2. What is a mineral?
A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic, crystalline, solid with a definite chemical composition.

3. A substance is a mineral if it is:
Solid
not gas
not liquid

4. A substance is a mineral if it is
Naturally Occurring
must be found in nature
was not made in the laboratory

5. A substance is a mineral if it is
Inorganic
not made from a living thing
does not contain chains of carbon atoms

6. A substance is a mineral if it has a
Crystal Structure
Atoms arrange themselves in an orderly fashion to create regular geometric patterns

7. Crystal Palace - Mexico

8. A substance is a mineral if it has a
Definite Chemical Formula
Gold (Au)
Calcite (CaCO3)
Quartz (SiO2)
Pyrite (FeS2)

9. Formation of Minerals Evaporation Process
Minerals can form when solutions evaporate and the materials dissolved in the water crystallize.

10. Formation of Minerals Volcanic Process
As magma and lava cool, minerals crystallize. Some atoms are stable and do not combine.

11. Formation of Minerals Heat and Pressure
Heat, pressure and chemical change deep inside the Earth create minerals. They form from existing minerals that are transformed by the heat and pressure.

12. Mineral Facts More than 4000 minerals have been identified.
New minerals are still being discovered.
NJ is one of two places in the world that have more different minerals than any other place on Earth!

15. Composition of the Earth’s Crust
98.5% of Earth’s Crust is made of:
-Oxygen (O)
-Silicon (Si)
-Aluminum (Al)
-Iron (Fe)
-Calcium (Ca)
-Sodium (Na)
-Potassium (K)
-Magnesium (Mg)
mostly in combination with one another.

16. Most Common Minerals
Silicates – 92% of all minerals contain oxygen and silicon
9 minerals make up 99% of Earth: feldspar, pyroxene, mica, olivine, dolomite, quartz, amphibole, clay, calcite
Silicon Dioxide – also known as quartz (large pieces) or sand (small pieces) makes up 75% of the Earth’s crust!

17. Feldspar

18. Pyroxene

19. Mica

20. Olivine

21. Dolomite

22. Quartz

23. Amphibole

24. Clay

25. Calcite

26. Most minerals are made of chemically combined (bonded) elements
Most minerals are made of chemically combined (bonded) elements. These minerals are grouped according to the elements in them. We call these mineral families.
Oxides – have oxygen in them
Halides – have halogens in them
Sulfides – have sulfur in them
Carbonates – have CO3 in them
Sulfates – have SO4 in them
Silicates – have SiO4 in them

27. Most elements combined to make minerals but some did not.
Called the Native Minerals (one element alone)
Also called Native Elements
Copper (Cu) Gold (Au) Sulfur (S)

28. Ore – rock that contains minerals that can be mined
Iron Ore Gold Ore

29. Alloy – mixture of two or more minerals
Pewter = tin + copper + lead + antimony
Bronze = copper + tin
Solder = tin + lead
Stainless Steel = iron + chromium + nickel

30. BRASS
Used to make medical instruments and equipment due to its antimicrobial properties
Used to make spark proof tools used by fire departments and other safety professionals to avoid sparking fires during gas leaks or confined space entry
Brass = copper + zinc

31. Every American Requires 40,000 Pounds of New Minerals per Year
at this level of consumption the average newborn infant will need a lifetime supply of:
-795 lbs of lead (car batteries, electric components)
-757 lbs of zinc (to make brass, rubber, paints)
-1500lbs of copper (electrical motors, wirings
-3593 lbs aluminum (soda cans, aircraft)
-32,700 lbs of iron (kitchen utensils, automobiles, buildings)
-28,213 lbs of salt (cooking, detergents)
-1,238,101 lbs of stone, sand, gravel, cement (roads, homes, etc.)