1. Mineral characteristics

2. Warm-up
What do you think are the characteristics that determines if a substance is a mineral?

3. Minerals
In order to be classified as a mineral, a substance must meet all of the characteristics
Naturally occurring
Inorganic
Crystalline structure
Solid at room temp
Specific chemical composition

4. Naturally Occurring and Inorganic
Naturally occurring = not manmade, happens in nature
Inorganic = not made by any living thing. Not alive, and never was alive

5. Crystalline Structure
Atoms in the mineral are arranged in a geometric pattern
This is called a crystal
Size of crystal depends on heat, time to cool, and space to grow in

7. Specific Composition
Every mineral has a chemical composition that is unique to that mineral
May vary within a small range based on conditions formed and impurities present

8. Solid at room temperature
This is mostly to exclude water

9. Color
Not the most accurate

10. Luster
The way light interacts with the surface of a crystal, rock, or mineral
Typically divided into metallic and non-metallic

11. Streak
the color of the powder produced when it is dragged across an un-weathered surface (typically a ceramic plate)

12. The ease with which the surface of a mineral can be scratched

13. Specific Gravity Similar to the Density of a mineral
Weight of a mineral compared to the weight of an equal mass of water

14. Cleavage
The tendency of a mineral to break along flat planar surfaces as determined by the structure of its crystal lattice
Fracture
The way a mineral breaks other than along a cleavage plane.

15. Exit Ticket
What do you think is the most reliable way to identify a mineral?
What about the least?