Rocks are made up of minerals but minerals are not made up of rocks!!

Minerals There are different kinds of minerals in rocks because rocks are made up of minerals. Minerals are not made up of rocks. The definition of a mineral includes very specific parts It is multipart definition that helps us distinguish rocks from minerals

Definition Part #1: Solid Matter, things, can be in three different forms in nature Gas (Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen) Liquid (Water) Solid (Minerals, Wood, Rock, Metal) Minerals must be solids

Definition Part #2: Inorganic Things in nature are either Organic or Inorganic Organic means: Comes from living things Inorganic means: Not coming from living things So minerals cannot come from living things

Definition Part #3: Naturally Formed Minerals are naturally formed They are found in nature Natural things include rocks, minerals, wood They are not man-made People cannot make a mineral Man-made things include plastic, glass, concrete, Styrofoam

Definition Part #4: Structure Minerals have a definite structure Structure means: The individual pieces of the mineral are arranged in a way that is specific to that mineral You would have to study this aspect of minerals with a microscope

Definition Part #5: Same throughout Minerals are made up of the same things There is not a mixture of parts like in rocks.

The whole definition of minerals…. A solid (not a liquid or a gas) Inorganic (not living) Naturally formed (not man made) Has definite structure Is the same throughout (is not made up of different things) http://www.minerals.net/gemstone/index.htm

Interesting Facts about Minerals Approximately 4,000 different minerals have been identified by scientists so far! 50-100 new minerals are discovered every year!

Properties / Characteristics of Minerals Properties help us identify minerals We can use these properties to help us classify minerals just like the scientists who first found and identified them!

Property #1: Color Minerals can be many different colors Color can change due to IMPURITIES (other things in the mineral that are not pure) Example: Pyrite (fool’s gold) will turn brown or black when exposed to air http://www.minerals.net/mineral/carbonat/calcite/images/4assortd.htm

Property #2: Luster Luster means: “the way a surface reflects light” (www.dictionary.com) Whether or not it is shiny!! Minerals that are shiny have a METALLIC luster. Minerals that are dull have a NONMETALLIC luster. http://www.minerals.net/mineral/sulfides/pyrite/pyrite2.htm

Property #3: Streak If you were to rub a mineral on a special piece of porcelain (pottery-like) called a “streak plate”, streak is the color of the powder left behind In simple terms, the color of its powder when rubbed!!  http://www.minerals.net/mineral/oxides/hematite/hematit6.htm

Property #4: Cleavage If you were to break a mineral, “cleavage” is when it breaks and creates smooth, flat surfaces or pieces Examples include Mica – breaks into sheets Halite – breaks at 90 degree angles in three directions http://www.flickr.com/photos/orbitaljoe/108073872/

Property #5: Fracture If you were to break a mineral, “fracture” is when it breaks and creates a rough surface An Example includes Quartz – creates a curved fracture

Property #6: Hardness A mineral’s resistance to being scratched. The ability of a harder material to scratch a softer material Measured on the MOHS hardness scale. It was created in 1812 by the German mineralogist, Friedrich Mohs A Mohs Value of 1 is the softest and 10 is the hardest. http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/elements/diamond/diamond.htm

Mohs Hardness Scale Talc Softest Gypsum Calcite Fluorite Apatite Orthoclase Quartz Topaz Corundum Diamond Hardest See p. 46 in textbook Mnemonic: Terrible Giants Can Find Alligators Or Quaint Tigers Conveniently Digestable.

Property #7: Density Measure of how much matter (stuff) is in the mineral. Golf ball feels heavier than ping-pong ball because it is more dense (made of more stuff). http://www.minerals.net/mineral/elements/gold/gold1.htm

Special Property #1: Fluorescence Does it glow under ultraviolet light? Yes: Then is has the property of Fluorescence No: Then is does not have the property Fluorescence http://www.sterlinghill.org/Tour%20information.htm

Special Property #2: Chemical Reactions Does it bubble in acid??

Special Property #3: Optical Optical means: pertaining to sight or vision; visual (www.dictionary.com) Example: A thin piece of calcite placed over something will cause a double image

Special Property #4: Magnetism Magnetism means: “the properties of attraction possessed by magnets” (www.dictionary.com) Natural magnets that attract iron Do other metals or minerals stick to it like magnets? http://www.minerals.net/mineral/oxides/magnetit/magneti4.htm

Special Property #5: Taste Example: Halite has a salty taste. DO NOT TASTE MINERALS! http://mineral.galleries.com/scripts/item.exe?LIST+Minerals+Halides+Halite

Special Property #6: Radioactivity Minerals that contain radium or uranium are radioactive

Common Uses of Minerals Aluminum: packaging, transport, building (Yes, like aluminum cans) Beryllium: fluorescent lights (Like the ones in school!) Copper: electric cables, wires, switches Feldspar: glass and ceramics Iron: buildings, automobiles, magnets Calcite: toothpaste, construction http://www.mii.org/commonminerals.php

Even we need minerals!!! http://www.mii.org/www.mii.org