Minerals!
What is a
mineral?
• In order for a
substance to be
classified as a
mineral it must
maintain FIVE
characteristics.
• 1. Naturally
occurring
• 2. Inorganic
• 3. Solid
• 4. Definite chemical
composition
• 5. Definite crystal
pattern (shape)
Describe each characteristic!
Naturally Occurring
Inorganic
Solid
Not man made,
must occur in
nature
Not living and
not made of any
living materials
A substance with a
definite shape and
volume
Definite Chemical
Composition
Definite Crystal Pattern
A specific shape
A specific
from which the
formula (either a
mineral
single element or
crystallizes or
a compound)
grows atomically
What does the abundance of
each mineral depend on?
• Where they form.
Location within the
earth!
• The abundance of the
elements from which
they form.
• The rate at which they
form. Speed!
There are 2500 known minerals, but only 20 are
common , they are referred to as ROCK
FORMING MINERALS
QUARTZ
CALCITE
AUGITE
HEMATITE
MICA
FELDSPAR
AMPHIBOLE
DOLOMITE
GYPSUM
OLIVINE
All minerals are broken into mineral groups
based on their CHEMICAL COMPOSITION!
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
1. Silicates ****
2. Sulfides
3. Sulfates
4. Carbonates
5. Oxides
6. Native Elements
7. Halides
*ate = Oxygen
*ide = Metal
Quartz
SiO2
Silicon
Oxygen
2
proton
s
electrons
neutrons
atoms
elements
minerals
silicates
Silicon
+
Oxygen
sulfides
Sulfur
+
Metal
sulfates
oxides
Sulfur Oxygen
+
+
Oxygen Metal
halides
Chlorine
and /or
Bromine
and/or
Fluorine
and/or
Iodine
+
metal
carbonates
Carbon
+
Oxygen
Native
Elements
Any
Single
Eleme
nt
A Mineral is ?
•1.
•2.
•3.
•4.
•5.
Naturally occurring
Inorganic
Solid
Definite chemical composition
Definite crystal pattern (shape)
There are 2500 known minerals, but only 20 are
common, they are referred to as ROCK
FORMING MINERALS
Quartz
Feldspar
Regardless of the number of minerals in the world
each has its own unique set of characteristics.
These characteristics are referred to as:
Physical properties
Physical Properties
Color
Visual property easiest to identify, but least reliable!
talc
dolomite
malachite
copper
Luster
Non-metallic
The way a mineral reflects the light.
Metallic
Looks or reflects the
light like metal
Does not reflect the
light as metal
Breakage
Result of arrangement of atoms, bonding
Cleavage:
to break along a smooth plain or in a
particular pattern.
Fracture:
Breakage
To break with uneven, rough, or
jagged edged. No pattern
Streak
The powdered residue left behind as a
mineral is rubbed across a porcelain tile.
Crystallization
Growth
A mineral grows by crystallizing:
the arrangement of atoms in a repeating
pattern.
Minerals crystallize as magma coolsSlow cooling, large crystals
Fast cooling, small crystals
Atomic structure
Outward appearance
Crystal (Shapes) Structures
tetragonal
hexagonal
orthorhombic
triclinic
monoclinic
cubic
Hardness
The ability of a mineral to resist being scratched.
Absolute hardness
Relative hardness
Comparison of mineral
hardness.
-Talc is the softest
-Diamond is the hardest.
Example:
Apatite is harder
than Fluorite, softer
than Feldspar.
estimate
Physical test using a series
of items and recording
the numerical measurement.
Example: exact
Feldspar is not scratched by
the penny, nail, or file.
Its hardness is >6.
Example
Luster
Color
Hardness
Unique
Feature
Streak
Chemical
Composition
Crystal (Shapes) Structures
Structure: hexagonal
Formula: SiO2