1. CH. 3 MINERALS & ELEMENTS

2. M INERALS OF THE E ARTH ’ S C RUST Mineral : naturally formed, inorganic solid with crystalline structure. Characteristics of Minerals: 1. Is it a solid? Minerals can not be gases or liquids. 2. Is it formed in nature? Crystalline materials made by people are not classified as minerals. 3. Is it nonliving material? Minerals are inorganic (made of nonliving things).

3. 4. Does it have a crystalline structure? Minerals are crystals. They have a repeating inner structure usually with the same composition. To understand how all of this fits together (structure), you need to know what these are: Atom(s): smallest part of an element Elements: pure substances Compounds: combination of 2 or more elements Rocks (more later):

4. TYPES OF MINERALS 8 Types for our purposes 1. Silicates (Si-O) 2. Non-Silicates (Si- OR O-…not both) 3. Native Elements (Most Metals in P.T.E. ONE ELEMENT) 4. Carbonates (C + O 2 ) 5. Halides (Cl-, F-, Br-, I-…with a metal) 6. Sulfates (S + O 2 ) 7. Oxides (Oxygen + a metal) 8. Sulfides (Sulfur + a metal)

5. T YPES OF M INERALS Minerals are divided into two groups by the elements they are composed of. The groups are: 1. Silicate Minerals : (Si-O) 90% + of Earth’s crust because silicon and oxygen are the most common elements in the Earth’s Crust!! 2. Non-silicate Mineral : (Si OR O…not both) Do not contain A COMBINATION of silicon and oxygen.

6. Native Elements : composed of only 1 element EX: gold, diamond, copper, sulfur, silver Carbonates : contain combination of carbon and oxygen EX: calcite–used in cement, fireworks, building stones Halide : compounds that form b/w flourine, chlorine, iodine bromine w/ sodium, potassium, calcium EX: halite(NaCl)—often used in fertilizers.

7. Sulfate : contain sulfur and oxygen EX: Gypsum—used in cosmetics, toothpaste, paint Oxides : compounds that form when elements aluminum/iron combine chemically w/ oxygen EX: corundum, magnetite–used to make abrasives and aircraft parts Sulfides : contain 1 or more elements (lead, iron, nickel w/ sulfur) EX: galena—used to make batteries, medicine, electric parts

8. I DENTIFYING M INERALS 1. Color 2. Luster: way a surface reflects light Metallic Sub-metallic Non-metallic: Vitreous: glassy, brilliant Silky: swirly, fibrous Resinous: plastic Pearly: creamy Earthy: rough, dull

9. 3. Streak 4. Cleavage: to break along flat surfaces 5. Fracture: to break unevenly along curved/irregular surfaces Conchoidal Fracture: Quartz 6. Hardness: Moh’s Hardness Scale 1. Talc6. Orthoclase 2. Gypsum7. Quartz 3. Calcite8. Topaz 4. Flourite9. Corundum 5. Apatite10. Diamond