1. By Liz LaRosa 5th Grade Science www.middleschoolscience.com 2010
What is a Mineral?
By Liz LaRosa
5th Grade Science
2010

2. What is a mineral? Properties:
Solid
Cannot be a liquid or a gas
Naturally Occurring
Found in nature, not man-made
Inorganic
Is not alive and never was, non-living
Fixed composition
Has a chemical formula, most are formed from compounds of two or more elements, some minerals consist of one element ex. Au
Crystal Form
A definite structure in which atoms are arranged

3. What is a mineral? Definition:
A mineral is a naturally formed, inorganic solid that has a definite crystalline structure.
*Rock – a mixture of 1 or more minerals and other materials

4. The next few slides show an assortment of items.
Questions to ask yourself when determining if an item is a mineral or not:
Is it non-living material?
Is it a solid?
Is it formed in nature?
Does it have a crystalline structure?
The next few slides show an assortment of items.
As a group, categorize the items as either:
Minerals or Non-Minerals.

5. Wood

6. Gold

7. Fossil

8. Topaz

9. Bones

10. Granite

11. Quartz

12. Pearls

13. Talc

14. Diamond

15. Coal

16. Rock Salt

17. And the answers are… Minerals Non-Minerals Gold Topaz Quartz Talc
Diamonds
Non-Minerals
Wood - once living
Fossils – once living
Bone - living material
Granite - intrusive igneous rock
Pearls – made by oysters
Coal - Sedimentary rock
Rock Salt – Sedimentary rock