1. Rocks are made up of minerals but minerals are not made up of rocks!!

2. Minerals
There are different kinds of minerals in rocks because rocks are made up of minerals.
Minerals are not made up of rocks.
The definition of a mineral includes very specific parts
It is multipart definition that helps us distinguish rocks from minerals

3. Definition Part #1: Solid
Matter, things, can be in three different forms in nature
Gas (Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen)
Liquid (Water)
Solid (Minerals, Wood, Rock, Metal)
Minerals must be solids

4. Definition Part #2: Inorganic
Things in nature are either Organic or Inorganic
Organic means: Comes from living things
Inorganic means: Not coming from living things
So minerals cannot
come from living things

5. Definition Part #3: Naturally Formed
Minerals are naturally formed
They are found in nature
Natural things include rocks, minerals, wood
They are not man-made
People cannot make a
mineral
Man-made things include
plastic, glass, concrete,
Styrofoam

6. Definition Part #4: Structure
Minerals have a definite
structure
Structure means: The individual pieces of the mineral are arranged in a way that is specific to that mineral
You would have to study this aspect of minerals with a microscope

7. Definition Part #5: Same throughout
Minerals are made up of the same things
There is not a mixture of parts like in rocks.

8. The whole definition of minerals….
A solid (not a liquid or a gas)
Inorganic (not living)
Naturally formed (not man made)
Has definite structure
Is the same throughout (is not made up of different things)

9. Interesting Facts about Minerals
Approximately 4,000 different minerals have been identified by scientists so far!
new minerals are discovered every year!

10. Properties / Characteristics of Minerals
Properties help us identify minerals
We can use these properties to help us classify minerals just like the scientists who first found and identified them!

11. Property #1: Color Minerals can be many different colors
Color can change due to IMPURITIES (other things in the mineral that are not pure)
Example: Pyrite (fool’s gold) will turn brown or black when exposed to air

12. Property #2: Luster
Luster means: “the way a surface reflects light” (
Whether or not it is shiny!!
Minerals that are shiny have a METALLIC luster.
Minerals that are dull have a NONMETALLIC luster.

13. Property #3: Streak
If you were to rub a mineral on a special piece of porcelain (pottery-like) called a “streak plate”, streak is the color of the powder left behind
In simple terms, the color of its powder when rubbed!! 

14. Property #4: Cleavage
If you were to break a mineral, “cleavage” is when it breaks and creates smooth, flat surfaces or pieces
Examples include
Mica – breaks into
sheets
Halite – breaks at 90
degree angles
in three directions

15. Property #5: Fracture
If you were to break a mineral, “fracture” is when it breaks and creates a rough surface
An Example includes
Quartz – creates a curved fracture

16. Property #6: Hardness
A mineral’s resistance to being scratched.
The ability of a harder material to scratch a softer material
Measured on the MOHS hardness scale.
It was created in 1812 by the German mineralogist, Friedrich Mohs
A Mohs Value of 1 is the softest and 10 is the hardest.

17. Mohs Hardness Scale Talc Softest Gypsum Calcite Fluorite Apatite
Orthoclase
Quartz
Topaz
Corundum
Diamond Hardest
See p. 46 in textbook
Mnemonic: Terrible Giants Can Find Alligators Or Quaint Tigers Conveniently Digestable.

18. Property #7: Density
Measure of how much matter (stuff) is in the mineral.
Golf ball feels heavier than ping-pong ball because it is more dense (made of more stuff).

19. Special Property #1: Fluorescence
Does it glow under ultraviolet light?
Yes: Then is has the property of Fluorescence
No: Then is does not have the property Fluorescence

20. Special Property #2: Chemical Reactions
Does it bubble in acid??

21. Special Property #3: Optical
Optical means:
pertaining to sight or vision; visual (
Example: A thin piece of
calcite placed over something
will cause a double image

22. Special Property #4: Magnetism
Magnetism means: “the properties of attraction possessed by magnets” (
Natural magnets that attract iron
Do other metals or minerals stick to it like magnets?

23. Special Property #5: Taste
Example: Halite has a salty taste.
DO NOT TASTE MINERALS!

24. Special Property #6: Radioactivity
Minerals that contain radium or uranium are radioactive

25. Common Uses of Minerals
Aluminum: packaging, transport,
building (Yes, like aluminum cans)
Beryllium: fluorescent lights (Like the ones in school!)
Copper: electric cables, wires, switches
Feldspar: glass and ceramics
Iron: buildings, automobiles, magnets
Calcite: toothpaste,
construction

26. Even we need minerals!!!