Standards:
S6E5b. Investigate the contribution of minerals to
rock composition.
S6E5c. Classify rocks by their process of formation.
S6E5d. Describe processes that change rocks and the
surface of the earth.
MINERALS
Types
Uses
Identification
How many different substances
can you find in the rock below?
Let’s examine the
composition of
rocks in more detail.
Rocks are made up of minerals
A mineral is a naturally
occurring, inorganic solid
with a definite chemical
composition and an
orderly arrangement
of atoms.
Look at the images on the next few
slides. Determine which are minerals
and which are not minerals. Be able to
justify your answer.
 Is it non-living material?
 Is it a solid?
 Is it formed in nature?
 Are its atoms arranged in a
pattern that is repeated over
and over?
Wood
Gold
Fossil
Topaz
Bones
Granite
Quartz
Pearls
Talc
Iceberg
Diamond
Coal
Rock Salt
Minerals
Non-Minerals
 Gold
 Wood - once living
 Topaz
 Fossils – once living
 Quartz
 Bone - living material
 Talc
 Granite - rock
 Iceberg*
 Pearls – made by oysters
 Diamonds
 Coal - rock
 Rock Salt – rock
*According to IMA – ice is listed as a mineral
Minerals in your House
How we use minerals