1. What are Minerals?

2. But what does all that mean?
Minerals are…
Naturally Occurring
Inorganic
Solids
With a Crystalline Structure
And a Definite Chemical Composition

3. Formed by processes that occur in nature; NOT human-made
1) Naturally Occurring
Formed by processes that occur in nature; NOT human-made

4. 1) Naturally Occurring – formed by processes in nature; NOT human-made
YES-occurs naturally
QUARTZ
TREE
NO – human made
PLASTIC
STEEL
TREE
PLASTIC
QUARTZ
STEEL

5. Can not be made from anything living or anything that was once living
2) Inorganic
Can not be made from anything living or anything that was once living

6. NO-once living RUBY COAL SALT LEATHER
2) Inorganic – cannot be made from anything living or anything that was once living
YES – not organic
RUBY
SALT
NO-once living
COAL
LEATHER

7. 3) Solid
State of matter with tightly packed particles, a definite shape, and a definite volume

8. YES – a solid OXYGEN SILVER WATER WOOD NO- a liquid or gas
3) Solid – state of matter with tightly packed particles, a definite shape, and a definite volume
YES – a solid
SILVER
WOOD
NO- a liquid or gas
OXYGEN
WATER

9. 4) Crystalline Structure
Solids made of crystals whose particles have regular, repeating patterns chemically bonded together

10. YES-crystalline NO-mushy
4) Crystal Structure – solids made of crystals whose particles have repeating patterns
YES-crystalline
SNOWFLAKE
SALT
NO-mushy
CLAY
PICKLE

11. 5) Definite Chemical Composition
Always contains certain elements in the same amounts; the same chemical formula

12. GOLD (Au) TOPAZ (AlSiO4) CAKE COTTON
5) Definite Chemical Composition – Always contains certain elements in the same amounts
YES-has a formula
GOLD (Au)
TOPAZ (AlSiO4)
NO-just a mixture
CAKE
COTTON

13. Minerals are…
naturally occurring, inorganic, solids with a crystalline structure and a definite chemical composition!