1ºESO: Minerals and Rocks

NATURAL SCIENCE1st of ESO

MINERALSAND

ROCKS

Agate and milky quartz are both quartz, because they have the same chemical composition and therefore, physical properties.The differences between them are caused by impurities, other chemical elements that are included in the quartz during the formation process.

NATIVE ELEMENTS

These minerals are made by a single element.

Gold, silver, copper

OXIDES They are made up of Oxygen and one other element.

Oligiste (iron)

SULPHIDES A mix of Sulphur and a Metal Galena

CARBONATES They are made of Carbon, Oxygen and a Metal.

Calcite

HALIDES Composed of Chloride and a Metal.

Halite

a) COLOUR: minerals are always the same colour, no matter where they are taken or what process endured.

b) SHAPE: minerals can be geometric or irregular.

c) LUSTRE: refers to the way a mineral reflects ligt. It can be:

- Metallic: like pyrite.

- Non metallic.

d) STREAK: it refers to the colour of the powder that a mineral leaves when scraped.

e) CLEAVAGE: is the way a that a mineral breaks. It can break in sheets or in cubes.

f) HARDNESS: measures how a mineral reacts to being scratched.

The Mohs Scale of Hardness

Detrital Rocks

Chemical Rocks

Organic Rocks

VOLCANIC IGNEOUS ROCKS

PLUTONICIGNEOUS ROCKS

Plutonic rock

Volcanic rock

High pressure due to weight

Intense heat due to magma

Metamorphic rock

Metamorphic rocks

Weathering and erosion

Changes in temperature and pressure

Fusion at high temperature