What is a mineral?

1)Naturally occurring- made by the earth 1) Mineral- quartz, sulfur, diamond, gold, silver2) Not a mineral- brick, glass, steel (man-made)

2)Inorganic- made of nonliving material3)Solid- Molecules are tightly packed into a rigid structure.4)Crystal Structure- the repeating pattern that the particles within a

mineral form.5)Specific Chemical Composition- the elements that make the

minerals have a definite chemical formula.

Mineral- a naturally occurring, inorganic, solid that has a specific crystal structure and chemical composition.

Characteristics to classify minerals:

1.Color2.Streak- the powder of the minerals3.Luster- the way a mineral shines4.Density-heaviness5.Hardness- scratch glass, scratch steel, can scrape with fingernails...6.Breaks-

Cleavage/fracture

Color

Sulfur Fluorite

Orthoclase Feldspar Rose Quartz

Streak- the powder of the minerals.Streak is determined by scraping the mineral on a streak

plate and observing the color left on the plate.

Luster- the way a mineral shines or reflects light.

Types of lusters to select from:

Metallitic luster-(graphite) Glassy luster-(quartz)

Waxy, pearly, greasy(talc)

Dull luster (kaoloinite)

Density- how heavy the mineral is

Galena- extremely heavy mineral

Also used as the rare mineral “unobtainium” in the move Avatar.

Hardness- if the mineral can scratch things or be scratched.

Test using Mohs Hardness Scale

Start Here

End Here

How the mineral Breaks- a mineral breaks in one of two ways:

2. Cleavage- when a mineral splits into a pattern because of the arrangement of the atoms.

1. Fracture- the minerals breaks in no specific or irregular way.

Mica- breaks in thin sheets

Calcite-squared edges

Halite is cubic

Rose quartz Hematite Olivine

Other PropertiesSome minerals have other unique characteristics

that determine the name.

Smell - Sulfur smells like rotten eggs

Magnetism - Magnetite is magnetic

Taste - Halite tastes salty

Fluorescence- glows under UV lightsFranklin County, NJ has the most Florescent mineral

mined collection in the world!!!!

Ways We Use Minerals

Over 40 minerals go into making electrical appliances like these...

Talc

Fluorite

Gold, silver, diamonds,rubies, emeralds, etc.

Kaolinite

The Economy of MineralsOre – A rock or mineral that contains a valuable substance which can be mined for profit.

Gem – Valuable minerals that are prized for their rarity and beauty.

IronOre

Gold Ore

Diamond

Silver

Topaz

Sapphire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDFKRySInVs

Rocks

What is the difference between rocks and minerals?

Rocks are made up of mixtures of minerals and other materials.

-Example: Granite is made up of...

QuartzHornblend

Orthoclase Feldspar

Igneous RocksRocks that are formed from magma (melted rock under the earth’s

surface) or lava (melted rock on the earth’s surface).

Two Types of Igneous Rock

Intrusiveformed inside the

earth(magma)

Extrusiveformed on the earth (lava)

Granite

Gabbro

Obsidian

ScoriaPumice

Texture and Crystals of rocks of Igneous Rocks

A. Texture- the size of the grains that make up the rock

B. Crystals- depends on how fast the rocks cooled

Coarse Grain

(large grains)

Fine Grain (small grains, like sand)

GraniteBasalt

Large Crystals- cooled slowly underground

No Crystals- cooled too quickly for crystals to form

or Small Crystals- cooled too quickly

to form large crystals

Obsidian

Metamorphic RocksRocks that change under the Earth’s surface from heat and

pressure.

Characteristics of metamorphic rocks:

Foliated-layers Nonfoliated- no layers

Gneiss Marble

Sedimentary RocksRocks that are formed through a series of

processes: erosion, deposition, compaction and cementation.Erosion- particles carried away by wind or water.

Deposition- particles placed in an area.

Compaction- particles squeezed under pressure.

Cementation- particles are glued together

Three Types of Sedimentary Rocks:A. Clastic- formed from pieces/fragments of rocks being squeezed together.

Examples:

Sandstone Conglomerate

B. Organic- made from remains of plants and/or animals.

LimestoneShale

C. Chemical- formed from minerals dissolving in water and then forms into crystals.

Geodes

Rock Cycle- a series of processes on the earth’s surface and under the surface that slowly change rocks from

one type to another.