I can identify the characteristics needed in order to be considered a mineral.

The Lithosphere:A thin layer of solid rock that

surrounds the earth. The lithosphere is divided into 3 parts: the least dense continental crust, then the oceanic crust and finally, the rigid mantle.

Oxygen and silicon are the most abundant elements in the crust.

What are the two most abundant elements in the crust by mass? (see ESRT chart page 1)

All of this information can be found on page 10 of your Earth Science Reference Tables

What is a Mineral?

To be considered a mineral, the object MUST possess all 5

of the following characteristics…There’s a list after the

next few slides

Minerals must -

Occur naturally

Minerals must be -Minerals must be -

Inorganic - not living and not formed from anything that was once living

Be a solid at room temperature

Minerals must -

Have a Definite chemical composition (elements are combined in a definite proportion)

Minerals must -

Crystal structure due to the internal arrangement of atoms (atoms inside are arranged in an orderly pattern)

Minerals must have a -

Minerals are:

1. Naturally occurring (not man made)

2. Inorganic (not made from living things)

3. Solid at room temperature

4. Have a specific chemical composition

5. Have a distinct crystal structure

A mineral’s properties are determined by the internal arrangement of its atoms.

Both graphite and diamond are made entirely of carbon atoms, but their atoms are arranged quite differently.

The _________________ ______________________ (1 silicon, 4 oxygen) is the building block of ALL silicate minerals!

Silica Tetrahedra

Mineral Properties

1- Color 8- Density2- Luster 9- Specific Gravity3- Streak 10- Magnetism4- Hardness 11- Reaction to acid5- Cleavage 12- Taste6- Fracture 13- Fluorescence7- Crystal Form/Shape 14- Double Refraction

Minerals can be identified by their physical and chemical properties:

• Color• Hardness• Streak• Luster• Cleavage/ Fracture• Specific Gravity• Special Properties

On the next set of slides, try defining each property of mineral identification.

• Tim and Moby…. Mineral Identification

Color:The actual color of the mineral.

Color is not good for identifying because some minerals come in many colors.

All these minerals are quartz!

Hardness:Tests how a mineral can be scratched by another object.

This is done by using the MOH’S Hardness Scale

HARDNESS- minerals resistance to being scratched.

Hardness tests:

Fingernail: …………... hardness 2.5Copper penny: ………. hardness 3.5Iron nail: ……………. hardness 4.5Glass plate: …………. hardness 5.5

1. Talc 2. Gypsum 3. Calcite 4. Fluorite 5. Apatite 6. Feldspar 7. Quartz 8. Topaz 9. Corundum 10. Diamond

Moh’s ScaleMoh’s Scale

Streak:The color left on a streak plate when a mineral is rubbed on it..

Luster:Shows how shiny a mineral is. It is considered metallic if it shines like metal.

Metallic Non-Metallic

Fracture:If a mineral breaks unevenly or splinters it shows fracture.

Hematite breaks unevenly.

Cleavage:If a mineral breaks along a specific plane it has cleavage. Biotite splits in

sheets along flat planes and shows cleavage..

Specific Gravity:This is the density of a mineral.

Iron has a higher density than Talc.

Special Properties:Some minerals have unique properties that help in identification.

Double Refraction:Splits light to show a double image.

Acid Soluble:

Dissolves in acid.

Magnetic:

Shows magnetic properties.

Native Minerals – minerals that are made of only one element.

Examples:

Graphite

Sulfur

Gold

Diamond

Did You Know