1. Minerals

2. What is a mineral? Naturally occurring Inorganic (non-living)
Characteristic chemical composition
Solid
Crystalline structure- specific arrangement of atoms

3. How is matter classified?
Element
Cant be separated into simpler substances
Atom – smallest part of an element that has all of its properties.
Molecule – 2 or more atoms chemically combined.
Compound – 2 or more elements chemically combined.
Mixture – 2 or more substances physically combined.

4. Grouped by Chemical Composition
Silicates – Compound of silicon and Oxygen, make up 75% of all minerals. Quartz is the most common silicate.
Carbonates – Compound of carbon and Oxygen. Calcite is the most common carbonate.

5. Crystal Size
Large Size crystal are formed during a slow cooling rate. Small size crystals are formed during a fast cooling rate. If the cooling is very fast no crystals may form. An example are minerals formed from lava.

6. Mineral properties Color Luster Habit (Shape) Cleavage & Fracture
Streak
Hardness
Other – magnetic, florescent, smell

7. Color:
Easily observed, least reliable to ID mineral.

8. Luster: How minerals reflect light from its surface. Metallic
Non-metallic

9. Crystalline structure
Characteristics shape of mineral resulting from atoms and molecules coming together when mineral forms

10. Cleavage & Fracture
Cleavage: Mineral breaks along smooth definite surfaces.
Fracture: Mineral breaks along rough or jagged surfaces.

11. Cleavage & Fracture
Best identified on a fracture surface

12. Streak
Color of powder when scraped against a rough surface. Color stays the same for each mineral

13. Specific Gravity
Specific gravity – Measure of density of mineral in air compared to density of mineral in water.

14. Hardness Ability of a mineral to resist being scratched.
Hardness tests uses the Mohs Scale of Hardness.
2.5 Fingernail
3.5 Penny
4.5 Iron nail
5.5 Glass
6.5 Streak plate