1. Minerals
The world beneath us

2. Exactly What are Minerals?
Minerals are naturally occurring solids with an orderly arrangement of atoms

3. Why are they important?
Minerals can be mined for precious jewels or to make objects we use everyday
Gems are highly prized minerals that are clearer and more colorful than common samples of that mineral.

4. Why are they important?
Other minerals are ores from which elements like aluminum, iron, and titanium can be processed.
An ore is a mineral or rock that contains a useful substance that can be mined for profit.

5. Ore Examples
Bauxite - aluminum
Hematite - iron
Ilmenite – titanium

6. How are they classified?
Scientists classify minerals according to:
Hardness
Luster
Streak
Cleavage and Fracture

7. Testing Hardness Hardness of Common Objects Fingernail Copper Penny
Iron Nail
Glass
Steel File
Streak Plate

8. Hardness Tells how easily a mineral can be scratched.
Talc is the softest mineral,and so on the Mohs scale it receives a value of one
Diamonds are the hardest mineral, and so on the Mohs scale it receives a value of 10
Diamonds can only be scratched by other diamonds. They can also scratch glass.

9. Luster
Is the way a mineral reflects light. A mineral can be identified as:
Dull
Pearly
Silky
Glassy

10. Streak
The color of a mineral when it is in a powdered form

11. Cleavage and Fracture This refers to the way a mineral breaks
Cleavage – when minerals break along smooth, flat surfaces
Fracture – when minerals break with uneven, rough, or jagged surfaces

12. Cleavage
Think of the layers in a cake
Mica