1. Lesson 1
Minerals

3. Mineral is a solid that is * naturally occuring
WHAT IS A MINERAL?
Mineral is a solid that is
* naturally occuring
* inorganic (nonliving)
* composed of one or more elements
* atomic structure
How are Minerals Related to Rocks?
Rocks are composed of minerals
How many minerals can a rock have?
2 or more minerals

4. Mineral Crystal Structure Depending on what the mineral is composed of
(element composition) it forms an atomic structure
Produces the SHAPE
Cubic crystal structire

5. Hexagonal crystal structire

6. Tetragonal crystal structire
four sided prisms and pyriamids

7. Are there exceptions to identifying by just "Color"?
Mineral Properties and Identification
1. Color
can not be used by itself to identify because
minerals share common colors
Are there exceptions to identifying by just "Color"?
YES! Sulfur is the only BRIGHT YELLOW mineral

9. ceramic plate Example: Galena & Pyrite 2. Streak
when a mineral leaves behind its
powder or residue.
How do you determine a minerals "STREAK"?
ceramic plate
Example:
Galena & Pyrite

10. Two Groups of Mineral Luster * Metallic metal-like luster
surface shines, reflects light from
surface
Two Groups of Mineral Luster
* Metallic
metal-like luster
example: Galena & Pyrite
* Nonmetallic
looks like glass, pearly, dull
example: Halite, Quartz

11. resistance to scratching surface
4. Hardness
resistance to scratching surface
Hardest mineral on Earth?
DIAMOND
scale of "10"
How to determine "hardness" of a mineral
* Scratch mineral against glass plate
* Scratch= "7" or higher

13. 5. Cleavage ; known as "Cleaving"
tendency of a mineral to break along the zones
of weakness. Creates smooth, even surfaces.
FRACTURE:
mineral breaks unevenly

14. Let's see if you got this!

15. 1.
Does this mineral cleave or fracture?

16. 2.
Does this mineral cleave or fracture?

17. 3.
Does this mineral cleave or fracture?

18. 4.
Does mineral have a metallic or
nonmetallic luster?

19. 5.
Does mineral have a metallic or
nonmetallic luster?

20. 6. If you find a nonmetallic, white mineral that you can scratch with your fingernail, which of the following minerals are you most likely to be holding?
A. Talc
B. Pyrite
C. Quartz
D. Hematite

21. 7. One way to identify a mineral is to rub it against a piece of unglazed tile to observe
its . .
A. streak
B. luster
C. color
D. density

22. 8. What mineral has a nonmetallic luster, low hardness,fractures, and leaves a light yellow streak?
A) Muscovite Mica
B) Galena
C) Sulfur
D) Quartz