Minerals

Anywhere on Earth… You may observe landforms of many types made up of rock change over time. You may observe the three types of rock that are formed in the process called the rock cycle.

What are rocks made of?

Rocks (in general) are made of structures called minerals. Sulfur is a non-metallic mineral and pure element. Minerals are non-living substances made up of one or more elements. Elements are the basic building blocks of the universe. Elements (in general) can be more metallic or more non-metallic. Many minerals contain non-metallic and metallic elements. Gold is a metallic mineral and pure element

Rocks (in general) are made of structures called minerals. Minerals can have crystalline structures: Elements are put together in patterns In table salt, the elements sodium and chlorine have a crystalline structure

How are minerals classified? Scientists know the names of minerals because of their… Luster Streak Hardness

Luster The way light reflects off a mineral Some minerals have a shiny luster Some minerals have a dull luster

Streak The color a mineral leaves when it is scratched on a surface.

Hardness Minerals are ranked on a hardness scale of 1 to 10. Softer minerals can be scratched by harder minerals. This scale is called Moh’s Hardness Scale. Here are examples of the hardness scale…

1. Talc Contains magnesium, hydrogen, silicon, and oxygen Has been used in baby powders and paint.

2. Gypsum Contains calcium, sulfur, oxygen, and hydrogen Has been used in surgical casts and toothpaste.

3. Calcite Contains calcium, carbon, and oxygen Has been used in construction and cement.

4. Fluorite Contains calcium, and fluorine. Has been used heavily in the chemical industry.

5. Apatite Contains hydrogen, oxygen, fluorine, phosphorus, etc. Has been used in fertilizer for its phosphorus.

6. Feldspar Contains potassium, aluminum, silicon, oxygen, etc. Used in interior design and sold as gemstones.

7. Quartz Contains mainly silicon and oxygen. Hard and useful in industry. Used for decoration.

8. Topaz Contains mainly silicon, aluminum, oxygen, etc. Used as a gemstone and ha an array of colors.

9. Corundum Contains mainly aluminum, oxygen, iron, titanium, etc. Has been used as a hard glass grinder.

10. Diamond Contains carbon The hardest natural substance known on Earth.

…What technologies do we use that are made of minerals? Think… …What technologies do we use that are made of minerals?