Minerals Rock!! Get it? Rock?

Remember to take your Vitamins and Minerals What is a mineral? A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with an orderly crystalline structure and a definite chemical composition There are many different statements in that definition Lets take a look at each one

Naturally occurring This means it forms in nature… That pretty much sums it up Synthetic compounds are not considered minerals

Solid Substances The Mineral must be a solid at the temperatures and pressures of the earth’s surface Water is not a mineral! It’s a liquid most of the time Even when it’s ice it’s still not a mineral

Orderly crystalline structure The formation of the substance has to have a consistent repeating pattern of molecules This can’t be measured directly (pssst) molecules aren’t visible

Definite Chemical Composition This is also a property that can’t be measured directly The chemical formula for the mineral has to be the same for EVERY molecule for that mineral Every molecule in a mineral has to be the same to every other molecule in that mineral Gold is made of only the gold atom Quartz is made of 2 Oxygen and 1 Silicon Atoms

Generally Considered Inorganic Organic molecules are ones made of Carbon, Hydrogen, and most times Oxygen… and a few others every now and then Minerals will usually be considered inorganic because they are not made from carbon or hydrogen Sugar is an exception

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Where do these “minerals” you speak of come from? Usually these minerals form when magma cools and hardens The longer the “hardening” time the larger the crystals The shorter the “hardening” time the smaller the crystals Sometimes new minerals form when two other minerals chemically react

(As Yoda would ask) Minerals form where are? Another option minerals have is to form when water evaporates, minerals dissolved will then form in crystal structures Evaporate salt water… what happens? Final option is that high amounts of temperature and pressure cause a certain mineral to change it’s structure Any change in structure changes the mineral

Most Abundant elements in the Earth’s Crust

Minerals have “clicks”, Nerds and Jocks… not quite There are over 3800 minerals and new are being discovered monthly Minerals like everything in science are categorized in groups These groups are organized by what elements are in them Each mineral in a group has similar properties as another

Silicates The most abundant element in the Earth’s crust is what? Hint: it starts with “O” and rhymes with “xygen” Two Oxygen combine with a Silicon to form these minerals These molecules are in a tetrahedron shape Fancy word for 4 sided pyramid

Different structures These show small examples of silicates that have different structures Each structure is a different mineral

Carbonates Are minerals that have Carbon, Oxygen, and one sort of metal CaCO 3 is called calcium carbonate This is a very common carbonate These minerals are very often found marble or limestone

Oxides and Sulfates/Sulfides Oxides are minerals with two or more oxygen atoms connected to another element TiO 2 Rutile Sulfates and Sulfides are any mineral that has Sulfur being the main element CaSO 4 Anhydrite

Halides & Native Elements Halides are minerals that has a “halogen” and another ion Halogens are the elements directly to the left of the Noble Gases NaCl, Salt Native Elements are just elements that are on the periodic table Fe, Au, Ag, Cu