With a partner near you…
• On a sheet of paper
in your notes, come
up with what you think
defines a mineral.
Make a list of
properties.
• What makes a
mineral different from
a rock?
What is a Mineral? Based on observations ,
what is your definition of what a mineral is?
What is a mineral?
• Solid
• Not liquid, gas, or plasma
What is a mineral?
• Naturally-occurring
• Not man-made
What is a mineral?
• Inorganic
• Never alive
What is a mineral?
• Fixed chemical composition: an element or
a compound
What is a mineral?
• Crystal structure: atoms or molecules
in an orderly pattern
Examples of minerals
Halite
(rock salt)
Quartz
Mica
Not minerals
2 Major Groups of Minerals
Silicates- contains
atoms of Silicon and
Oxygen.
Quartz contains only
Silicon and Oxygen
Most silicates
contain other
elements
Non Silicates- do
not contain silicon.
Makes up 4% of the
Earth’s crust.
Most minerals are compounds
• Quartz: silicon and oxygen
–SiO2
– Most abundant in earth’s crust
• Halite: sodium and chloride
–NaCl
Native Minerals
• Made up of
single elements
Gold
Copper
Silver
Sulfur
Important Mineral Facts…
• There are more than 2,000 kinds of
minerals,
• Fewer than 20 are common minerals that
form rock
• 10 minerals make up 90% of the earth’s
crust
– Ex. Quartz, feldspar, mica, calcite
Gypsum Caves
• Largest Crystals in the World are found in
Northern Mexico in the Cave of Crystals
Cave of Crystals Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeiMfL
mJtzk
Properties of Minerals:
How We Identify Minerals
How could you…
• Classify minerals from each other
• Come up with 6 “tests” or ways to
differentiate minerals from each other…
Luster = ability to reflect light
Metallic:
Shines like
polished metal
Non-metallic:
Does not shine
like metal
Non-metallic types
Transparent
Translucent
Opaque
Color
Light
Dark
Color is NOT a good way to identify a
mineral
Quartz
Feldspar
Streak
• Color when
rubbed on a tile
• May be
different than
the color of the
mineral
Hardness
• Ability to scratch
other minerals
Diamonds
How Diamonds are Cut Video
How a Mineral Breaks
• 2 types:
–Cleavage: splits along flat planes
–Fracture: breaks unevenly
Cleavage
Fracture
Breaks along
uneven lines