Introduction to MINERALS -DeMarco

A MINERAL IS: Non-Living Inorganic Solid

5 Major Properties HARDNESS “Moh’s scale” (Ranges from 1-10) Softest Hardest TALC = 1 DIAMOND = 10 Used for powder, makeup Used for Jewelry & cutting

To use Moh’s scale… We scratch minerals against each other, or common items to see if we can get them to scratch each other.

LUSTER Does it look like shiny metal or is it dull/glassy? Metallic -or- Nonmetallic

CLEAVAGE or FRACTURE How the mineral breaks apart… CLEAVAGE = NEATLY, ALONG FLAT SURFACES FRACTURE = CRUMBLES OR BREAKS ERRATICALLY CLEAVAGE FRACTURE

COLOR Easy to observe, but NOT very useful… (Many minerals can be the same color!) (One mineral can be many colors!) Amethyst (Quartz) Citrine (Quartz) Rose Quartz Smokey Quartz

SPECIAL TESTS Magnetism Is the mineral magnetic? If yes, then it must be MAGNETITE!

Special Tests ODOR Does it smell like rotten eggs? If yes, you must have SULFUR!

Special Tests TASTE! Does it taste salty? If yes… it is HALITE.

Special Tests Fluorescence Does it glow in the dark? Some rare minerals do!