1. Minerals
Naturally-occurring, inorganic solid with definite physical and chemical properties.

2. How minerals are identified
Physical and chemical properties---over 3000 minerals but each is unique

3. Physical properties
Color--LEAST reliable….over 3000 minerals but not 3000 colors!

5. Cleavage
Pattern of regular breakage along flat planes

6. Fracture
Irregular breakage (not flat planes)

7. Hardness
Resistance to abrasion
Measured by Moh’s scale

8. Streak
Color of the powdered form when scratched against a porcelain plate

9. Specific Gravity
The density of a mineral compared to the density of an equal volume of water

10. Silicon Oxygen tetrahedron
Oxygen--most abundant
Silicon--second

11. Special properties Calcite acid test Calcite double refraction
flourescence

12. Luster The way a mineral reflects light Metallic (looks like a metal)
Non-Metallic (does not look metallic)

14. Arrangement of the Atoms
Determines the physical and chemical properties