What is a mineral?
Mineral- a naturally occurring, inorganic, solid that has
a specific crystal structure and chemical composition.
1)Naturally occurring- made by the earth
1) Mineral- quartz, sulfur, diamond, gold, silver
2) Not a mineral- brick, glass, steel (man-made)
2)Inorganic- made of nonliving material
3)Solid- Molecules are tightly packed into a rigid structure.
4)Crystal Structure- the repeating pattern that the particles within a
mineral form.
5)Specific Chemical Composition- the elements that make the
minerals have a definite chemical formula.
Characteristics to classify minerals:
1.Color
2.Streak- the powder
of the minerals
3.Luster- the way a
mineral shines
4.Density-heaviness
5.Hardness- scratch
glass, scratch steel,
can scrape with
fingernails...
6.BreaksCleavage/fracture
Color
Sulfur
Orthoclase Feldspar
Fluorite
Rose Quartz
Streak- the powder of the minerals.
Streak is determined by scraping the mineral on a streak
plate and observing the color left on the plate.
Luster- the way a mineral shines or reflects
light.
Types of lusters to select from:
Metallitic luster-(graphite)
Dull luster (kaoloinite)
Glassy luster-(quartz)
Waxy, pearly, greasy(talc)
Density- how heavy the mineral is
Galena- extremely
heavy mineral
Also used as the
rare mineral
“unobtainium” in
the move Avatar.
Hardness- if the mineral can scratch things or
be scratched.
Test using Mohs Hardness Scale
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How the mineral Breaks- a mineral breaks in
one of two ways:
1. Fracture- the minerals breaks in no specific
or irregular way.
Rose quartz
Hematite
Olivine
2. Cleavage- when a mineral splits into a
pattern because of the arrangement of the
atoms.
Mica- breaks in thin sheets
Calcite-squared edges
Halite is cubic
Other Properties
Some minerals have other unique characteristics
that determine the name.
Smell - Sulfur smells like rotten
eggs
Magnetism - Magnetite is Taste - Halite tastes salty
magnetic
Fluorescence- glows under UV lights
Franklin County, NJ has the most Florescent mineral mined
collection in the world!!!!
Ways We Use Minerals
Over 40 minerals go into making
electrical appliances like these...
Talc
Gold, silver,
diamonds,
rubies,
emeralds, etc.
Kaolinite
Fluorite
The Economy of Minerals
Ore – A rock or mineral that
contains a valuable substance
which can be mined for profit.
Iron
Ore
Gem – Valuable minerals that
are prized for their rarity and
beauty.
Diamond
Silver
Topaz
Gold
Ore
Sapphire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDFKRySInVs
Rocks
What is the difference between rocks
and minerals?
Rocks are made up of mixtures of minerals and other
materials.
-Example: Granite is made up of...
Quartz
Hornblend
Orthoclase
Feldspar
Igneous Rocks
Rocks that are formed from magma (melted rock under the earth’s
surface) or lava (melted rock on the earth’s surface).
Two Types of Igneous Rock
Intrusive
formed inside the earth(magma)
Extrusive
formed on the earth (lava)
Granite
Obsidian
Gabbro
Scoria
Pumice
Texture and Crystals of rocks of
Igneous Rocks
A. Texture- the size of the grains that make up the rock
Coarse Grain
(large grains)
Granite
Fine Grain
(small grains, like sand)
Basalt
B. Crystals- depends on how fast the rocks cooled
Obsidian
No Crystals- cooled too quickly for
crystals to form
or
Small Crystals- cooled too quickly to
form large crystals
Large Crystals- cooled slowly
underground
Metamorphic Rocks
Rocks that change under the Earth’s surface from heat and
pressure.
Characteristics of metamorphic rocks:
Foliated-layers
Gneiss
Nonfoliated- no layers
Marble
Sedimentary Rocks
Rocks that are formed through a series of processes:
erosion, deposition, compaction and cementation.
Erosion- particles carried away by wind or water.
Deposition- particles placed in an area.
Compaction- particles squeezed under pressure.
Cementation- particles are glued together
Three Types of Sedimentary Rocks:
A. Clastic- formed from pieces/fragments of rocks being squeezed together.
Examples:
Sandstone
Conglomerate
B. Organic- made from remains of plants and/or animals.
Shale
Limestone
C. Chemical- formed from minerals dissolving in water and
then forms into crystals.
Geodes
Rock Cyclea series of processes on the earth’s surface and under
the surface that slowly change rocks from one type to
another.