Chapter F1
Minerals of the Earth’s Crust
Table of Contents
Section 1 What Is a Mineral?
Section 2 Identifying Minerals
Section 3 The Formation, Mining, and Use of Minerals
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Chapter F1
Section 1 What Is a Mineral?
Objectives
• Describe the structure of minerals.
• Describe the two major groups of minerals.
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Chapter F1
Section 1 What Is a Mineral?
Mineral Structure
• A mineral is a naturally formed, inorganic solid
that has a definite crystalline structure.
• You can tell whether an object is a mineral by
asking four questions.
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Section 1 What Is a Mineral?
Mineral Structure, continued
• Is it a nonliving material?
• Is it a solid?
• Does it have a crystalline structure?
• Is it formed in nature?
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Section 1 What Is a Mineral?
Mineral Structure, continued
• To understand what a crystalline structure is, you
need to know a little about the elements that make
up a mineral.
• Elements are pure substances that cannot be
separated or broken down into simpler substances
by chemical means.
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Section 1 What Is a Mineral?
Mineral Structure, continued
• Atoms and Compounds Minerals may be either
elements or compounds.
• A compound is a substance made of atoms of
two or more different elements joined by chemical
bonds.
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Section 1 What Is a Mineral?
Mineral Structure, continued
• A mineral that is composed of only one element is
called a native element.
• Gold and silver are examples of native elements.
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Chapter F1
Section 2 Identifying Minerals
Identifying Minerals
• You can determine the identity of a mineral by
noting different properties.
• Color Minerals display a wide variety of colors,
and often the same mineral can be found in many
different colors.
• Because of this, color is usually not the best way
to identify a mineral.
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Section 2 Identifying Minerals
Identifying Minerals, continued
• The way a mineral reflects light is called luster.
There are three types of mineral luster:
• Metallic
• Submetallic
• Nonmetallic
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Section 2 Identifying Minerals
Identifying Minerals, continued
• The color of a mineral in powdered form is called
the mineral’s streak.
• A mineral’s streak can be found by running the
mineral against a piece of unglazed porcelain
called a streak plate.
• The color of a mineral’s streak is not always the
same as the color of the mineral sample.
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Chapter F1
Section 2 Identifying Minerals
Hardness
• A mineral’s resistance to being scratched is called
hardness.
• To determine the hardness of minerals, scientists
use Mohs hardness scale, shown on the next slide.
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Chapter F1
Section 2 Identifying Minerals
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Chapter F1
Section 2 Identifying Minerals
Density
• Density is the measure of how much matter is
in a given amount of space. Density is a ratio of
an object’s mass to its volume.
• Different minerals have different densities.
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Chapter F1
Section 2 Identifying Minerals
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Chapter F1
Section 3 The Formation, Mining, and Use of
Minerals
Objectives
• Describe the environments in which minerals
forms.
• Compare the two types of mining.
• Describe two ways to reduce the effects of
mining.
• Describe different uses for metallic and
nonmetallic minerals.
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Chapter F1
Section 3 The Formation, Mining, and Use of
Minerals
Formation of Minerals
• Minerals form in a variety of environments in the
Earth’s crust. Each environment has a different set
of physical and chemical conditions that determine
the minerals’ properties.
• Evaporating Salt Water When a body of salt
water dries up, minerals such as gypsum and halite
are left behind.
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Section 3 The Formation, Mining, and Use of
Minerals
Formation of Minerals, continued
• Metamorphic Rocks When changes in pressure,
temperature, or chemical makeup alter a rock,
metamorphism takes place.
• Minerals that form in metamorphic rock include
calcite, garnet, graphite, hematite, magnetite, mica,
and talc.
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Chapter F1
Section 3 The Formation, Mining, and Use of
Minerals
Mining
• Many kinds of rocks and minerals must be mined
to extract the valuable elements they contain.
• Geologists use the term ore to describe a mineral
deposit large enough and pure enough to be mined
for profit.
• Rocks and minerals are removed from the ground
by one of two methods.
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Section 3 The Formation, Mining, and Use of
Minerals
Mining, continued
• Surface Mining When mineral deposits are
located at or near the surface of the Earth, surfacemining methods are used to remove the minerals.
• Types of surface mines include open pits, surface
coal mines, and quarries.
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Section 3 The Formation, Mining, and Use of
Minerals
Mining, continued
• Subsurface Mining methods are used when
mineral deposits are located too deep within the
Earth to be surface mined.
