1. Minerals

2. What is a mineral?
A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition a crystal structure
About 4,000 minerals exist
Only about 100 are common
Ceramic, metallic and some paper products include minerals

3. Characteristics All minerals form by natural processes
No input from humans
Minerals are inorganic
Not made from anything that was once living
Every mineral is an solid element or compound with a definite volume and shape
Minerals are crystalline solids – they have definite volume and shape

4. Element v/s Compound
Elements are single substances composed of a single type of atom
Ex: Sodium, Na and Gold, Au
Compounds are two or more elements combined so that the elements no longer have distinct properties
Ex: Sodium Chloride, NaCl (salt)

5. Crystal
Solid in which the atoms are arranged in orderly repeating patterns
Can be made from magma
Can be made from solution
Crystals are left behind when liquid with minerals dissolved in it evaporates

6. Physical Properties Hardness Luster
Color : unreliable - smoky, milky, purple, red, clear
Cleavage and Fracture
Specific Gravity
Special properties:
Feel
Taste : halite
Smell : sulfur and sulfides
Magnetism – magnetite
Fizz in dilute HCl acid : calcite

7. Mineral Identification
Appearance – color and overall appearance
Calcite and Hematite look dramatically different

8. Mineral Identification
Hardness
A measure of how easily a mineral can be scratched
Talc is so soft you can scratch it with your fingernail
Diamond is the hardest mineral
Mohs scale
List of common minerals to compare hardness (see table 1)
Each mineral is given a value from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest)

10. Mineral Identification
Luster – the way a mineral reflects light
Can be metallic or non-metallic
Metallic minerals shine like metal
Ex: graphite, pyrite
Non-metallic metals are usually said to be dull, silky or glassy
Ex: quartx, halite, flourite

11. Mineral Identification
Specific Gravity – ratio of its weight compared to the weight of an equal volume of water
You can compare the specific gravity of two minerals by holding samples of equal size mineral in each of your hands
Ex: Gold 17 (17 X heavier than water), pyrite 5 (5 X heavier than water)

12. Mineral Identification
Streak – when a mineral is rubbed across a piece of unglazed porcelain tile, a streak of powdered mineral is left behind
Streak is the color of the mineral in powdered form
Minerals must be softer than the streak plate for this test to work

13. Mineral Identification
Cleavage and fracture – the way a mineral breaks

14. Cleavage Minerals that break along smooth flat lines have cleavage
Ex: Mica

15. Fracture
Minerals that break along uneven, jagged surfaces have fracture
Ex: Quartz

16. Mineral Identification
Other properties
Magnetism – magnetite picks up iron shavings
HCl test – causes fizzing bubbles on calcite
Double images – calcite causes light to form double images

18. Math Problem
1. GRAB A CALCULATOR. (YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO DO THIS ONE IN YOUR HEAD)
        2. KEY IN THE FIRST THREE DIGITS OF YOUR PHONE NUMBER (NOT THE AREA CODE)
        3. MULTIPLY BY 80
        4. ADD 1
        5. MULTIPLY BY 250
        6. ADD THE LAST 4 DIGITS OF YOUR P HONE NUMBER
        7. ADD THE LAST 4 DIGITS OF YOUR PHONE NUMBER AGAIN.
        8. SUBTRACT 250
        9. DIVIDE NUMBER BY 2
        DO YOU RECOGNIZE THE ANSWER? What is it????

19. Mineral Uses Gems Rare and beautiful Cullinan Diamond
Found in S. Africa
3,106 carats
Great Star of Africa
Hope Blue Diamond
Famous for bringing the owner bad luck

21. Mineral Uses Diamonds are often used as cutting tools
Rubies are used to produce laser lights
Quartz crystals are used to create watches

22. Useful Elements in Minerals
Ores – a mineral is an ore if it contains a useful substance that can me mined for profit
Iron
Titanium
Used in golf clubs, jewelry, watches, racing bicycles