1. Minerals, Rocks and Fossils

2. What is a mineral? Naturally occurring Non-organic
Characteristic chemical composition
Distinctive physical properties
Crystalline structure

3. Mineral properties Color Luster Habit (Shape) Cleavage & Fracture
Streak
Hardness
Other

4. Color:
Not mineral specific

5. Luster:
How minerals reflect light
Metallic
Non-metallic

6. Mineral Habit (Shape) Shape a mineral takes if grown unimpeded
Mineral Java Applet

7. Cleavage & Fracture
Cleavage: planes of weakness along which minerals can break
Fracture: surfaces along which minerals can break

8. Cleavage & Fracture
Best identified on a fracture surface

9. Streak:
The powdered form of a mineral

10. Based on Moh’s scale of hardness

11. Other Properties Specific gravity Reaction to acid Striations
Magnetism

12. Classifying Rocks
Rocks are classified by how they formed and what they’re made of
There are 3 general classes of rocks
Igneous Rocks…are formed when lava and magma crystallize to form solid rock
Metamorphic Rocks…are formed when an existing rock is partially melted, squeezed, or both
Sedimentary Rocks…are formed when sediments (sand clay, and silt) are compressed and become solid rock

13. Igneous Rocks

14. Metamorphic Rocks
Schist
Gneiss

15. Sedimentary Rocks
Shale
Conglomerate
Sandstone

16. Fossils
The remains or imprints of living things of the past found in Sedimentary rocks.

17. Fossils provide information about life and conditions in the past.

18. Fossils of Sea Creatures
Oceans once covered the area
What part of the ocean

19. Fossils of Plants
Plant fossils can tell us about the ancient environment

20. Animal Fossils Animal fossils can tell us About past environments
What the animal ate
How they lived