Transcript
MineralsMinerals
Minerals are…Minerals are…
Formed naturallyFormed naturally
Minerals are…Minerals are…
Made of materials that Made of materials that were never alive.were never alive.
Minerals are…Minerals are…
The same no matter The same no matter where they are found.where they are found.
gold nuggets
Minerals are…Minerals are…
Arranged in regular patterns Arranged in regular patterns and made of crystals.and made of crystals.
Some minerals are metals.Some minerals are metals.
Aluminum Gold
Scientists Scientists classifyclassify, or group and , or group and describe, minerals in many ways. describe, minerals in many ways. They classify minerals by color, luster, They classify minerals by color, luster, texture, hardness, and streak.texture, hardness, and streak.
The color of the mineral depends The color of the mineral depends on the chemicals in them.on the chemicals in them.
galena malachite
vanadinite sulfur
Luster is the Luster is the amount of light amount of light reflected from reflected from the mineral’s the mineral’s surface (how surface (how shiny it is). shiny it is). Quartz has a Quartz has a glassyglassy luster. luster.
It looks like It looks like glass.glass.
Magnetite and Purpurite have a metallic luster. They look like shiny metal.
Peridot has a Peridot has a waxywaxy luster. It looks luster. It looks as if it is covered with wax.as if it is covered with wax.
Kaolinite has a Kaolinite has a dulldull luster. It luster. It does not reflect much light, and does not reflect much light, and is not very shiny.is not very shiny.
Texture describes how a mineral feels. Minerals Texture describes how a mineral feels. Minerals may be rough, smooth, bumpy, or soapy. Can may be rough, smooth, bumpy, or soapy. Can you guess which mineral has each texture?you guess which mineral has each texture?
Copper - ???
Gold - ???
Calcite - ???Peridot - ???
Copper - SMOOTHGold - BUMPY
Calcite - ROUGHPeridot - SOAPY
All minerals are hard, All minerals are hard, but some are harder but some are harder than others. than others. Scientists test the Scientists test the hardness of a mineral hardness of a mineral by trying to scratch it by trying to scratch it with a nail. Scientists with a nail. Scientists use the Hardness use the Hardness Scale to rate a Scale to rate a mineral’s hardness. mineral’s hardness. Minerals at the top of Minerals at the top of the scale are soft and the scale are soft and easy to scratch. easy to scratch. Those at the bottom Those at the bottom are hard and difficult are hard and difficult to scratch.to scratch.
1.Talc2.Gypsum3.Calcite4.Flourite5.Apatite6.Orthoclase
Feldspar7.Quartz8.Topaz9.Corundum10.Diamond
1.Talc2.Gypsum3.Calcite4.Flourite5.Apatite6.Orthoclase
Feldspar7.Quartz8.Topaz9.Corundum10.Diamond
Diamonds are the hardest minerals. It is Diamonds are the hardest minerals. It is almost impossible to scratch a diamond. almost impossible to scratch a diamond. Talc is the softest mineral. You can Talc is the softest mineral. You can scratch it with your fingernail. Apatite and scratch it with your fingernail. Apatite and feldspar have medium hardnesses.feldspar have medium hardnesses.
Diamond – the hardest
mineral
talc – the softest mineral
apatitefeldspar
Some minerals leave a trail, or Some minerals leave a trail, or streak, when rubbed on a hard streak, when rubbed on a hard surface. Scientists classify minerals surface. Scientists classify minerals by the color of their streak. by the color of their streak. Hematite leaves a red-brown streak.Hematite leaves a red-brown streak.
Pyrite leaves a black streak. Pyrite leaves a black streak. Rhodochrosite leaves a white Rhodochrosite leaves a white streak.streak.
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