MICA
Examples
Quartz
(SiO2, mica)
Quartz
Mineral Group
Characteristics
Do
2. NonSilicates
not contain
compounds of
Silica and
Oxygen
Make up only
5% of the
Earth’s crust
Include some
of the most
important
minerals
Examples

6 different
groups based
on the main
elements
they contain.
Mineral Group
A. Carbonates
Characteristics
Carbon
Examples
&
Calcite (CaCO3)
Oxygen and a
positive ion,
such as Calcium
Calcite with Duftite inclusions
Mineral
Group
B. Halides
Characteristics
Examples
Chlorine or Flourine Halite(NaCl)
combined with Sodium Flourite(CaF2)
or Potassium.

Mineral Group
C. Oxides
Characteristics
Metallic
ion
and Oxygen
Examples
Hematite
(Fe2)O3
Mineral Group
D. Sulfides
Characteristics
Sulfur
and a
metallic ion
Galena
Examples
Galena (PbS)
Mineral Group
E. Sulfates
Barite on Calcite
BaSo4 / CaCO3
Characteristics
Metallic
Sulfur &
Oxygen
ion,
Barite
BaSo4
Examples
Barite (BaSO4)
Mineral Group
F. Native
Elements
Characteristics
Single
elements
Examples
Gold (Au),
Diamond (C),
Silver (Ag)
What is a gem?



A Mineral OR Rock that has value
Rare !
Sometimes polishing or cutting will add
value
Thru 2
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Mineral
Silicate mineral
Nonsilicate mineral
Crystal
Mineralogist
6. Streak
7. Luster
8. Cleavage
9. Fracture
10. Moh’s Hardness Scale
Out
A pearl forms when a particle of
dirt gets trapped in the soft
tissue of an oyster. To protect
itself from the irritating particle,
the oyster secretes a protective
layer of a white material called
nacre to cover the particle. This
nacre covered particle is what
we harvest as a pearl.
1. Is a pearl a mineral?
2. Why or why not?
Thurs. 11/1 and Fri.11/2
In: pg
Watch “Crystals” by Brainpop…
1 .What element are diamonds made from?
2 . What do all crystals have in common?
Thru 1: pg
Crystal Models
• Divide the 8 crystal models up between the people at your table(if
you have 4 people at your table, each person gets 2 different
crystals)
• Cut out the models along the solid lines and fold along the dotted
lines.
• Put one very small dot of glue on each tab and glue the sides of
your crystal together.
• Glue your crystal model in the appropriate space on your group’s
“Crystal Shapes” sheet.
• Answer the analysis questions.
Analysis Questions:
1. What are the 8 crystal shapes?
2. Which crystal shapes did you make?
3. What characteristics do all crystals share?
Thru 2
Article: Rockin’ Gems
• Read the article and answer the questions.
Out
Mon. 11/5 and Wed. 11/7
In: pg
Thru 1: pg
• Minerals CLOZE passage
Physical Properties of Minerals
(can be used to identify the mineral)
Color
• Can be misleading
• Can vary with the type of impurities
Physical Properties of Minerals
(can be used to identify the mineral)
Luster
• Surface reflection
• metallic = shiny like
metal
• non-metallic = dull,
non-shiny surface
Pyrite has a metallic luster
Calcite has a non-metallic luster
Physical Properties of Minerals
(can be used to identify the mineral)
Streak
• The color of the powdered
form of the mineral
• The color of the streak can be
different than the mineral
• Minerals must be softer than
the streak plate
Streak…can help identify quartz
http://www.childrensmuseum.org/geomysteries/cube/b3.html
Physical Properties of Minerals
(can be used to identify the mineral)
Hardness
• How easily a mineral scratches
materials
• Mohs Hardness Scale
• Scale from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest)
• Test by seeing if the mineral can scratch
different objects (like human fingernail, copper,
penny, glass, steel file)
Find out more…
• “Electronic” Hardness Test
http://www.childrensmuseum.org/geomy
steries/cube/b2.html
Physical Properties of Minerals
(can be used to identify the mineral)
Cleavage & Fracture
– The way the mineral breaks
– Cleavage—minerals break
along smooth, flat surfaces
and every fragment has the
same general shape
– Fracture—minerals that break
at random with rough or
jagged edges
Cleavage or Fracture?
1.
4.
2.
3.
Physical Properties of Minerals
(can be used to identify the mineral)
Other Properties
– Specific gravity (*excellent clue to
mineral’s identity)
http://www.childrensmuseum.org/geomysteries/cube/b4.html
– Attraction to magnets
– Bending of light
– Reaction with hydrochloric acid
– Smell & taste
Thru 2
Out
Thurs. 11/8 and Fri. 11/9
In: pg
Thru 1: pg
Thru 2
Out
Tues. 11/13 and Wed. 11/14
In: pg
Thru 1:
Thru 2
Out