1. Building Blocks of Rocks
Minerals
Building Blocks of Rocks

2. What is a mineral? It occurs naturally It is a solid
It has a definite chemical composition
Its atoms are arranged in a orderly pattern
It is inorganic (never alive)

3. Structure of Minerals Crystalline shape Six crystals systems Cubic
Orthorombic
Tetragonal
Triclinic
Hexagonal
Monoclinic

4. Identifying Minerals Common Characteristics: Crystal Shape Color
Luster – the way the mineral shines in light
Metallic or nonmetallic
Vitreous – like shiny glass
Greasy, Oily, Dull, Earthy…I will explain

5. Identifying Minerals Cont.
Testing Mineral Specimens
Streak – the color of its powder
By using a streak plate you can get the streak of the mineral
Cleavage … (not what your thinking!) and Fracture – how a mineral breaks
Moh’s Scale of Hardness
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Specific Gravity – the ratio of its weight to an equal volume of water.

6. Moh’s Scale of Hardness

7. Special Characteristics
Some minerals are flourescent:
Flourite, Calcite
Halite has a salty taste
Magnetite is magnetic