Naturally occurring Inorganic Solid Crystalline structure Specific physical and chemical properties

Olivine mineral green Olivine mineral in igneous basalt rock Minerals make up rocks!

Amethyst Quartz

Minerals are made up of atoms of elements There are over 2000 different types of minerals on Earth – most minerals are “silicate” minerals (made up of silicon & oxygen) Carbonates, Sulfides, and Iron Oxides

The silica tetrahedron, consists of one silicon atom surrounded by four oxygen atoms at the corners of the tetrahedron atomic structure. The silica tetrahedron is a basic building unit for a major group of minerals called the silicates. Silicate minerals are the most common minerals found on Earth. Four representations of the silica tetrahedron structure each showing how four oxygen atoms bond to a single silicon atom forming a pyramid type structure.

2 main ways that new crystals of minerals grow: Some minerals form when molten rock below a planet’s surface (magma) or above (lava), cools and atoms bond together into mineral crystals Some minerals form when molten rock below a planet’s surface (magma) or above (lava), cools and atoms bond together into mineral crystals Other minerals form when water that has atoms of dissolved elements in it, evaporates away -- the atoms get very close to each other and bond together to form solid minerals Other minerals form when water that has atoms of dissolved elements in it, evaporates away -- the atoms get very close to each other and bond together to form solid minerals

Luster (metallic or non-metallic) Luster (metallic or non-metallic) Hardness (hard or soft) Hardness (hard or soft) Cleavage / Fracture (way the mineral splits) Cleavage / Fracture (way the mineral splits) Streak (powder color of mineral) Streak (powder color of mineral)

3 crystals of quartz mineral show how the same type of mineral can have different colors! of mineral can have different colors!