1. Minerals

2. What are minerals?  Naturally occurring  Inorganic  Solid  Specific chemical compositions  Made up of specific compounds or elements  Definite crystalline structure  Form in open spaces and crystals grow to fill that space

3. Mineral Identification  Color  Luster  Streak  Hardness  Breakage

4. Mineral Identification  Color  Caused by trace elements or compounds within a mineral  Luster  The way a mineral reflects light  Metallic minerals- reflects light  Non-metallic- do not shine  Glassy, greasy, pearly, dull or earthy

5. Mineral Identification  Hardness  Measures how easily a mineral can be scratched  Moh’s Scale (1-10)  Finger nail, glass, streak plate  Streak  The color of a mineral when it is broken up and powdered.

6. Mineral Identification  Breakage  Minerals break along planes where atomic bonding is weak.  Cleavage- a mineral splits evenly along planes  Fracture- minerals that break with rough/jagged edges.