Element(ary)
My(nerals), dear
(Rock)son!!!
What’s the difference?
Goals
O You will be able to distinguish rocks from
minerals and elements at the end of these
notes
O You will be able to describe the differences
between rocks, elements, and minerals
What comes to your mind
when You think of Elements?
O Smallest piece of matter
O Mass number/Atomic number
O Proton/Neutron/Electron
What comes to mind when you
hear the word Minerals?
O Vitamins and Minerals
O Valuable
O Mineral buildup (hard water)
O …
Real Definitions
O Minerals- Naturally occurring, inorganic solid
that possesses definite chemical structure
with unique physical properties.
Quartz
Diamond 
Characteristics of Minerals
1. Naturally Occurring
2. Inorganic –Never Alive
3. Must be solid
4. Must have definite chemical structure
Examples of Minerals
O Quartz
O Chemical formula: SiO2
O Crystal structure: Multi-faceted(faced),
elongated, with flat faces and no specific
fracture pattern
O Most prized pieces are large and clear but
there are many variants based on impurities
Examples of Minerals
O Orthoclase Feldspar
O Chemical formula: KAlSi2O8
O Crystal Structure: molecules form 3-
Dimensional network with anhedral (no
organizations) crystal structure
O Appearance: Usually light pink in color, but
varies
Examples of Minerals
O Horneblende
O Chemical formula: Ca2(Mg, Fe, Al)5 (Al,
Si)8O22(OH)2 ; the Mg, Fe, and Al are
interchangeable in the first group as the Al
and Si are in the second. The (OH) is a
hydroxide unit.
O Crystal structure and appearance: Black
irregular structure
What comes to mind when you
hear the word Rocks?
O Dirty
O Hard
O ______s are dumb, throw Rocks at them…
O …
Real Definitions
O Rock- A collection or aggregation of minerals
Granite
Example: Granite
Quartz
Hornblende
Feldspar
Difference Between Rocks and
Minerals
O Rocks
O Collections of
minerals and other
materials
O Consolidated
mixtures of
minerals
O Minerals
O A naturally
occurring,
inorganic
crystalline material
with a unique
chemical makeup
Characteristics of Minerals
O Minerals are
identified by their
physical
characteristics
O Diaphaneity (light
O
O
O Luster
O
O Color
O
O Hardness
O Cleavage
O
O Streak
O
O
transmission)
Tenacity
Crystal form
Magnetism
Refraction or
double refraction
Taste
Odor
Reactivity
Vocab.
O Use the handout and your partner to
complete the vocabulary for this section in
your notes. We will have a vocabulary check
on Tuesday for this set and the previous set.