• Subsurface mining often requires that passageways
be dug into the Earth to reach the ore.
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Chapter F1
Section 3 The Formation, Mining, and Use of
Minerals
Responsible Mining
• Mining gives us the minerals we need, but it may
also create problems.
• Mining can destroy or disturb the habitats of plants
and animals.
• Waste products from a mine may get into water
sources, which pollutes surface water and ground
water.
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Section 3 The Formation, Mining, and Use of
Minerals
Responsible Mining, continued
• One way to reduce the potential harmful effects
of mining is to return the land to its original state
after the mining is completed.
• Reclamation is the process by which land used
for mining is returned to its original state.
• Reducing our need for minerals by recycling is
another way to reduce the effects of mining.
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Chapter F1
Section 3 The Formation, Mining, and Use of
Minerals
The Use of Minerals
• Metallic Minerals are good conductors of heat
and electricity. They can be processed for various
uses, including building aircraft, automobiles, and
communications and electronic equipment.
• Examples of useful metallic minerals include gold,
silver, and copper.
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Chapter F1
Section 3 The Formation, Mining, and Use of
Minerals
The Use of Minerals, continued
• Nonmetallic Minerals are good insulators of
electricity. They have uses that range from glassmaking to producing computer chips.
• Calcite, one nonmetallic mineral, is a major
component of concrete, which is used in building
roads, buildings, bridges and other structures.
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Section 3 The Formation, Mining, and Use of
Minerals
The Use of Minerals, continued
• Gemstones are highly valued for their beauty and
rarity, than for their usefulness.
• Important gemstones include diamond, sapphire,
ruby, emerald, aquamarine, topaz, and tourmaline.
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Chapter F1
Minerals of the Earth’s Crust
Concept Map
Use the terms below to complete the concept map on
the next slide.
gems
compounds
atoms
mineral ore
mining
minerals
diamonds
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Chapter F1
Minerals of the Earth’s Crust
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Chapter F1
Minerals of the Earth’s Crust
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End of Chapter F1 Show
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Chapter F1
Standardized Test Preparation
Reading
Read each of the passages. Then, answer the
questions that follow each passage.
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Passage 1 In North America, copper was mined at
least 6,700 years ago by the ancestors of the Native
Americans who live on Michigan’s upper peninsula.
Much of this mining took place on Isle Royale, an island
in Lake Superior. These ancient people removed
copper from the rock by using stone hammers and
wedges. The rock was sometimes heated first to make
breaking it up easier.
Continued on the next slide
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Passage 1, continued Copper that was mined was
used to make jewelry, tools, weapons, fish hooks, and
other objects. These objects were often marked with
designs. The Lake Superior copper was traded over
long distances along ancient trade routes. Copper
objects have been found in Ohio, Florida, the
Southwest, and the Northwest.
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1. In the passage, what does ancient mean?
A young
B future
C modern
D early
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1. In the passage, what does ancient mean?
A young
B future
C modern
D early
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2. According to the passage, what did the ancient
copper miners do?
F They mined copper in Ohio, Florida, the Southwest,
and the Northwest.
G They mined copper by cooling the rock in which the
copper was found.
H They mined copper by using stone tools.
I They mined copper for their use only.
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2. According to the passage, what did the ancient
copper miners do?
F They mined copper in Ohio, Florida, the Southwest,
and the Northwest.
G They mined copper by cooling the rock in which the
copper was found.
H They mined copper by using stone tools.
I They mined copper for their use only.
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3. Which of the following statements is a fact according
to the passage?
A Copper could be shaped into different objects.
B Copper was unknown outside of Michigan’s upper
peninsula.
C Copper could be mined easily from the rock in which
it was found.
D Copper could not be marked with designs.
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3. Which of the following statements is a fact according
to the passage?
A Copper could be shaped into different objects.
B Copper was unknown outside of Michigan’s upper
peninsula.
C Copper could be mined easily from the rock in which
it was found.
D Copper could not be marked with designs.
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Passage 2 Most mineral names end in -ite. The
practice of so naming minerals dates back to the
ancient Romans and Greeks, who added -ites and -it
is to common words to indicate a color, a use, or the
chemistry of a mineral. More recently, mineral names
have been used to honor people, such as scientists,
mineral collectors, and even rulers of countries. Other
minerals have been named after the place where they
were discovered. These place names include mines,
quarries, hills, mountains, towns, regions, and even
countries. Finally, some minerals have been named
after gods in Greek, Roman, and Scandinavian
mythology.
