1. Mineral Properties
What is a mineral?

2. Minerals have four characteristics…

3. Forms in Nature Form in different ways, but all in nature
Not “man made”
Examples:
Halite (table salt) – forms when water evaporates in hot, shallow parts of the ocean
Talc – forms deep in Earth as high pressure and temperature cause changes in rocks

4. Is a Solid
Takes up a defined amount of space and a rigid shape

5. Has a Definite Chemical Makeup
Each mineral consists of a specific combination of atoms of certain elements
Everything you can see or touch is made of atoms, some minerals have one type of atom, others have multiple types
EX: Halite – made of sodium atoms

6. Atom - Structure
Halite is made of atoms!

7. Has a Crystal Structure
Crystal – a solid in which the atoms are arranged in an orderly, repeating 3D pattern
Each mineral has its own type of crystal structure
EX: diamonds and graphite consist of only the element carbon. These minerals are different because of their crystal structure.

8. How are the structures different?
Graphite
Diamond