Minerals
EQ: What are minerals?
Standard: S6E5b. Investigate
the contribution of minerals to
rock composition.
There are five characteristics
of a mineral
Five characteristics of a
mineral:
• Solid—A mineral is always a solid,
with a definite volume and shape.
Five characteristics of a
mineral:
• Solid—A mineral is always a solid,
with a definite volume and shape.
• Inorganic—A mineral cannot form from
materials that were once part of a living
thing. Inorganic means “not living”.
Five characteristics of a
mineral:
• Solid—A mineral is always a solid,
with a definite volume and shape.
• Inorganic—A mineral cannot form from
materials that were once part of a living
thing. Inorganic means “not living”.
• Naturally Occurring—A mineral is formed by
processes in the natural world.
Five characteristics of a
mineral:
• Solid—A mineral is always a solid,
with a definite volume and shape.
• Inorganic—A mineral cannot form from
materials that were once part of a living
thing. Inorganic means “not living”.
• Naturally Occurring—A mineral is formed by
processes in the natural world.
• Crystal Structure—The particles of a mineral line up
in repeating patterns, called crystals, with faces that
meet up at sharp edges and corners.
Five characteristics of a
mineral:
• Solid—A mineral is always a solid,
with a definite volume and shape.
• Inorganic—A mineral cannot form from
materials that were once part of a living
thing. Inorganic means “not living”.
• Naturally Occurring—A mineral is formed by
processes in the natural world.
• Crystal Structure—The particles of a mineral line up
in repeating patterns, called crystals, with faces that
meet up at sharp edges and corners.
• Definite Chemical Composition—A mineral always
contains certain elements in definite proportions.
Five characteristics of a
mineral:
• Solid—A mineral is always a solid,
with a definite volume and shape.
• Inorganic—A mineral cannot form from
materials that were once part of a living
thing. Inorganic means “not living”.
• Naturally Occurring—A mineral is formed by
processes in the natural world.
• Crystal Structure—The particles of a mineral line up
in repeating patterns, called crystals, with faces that
meet up at sharp edges and corners.
• Definite Chemical Composition—A mineral always
contains certain elements in definite proportions.
EQ: How can I identify a
mineral?
Standard: S6E5b. Investigate
the contribution of minerals to
rock composition.
Properties of a mineral:
• Color
Properties of a mineral:
• Color
• Streak—the color of a mineral’s
powder. A streak test can help to
identify a mineral. Streak and color
are often different.
Properties of a mineral:
• Color
• Streak—the color of a mineral’s
powder. A streak test can help to
identify a mineral. Streak and color
are often different.
• Luster--how light is reflected from a
mineral’s surface. Examples include
metallic, glassy, silky, dull, waxy, earthy.
Properties of a mineral:
• Color
• Streak—the color of a mineral’s
powder. A streak test can help to
identify a mineral. Streak and color
are often different.
• Luster--how light is reflected from a mineral’s
surface. Examples include metallic, glassy,
silky, dull, waxy, earthy.
• Density—how compact a substance; mass per
unit volume.
Properties of a mineral:
• Color
• Streak—the color of a mineral’s
powder.
• Luster--how light is reflected from a
mineral’s surface.
• Density—how compact a substance; mass per
unit volume.
• Hardness—the ability of a mineral to scratch
another mineral. Mohs hardness scale ranks ten
minerals from softest to hardest. Talc can be
scratched by a fingernail; diamond can scratch all
other substances.
Properties of a mineral:
• Hardness—the ability of a mineral to
scratch another mineral. Mohs
hardness scale ranks ten minerals
from softest to hardest. Talc can be
scratched by a fingernail; diamond
can scratch all other substances.
• Crystal Systems—six basic groups based on
crystal faces; often only visible under a microscope.
Groups include cubic, hexagonal, tetragonal,
orthorhombic, monoclinic, and triclinic.
Properties of a mineral:
• Hardness—the ability of a mineral to
scratch another mineral. Mohs
hardness scale ranks ten minerals.
• Crystal Systems—six basic groups
based on crystal faces; often only
visible under a microscope. Groups
include cubic, hexagonal, tetragonal,
orthorhombic, monoclinic, and triclinic.
• Cleavage—when a mineral splits easily along flat
surfaces. Examples—prismatic, cubic, octahedral
Properties of a mineral:
• Crystal Systems—six basic groups
based on crystal faces; often only
visible under a microscope. Groups
include cubic, hexagonal,
tetragonal, orthorhombic,
monoclinic, and triclinic.
• Cleavage—when a mineral splits easily along flat
surfaces. Examples—prismatic, cubic, octahedral
• Fracture—how a mineral looks when it breaks
apart in an irregular way. Examples—splintery,
uneven, hackly
Properties of a mineral:
• Crystal Systems—six basic groups
based on crystal faces
• Cleavage—when a mineral splits
easily along flat surfaces. Examples—
prismatic, cubic, octahedral
• Fracture—how a mineral looks when it breaks apart
in an irregular way. Examples—splintery, uneven,
hackly
• Tenacity—the resistance of mineral particles to
being separated. Examples—brittle, malleable,
elastic
Properties of a mineral:
• Crystal Systems—six basic groups
based on crystal faces
• Cleavage—when a mineral splits
easily along flat surfaces
• Fracture—how a mineral looks when it
breaks apart in an irregular way
• Tenacity—the resistance of mineral particles to being
separated. Examples—brittle, malleable, elastic
• Special Properties—unique properties not shared by
all minerals, such as magnetism, fluorescence,
radioactivity, reactivity