Minerals

A mineral is an element or compound found in the earth. The 5 basic features all minerals have 1.They are solid 2.They are formed naturally in the earth 3.They have the same chemical makeup throughout 4.They are not alive or made of living things 5.They have definite atomic patterns

There are about 3,000 different minerals found in the earth. Some minerals are pure like gold and sulfur, others are compounds made of 2 or more elements such as quartz silicon and oxygen.

Properties used to identify minerals Color: the color of a mineral

Luster: how a mineral reflects light

Streak: color that a mineral makes on a white tile

Hardness: ability of a mineral to resist being scratched Moh’s scale was created to identify the hardness of a mineral

Crystal shape: basic shape that a mineral tends to take

Break Pattern: the arrangement of atoms in a mineral also make it break in a specific way. (2 ways) 1.Cleavage: ability to split along flat surfaces

2. Fracture: tendency to break with jagged edges

Specific gravity: minerals weight compared to the weight of water

WHAT ARE SOME THINGS CREATED FROM MINERALS?

Common uses of minerals Minerals are used to make many products such as jewelry, coins, electrical wire, glass, pencils, nails, etc….