1. Minerals

2. What is a mineral? definition: an element or chemical compound that is normally crystalline and is formed as a result of geologic processes

3. ALL MINERALS share 5 common traits! How can you remember them? COINS!

4. ALL MINERALS- COINS! O rganized Very specific pattern/arrange ment of atoms. I norganic Not formed of animal or plant material. C rystalline Having a specific internal structure, made of 1 or more elements. N atural Not man-made. S olid Not liquids or gases.

6. Minerals can be made up of individual elements or compounds. Au Gold NaCl Halite

7. native mineral: mineral made up of single elements ex. copper, silver, diamond, sulfur

8. How do minerals form? from molten Earth materials evaporation of water heat and pressure

9. Although over 4,000 different kinds of minerals exist, only a few dozen are considered common

10. Mineral Identification Hardness Streak Cleavage Luster Color

11. Hardness - a mineral’s resistance to scratching * See Moh’s Scale of Hardness in your lab guide

12. Streak - color of a mineral’s powder

13. Cleavage -the tendency of some minerals to break along distinct planes -*if a mineral has cleavage, when it is struck, every fragment will have the same shape

14. Luster - the way a mineral shines in reflected light - either metallic or nonmetallic (for our lab)

15. ColorColor - most noticeable yet least useful Why? - slight impurities can make clear minerals colored.... ex. diamonds

16. Some other additional tests: Fracture – this occurs when the minerals breaks at random spots (not cleavage) Specific gravity – ratio of a substance’s weight to the weight of an equal volume of water

17. There are also special tests used to identify specific minerals Effervescence - ex. acid test  calcite will fizz when hydrochloric acid (HCl) is placed on it. Magnetism – magnetite is magnetic!

18. Gemstones – a form of mineral that can be polished for monetary value Quartz – when it contains small amounts of iron we call it amethyst Corundum – is used in emery boards and sand paper; when it contains minor impurities and is polished it is sold as ruby and sapphire

20. Cubic zirconia This is a synthetic (man-made) diamond It is a durable stone, but not as hard as a real diamond Is it a mineral?