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1. In the passage, what does practice mean?
A skill
B custom
C profession
D use
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1. In the passage, what does practice mean?
A skill
B custom
C profession
D use
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2. According to the passage, the ancient Greeks and
Romans did not name minerals after what?
F colors
G chemical properties
H people
I uses
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2. According to the passage, the ancient Greeks and
Romans did not name minerals after what?
F colors
G chemical properties
H people
I uses
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3. Which of the following statements is a fact
according to the passage?
A Minerals are sometimes named for the country in
which they are discovered.
B Minerals are never named after their collectors.
C All mineral names end in -ite.
D All of the known minerals were named by the
Greeks and Romans.
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3. Which of the following statements is a fact
according to the passage?
A Minerals are sometimes named for the country in
which they are discovered.
B Minerals are never named after their collectors.
C All mineral names end in -ite.
D All of the known minerals were named by the
Greeks and Romans.
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Chapter F1
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Interpreting Graphics
A sample of feldspar was analyzed to find out what it
was made of. The graph below shows the results of the
analysis. Use the graph below to answer the questions
that follow.
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Chapter F1
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1. The sample consists of
four elements: potassium,
K, aluminum, Al, silicon,
Si, and oxygen, O. Which
element makes up the
largest percentage of your
sample?
A potassium
B aluminum
C silicon
D oxygen
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Chapter F1
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1. The sample consists of
four elements: potassium,
K, aluminum, Al, silicon,
Si, and oxygen, O. Which
element makes up the
largest percentage of your
sample?
A potassium
B aluminum
C silicon
D oxygen
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2. Silicate minerals, such as feldspar, contain a
combination of silicon and oxygen. What percentage of
your sample is composed of silicon and oxygen
combined?
F 30%
G 40%
H 50%
I 70%
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Chapter F1
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2. Silicate minerals, such as feldspar, contain a
combination of silicon and oxygen. What percentage of
your sample is composed of silicon and oxygen
combined?
F 30%
G 40%
H 50%
I 70%
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3. If your sample
has a mass of 10 g,
how many grams of
oxygen does it
contain?
A1g
B2g
C4g
D8g
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3. If your sample
has a mass of 10 g,
how many grams of
oxygen does it
contain?
A1g
B2g
C4g
D8g
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4. Your sample of
orthoclase has a
hardness of 6. Which
of the following
minerals will scratch
your sample?
F gypsum
G corundum
H calcite
I apatite
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4. Your sample of
orthoclase has a
hardness of 6. Which
of the following
minerals will scratch
your sample?
F gypsum
G corundum
H calcite
I apatite
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Math
Read each question, and choose the best answer.
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1. Gold classified as 24-karat is 100% gold. Gold
classified as 18-karat is 18 parts gold and 6 parts
another, similar metal. The gold is therefore 18/24,
or 3/4, pure. What is the percentage of pure gold in
18-karat gold?
A 10%
B 25%
C 50%
D 75%
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1. Gold classified as 24-karat is 100% gold. Gold
classified as 18-karat is 18 parts gold and 6 parts
another, similar metal. The gold is therefore 18/24,
or 3/4, pure. What is the percentage of pure gold in
18-karat gold?
A 10%
B 25%
C 50%
D 75%
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2. Gold’s specific gravity is 19. Pyrite’s specific gravity
is 5. What is the difference in the specific gravities of
gold and pyrite?
F 8 g/cm3
G 10 g/cm3
H 12 g/cm3
I 14 g/cm3
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2. Gold’s specific gravity is 19. Pyrite’s specific gravity
is 5. What is the difference in the specific gravities of
gold and pyrite?
F 8 g/cm3
G 10 g/cm3
H 12 g/cm3
I 14 g/cm3
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Chapter F1
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3. In a quartz crystal, there is one silicon atom for every
two oxygen atoms. So, the ratio of silicon atoms to
oxygen atoms is 1:2. If there were 8 million oxygen
atoms in a sample of quartz, how many silicon atoms
would there be in the sample?
A 2 million
B 4 million
C 8 million
D 16 million
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3. In a quartz crystal, there is one silicon atom for every
two oxygen atoms. So, the ratio of silicon atoms to
oxygen atoms is 1:2. If there were 8 million oxygen
atoms in a sample of quartz, how many silicon atoms
would there be in the sample?
A 2 million
B 4 million
C 8 million
D 16 million
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