Minerals

Examples: Sphalerite and Turquoise Minerals are… naturally occurring, inorganic solids that have a crystal structure and a definite chemical composition. Examples: Sphalerite and Turquoise

Naturally occurring means … an object that is found naturally on the Earth. Cement and Glass are made of substances from the Earth, but do not occur naturally. They are NOT minerals. NOT MADE BY HUMANS. Examples: Borax and Cinnabar

Inorganic means… NOT MADE OF PLANTS OR ANIMALS. NOT formed from living things or the remains of living things. Coal is made of the remains of plants and animals. It is considered organic and NOT a mineral. NOT MADE OF PLANTS OR ANIMALS. Examples: Flourite and Talc

By solid we mean… ANY object with a definite shape and a definite volume. NOT LIQUIDS OR GASES. Examples: Feldspar and Topaz

Definite chemical composition is… made of an exact formula of elements or compounds. “A recipe” that cannot be changed without changing the mineral. MINERALS ARE MADE OF EXACT CHEMICAL ELEMENTS Example: Quartz has one atom of silicon for every two atoms of oxygen. Halite = Sodium (Na) and Chlorine (Cl) Table Salt

Crystal structure is… The elements of a mineral line up in a pattern that repeat over and over again. The repeating pattern of a mineral’s particles forms a solid called a crystal.

Are minerals like a cake? http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/thezone/minerals/define/cake.htm