2. Minerals: Building Blocks of Rocks
Definition of a mineral
Natural
Inorganic
Solid
Possess an orderly internal structure of atoms
Have a definite chemical composition
Rock – any naturally occurring solid mass of mineral or mineral-like matter

3. Rocks are Aggregates of Minerals

4. Atoms: Building Blocks of Minerals
Smallest particles of matter
Elements
Basic building blocks of minerals
Over 100 are known
Defined by their number of protons
Groups of the same type of atoms

5. Periodic table of the elements

6. Minerals Physical properties of minerals Habit – common crystal shape
Luster – appearance in reflected light
Color
Streak – color of mineral in powdered form
Hardness – ability to resist scratching or abrasion
Cleavage – tendency to break along planes of weak bonding

7. Metallic Luster: Galena

8. Color
Color can be unreliable due to variations.

9. Streak

10. Crystal Shape, or Habit: Pyrite

11. Hardness: Mohs Scale

12. Cleavage: Micas

13. Minerals Physical properties of minerals
Fracture – random pattern of breakage
Specific gravity – mineral density
Tenacity – resistance to cutting, breaking, bending, and deformation

14. Conchoidal fracture

15. Minerals Other properties Taste Smell Elasticity Malleability
Double refraction
Magnetism
Feel
Reaction with hydrochloric acid