 How science workspg 1-2  Scientific Methodpg 3-8  Science Engineering pg  Chapter1 review pg 11,13  Minerals-Earth’s Jewelspg 15-20

What is a mineral? What are rocks made of? How are minerals formed?  A mineral is inorganic solid material with a particular chemical make up and orderly arrangement of atoms.  Rocks are composed of two or more minerals.  Minerals form from magma or lava or through evaporation or precipitation.

 What are the formation clues of minerals?  How to identify minerals  Mineral formation clues include size and how mineral crystals fit together.  There are properties or characteristics used to identify minerals. › Solid materials with repeating pattern of atoms are called crystals.

 How to identify minerals continued  2. Some minerals have cleavage, splitting into thin sheets; other minerals have fractions, breaking into rough edges.  Biotite produces thin sheets or flakes when chipped.

 Properties & Characteristics continued  3. Color or Streak (color of a powered mineral)  4.Luster describes how light reflects from a mineral’s surface. Adamantine - a brilliant luster such as that of diamond Vitreous - glassy, bright Greasy - a dull sheen

 Properties & characteristics continued  5.Mohs scale uses hardness to classify minerals from 1 to 10 (1 is the softest 10 is the hardest).  6.Specific gravity compares the weight of the mineral to one with equal volume.  7.Other properties of minerals include magnetism, double refraction, taste, or reactions with acid.

 What are some common minerals?  Most rock forming minerals are silicates or carbonates. 1.Rare minerals which can be cut and polished are gems. 2.Diamonds are produced under pressure beneath Earth’s surface and brought to the surface by special volcanic eruptions

 Common minerals continued  What makes gems valuable?  Summary 3. An ore contains enough useful minerals to be sold at a profit 4.Ores must be processed to extract the minerals They are rare. Not only are gems produced under unusual circumstances these minerals usually need to be clear with no blemishes or cracks.

 Front and back of worksheet due Wednesday 9/21/11