1. Minerals

2. What is the difference in picture A and B? (Other than the obvious)

3. What is a mineral?
Formed by natural processes such as cooling magma and evaporating saltwater
Inorganic – not made by life processes
Element or a compound with definite chemical composition (structure)
Solid and crystalline (atoms in patterns that repeat over and over again)

4. Properties of Minerals
The environment which the mineral forms determines it properties
Evaporating salt water
Changes in heat, pressure, and chemical composition (metamorphism)
Cooling of magma
Hot water solutions etc.

5. S.N.I.F.C. Solid-not liquid, gas, or plasma Naturally Occurring-Not manmade Inorganic–Not alive, never was Fixed Composition - Same recipe everywhere, every time (Element or Compound-Not a mixture) C rystal Structure- way the atoms are arranged

6. How are minerals classified?
Minerals are grouped based on crystal systems.
Minerals are divided in groups based on their chemical composition

7. How are minerals identified? Properties (How can you tell them apart?)
Streak
Breakage (cleavage and Fracture
Unique properties
Hardness
Luster
Density

8. Hardness
Hardness is determined by how easily a mineral can be scratched.
Mohs Scale of Hardness is used to measure the hardness of a mineral

9. Hardness of Common Objects
Mohs Scale
Hardness
Hardness of Common Objects
Talc (softest) 1
Fingernail
Gypsum 2
Piece of copper
Calcite 3
Iron nail
Fluorite 4
Glass
Apatite 5
Steel file
Feldspar 6
Streak plate
Quartz 7
Flint sandpaper
Topaz 8
Spinel (rock shops)
Corundum 9
Emery sandpaper
Diamond (hardest) 10
Carborundum sandpaper

10. Luster The way a mineral reflects light. Ex. Shiny or dull
Ex.Metallic or Nonmetallic

11. Density The measure of how much matter is in a given amount of matter
Ratio of an object’s mass to its volume

12. Streak The color of the power of a mineral.
Tested by streaking the mineral across another object (object must be harder than the mineral)

13. Breakage Clevage-breaks along smooth, flat surfaces
Fracture-breaks with an uneven, rough, or jagged surface

14. Unique Properties
Many minerals have unique characteristics that can also be used to identify the mineral.
Example-natural magnet, double refraction, odor, taste, reaction to acids, fluorescence, etc.

15. Uses of Minerals
Minerals are a component of everyday life because they are a part of everyday objects
Jewerly (gems-rare minerals)
Diamonds are used in industrial abrasives and cutting tools
Some minerals are used to produce specific types of laser light
Quartz is used in electronics
Minerals that contain useful substances can be mined (Ex. Bauxite-aluminum; Ilemenite and Rutile-titanium)