MINERALS

MINERALSMINERALS The building blocks of rocks…..The building blocks of rocks…..

Did any of you use minerals before Did any of you use minerals before coming to school this morning??? I coming to school this morning??? I sure hope so!!sure hope so!!

All of these items used to All of these items used to build a house are made of build a house are made of

minerals!minerals!

How Minerals Affect Your How Minerals Affect Your Life Life

The Average American will use -The Average American will use - 30,415 pounds of salt30,415 pounds of salt 1.7 million pounds of stone, sand and gravel1.7 million pounds of stone, sand and gravel 83,890 gallons of petroleum83,890 gallons of petroleum 42,581 pounds of iron ore42,581 pounds of iron ore 1,078 pounds of lead1,078 pounds of lead

**Total – 3.75 million pounds of minerals, **Total – 3.75 million pounds of minerals, metals and fuels in your lifetime!!metals and fuels in your lifetime!!

MINERALSMINERALS= a naturally occurring, inorganic = a naturally occurring, inorganic

solid with a definite chemical solid with a definite chemical composition and a particular composition and a particular

crystalline structurecrystalline structure(orderly arrangement of atoms)(orderly arrangement of atoms)

1) 1) Naturally occurringNaturally occurring

Formed in processes on or in Formed in processes on or in the earth with no human the earth with no human

inputinput

2) Inorganic2) Inorganic Not made by living processNot made by living process*It has never been alive!*It has never been alive!

Amber and sugar are not minerals because they formed from living things.

3) 3) Definite chemical Definite chemical compositioncomposition

All minerals are elements or compounds All minerals are elements or compounds with definite chemical compositionwith definite chemical composition

ex) mineral halite (NaCl) has a distinctive salty ex) mineral halite (NaCl) has a distinctive salty tastetaste

-Copper (Cu) - Beryl (Be-Copper (Cu) - Beryl (Be33AlAl22SiSi66AA18)18)

4) 4) Crystal StructureCrystal Structure The atoms of the mineral are The atoms of the mineral are

arranged in patterns that repeat over arranged in patterns that repeat over and over again.and over again.

ex) Graphite versus Diamondex) Graphite versus Diamond

Uses of Minerals….Uses of Minerals….OresOres - used for metals, extracted by - used for metals, extracted by

mining (ex. iron)mining (ex. iron)GemsGems – rare and beautiful, often – rare and beautiful, often

used for jewelryused for jewelry

Now let’s master Now let’s master minerals!!minerals!!

What are some What are some physical physical propertiesproperties we know? we know?

Here are Here are physical propertiesphysical properties we will use to identify minerals:we will use to identify minerals:

ColorColor This is an easy clue, but it can be This is an easy clue, but it can be

misleading.misleading. Many different minerals have the Many different minerals have the

same color and appearance…same color and appearance…ex) pyrite and goldex) pyrite and gold

HardnessHardness A measure of how easily a mineral can be A measure of how easily a mineral can be

scratched.scratched. Mohs Hardness ScaleMohs Hardness Scale

Diamond is the hardest mineral. On a scale from 1-10, diamond is a 10!

LusterLuster The way the mineral reflects light.The way the mineral reflects light. Either metallic or non-metallic.Either metallic or non-metallic. Nonmetallic can be:Nonmetallic can be: Dull, Pearly, Silky, and GlassyDull, Pearly, Silky, and Glassy

StreakStreak

The color of the mineral in the The color of the mineral in the powdered form.powdered form.

Gold has a yellowish streak. Pyrite has a Gold has a yellowish streak. Pyrite has a greenish-black streak.greenish-black streak.

Cleavage and FractureCleavage and Fracture CleavageCleavage – mineral that break along a – mineral that break along a

smooth, flat surface (ex. Mica)smooth, flat surface (ex. Mica) Not all minerals have cleavage…Not all minerals have cleavage… FractureFracture – minerals that break with uneven, – minerals that break with uneven,

rough, or jagged surfaces rough, or jagged surfaces (ex. Halite)(ex. Halite)

Other Properties:Other Properties:

Some minerals are magnetic. Some minerals are magnetic. (Magnetite)(Magnetite)

Some react with HCl (Calcite)Some react with HCl (Calcite) Salty Taste (Halite) - many minerals Salty Taste (Halite) - many minerals

are poisonous, so DON’T TASTE are poisonous, so DON’T TASTE THEM!!THEM!!

Sulfur has a smell like rotten eggs.Sulfur has a smell like rotten eggs.

SilicatesSilicates Minerals that contain mostly silicon Minerals that contain mostly silicon and oxygen are called silicatesand oxygen are called silicates Si and O combine to form most of Si and O combine to form most of the minerals in Earth mantle and the minerals in Earth mantle and crustcrust

Can you Can you master master

minerals?minerals?