1. Minerals & Rocks

2. ESRT Mineral Chart Click Here
What is a mineral?
naturally occurring
inorganic
crystalline
It is a
substance which has a
definite chemical composition
ESRT Mineral Chart Click Here

3. The arrangement of atoms determines EVERYTHING about the mineral!!
What causes minerals to have
different physical properties?
the internal arrangement
of atoms
The arrangement of atoms determines EVERYTHING about the mineral!!

4. LOOK AT PAGE 16 of the ESRT’s
Give an example of two minerals which have
the same chemical composition but different
physical properties
graphite & diamond
both
made of
carbon

5. The Main Physical Properties Used to Identify Minerals
1. Color
Not very reliable
minerals can be multiple colors
many minerals are the same color

6. Quartz

7. The Main Physical Properties Used to Identify Minerals
2. Streak
more reliable than color
color of the mineral in powder form
Every color of a mineral has the same streak

9. The Main Physical Properties Used to Identify Minerals
3. Luster
how light reflects off a mineral
metallic
non-metallic
looks like a
metal
looks earthy, waxy,
greasy or brilliant

10. non-metallic
Earthy (dull)
Pearly
Waxy
Glassy

11. metallic

12. Page 2 The Main Physical Properties Used to Identify Minerals
4. Cleavage
the mineral breaks in a predictable pattern
because of its arrangement of atoms

13. Examples of Cleavage

14. The Main Physical Properties Used to Identify Minerals
5. Fracture
the mineral breaks randomly

15. FRACTURE .

16. The Main Physical Properties Used to Identify Minerals
6. Hardness
resistance to being scratched
It is NOT the same as breaking!
For example:
You can break glass easily with steel.
However, steel will not scratch glass.

18. What determines all of the properties of a mineral??
Page 3
What determines all of the properties of a mineral??
THE INTERNAL ARRANGEMENT OF ATOMS
Just like your DNA determines all of your properties

19. oxygen silicon Minerals have a definite chemical
composition made of elements and
compounds.
What two elements, by mass, make up the greatest percentage of the Earth’s crust? (ESRT pg 1)
oxygen
silicon

20. silicates (SiO4) These two elements combine to form compounds called
Minerals have a definite chemical composition.
These two elements combine to form
compounds called
silicates (SiO4)

21. silicon-oxygen tetrahedra
Minerals have a definite chemical composition.
They combine in a specific structure called a:
silicon-oxygen tetrahedra

22. (that have SiO in their chemical compostiton)
Minerals have a definite chemical composition.
Using page 16 of the ESRT’s, name 2 minerals that are part of the silicate family
(that have SiO in their chemical compostiton)

24. Other properties Smell Striations (scratches) Refraction Fluorescence
Acid Test
Flame color
Magnetism