A Mineral is…

with a crystalline structure and a naturally occurring inorganic solid with a crystalline structure and a definite chemical composition.

Naturally Occurring means that It can be found in nature. It is NOT man made.

It is not living. It has never been alive. INORGANIc means that It is not living. It has never been alive.

It is not a gas. It is not a liquid. Solid means that It is not a gas. It is not a liquid.

HAVING A CRYSTALLINE STRUCTURE MEANS THAT Its crystals are cubic, hexagonal, tetragonal, orthorhombic, monoclinic or triclinic. crystal shapes

A DEFINITE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION. THAT MEANS THAT IT CONTAINS THE SAME SUBSTANCES THROUGHOUT IT.

An example of a chemical formula is SiO8. The chemical formula for the mineral quartz is Si O8. (That means that the elements silicon and oxygen make up the mineral and that there are no other elements in a sample of quartz.)

The Periodic Table

What do minerals do for YOU What do minerals do for YOU? Using the Human Ingenuity, Health and Social Education and Environments Lenses to learn about minerals. Human Ingenuity Lens minerals in your home

Our bodies need at least these 15 minerals to function: (HSE lens) calcium iron chromium selenium iodine potassium molybdenum magnesium chloride fluoride phosphorus manganese copper zinc sodium

Check out this vitamin label to find the minerals we take when we use these every day.

Mineral resources are limited. When they are gone, they are gone Mineral resources are limited. When they are gone, they are gone. ENV Lens Making new aluminum cans from used cans takes 95 percent less energy than using virgin materials. Twenty recycled cans can be made with the energy needed to produce one can using virgin ore . Tossing away an aluminum can wastes as much energy as pouring out half of that can’s volume of gasoline . 1 ton of aluminum requires 5 tons of bauxite ore. Let’s see how aluminum cans are made from recycled materials. http://www.alcoa.com/australia/en/news/alcoa_video.asp?videoid=66

Where in the world do minerals come from?

Minerals Use Match Directions: Spread out all of the mineral picture and name cards at your table. Try to match the mineral with the card or cards with uses for that mineral. When you think you have them all matched correctly, raise your hand.