WHAT IS A MINERAL? A MINERAL IS A: SOLID NATURALLY OCCURING (made up of elements) INORGANIC CRYSTAL SHAPE (unique to the mineral) CHEMICAL COMPOSITION.

WHAT IS A MINERAL? A MINERAL IS A:

SOLIDNATURALLY OCCURING (made up

of elements)INORGANIC CRYSTAL SHAPE (unique to the mineral)CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

(elements bond together to make a compound)

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

Naturally Occurring = NOT man-made Inorganic = NOT made of/from a living thing Crystal Shape = Repeating pattern of atoms

Chemical Composition = chemical formulaEx: Quartz has a chemical formula of SiO2

NOT A MINERAL?

COAL IS NOT A MINERAL, WHY?

It is not inorganic because it formed from the remains of living organisms

It does not have a crystal shape

NOT A MINERAL?

PEARL IS ALSO NOT A MINERAL, WHY?

Pearls are organic because they are made from oysters.

They do not have a crystal shape

NOT A MINERAL? GLASS IS ALSO NOT A MINERAL, WHY?

Glass does not a crystal shape.

NOT A MINERAL? STEEL IS ALSO NOT A MINERAL, WHY?

1: It is man-made (not naturally occurring)2: It does not have a chemical composition because it is a mixture of iron and carbon3: It does not have a crystal shape

“Diamonds are Forever” Reading

Before you Read:Review the definition of a mineral (SNICC)

After you Read:Answer these questions:

○ Can the LifeGem diamonds be considered true minerals? Explain your answer.

○ How are these diamonds different than diamonds mined out of the ground?

○ Would you want to use this company for yourself or for a relative?

TWO GROUPS OF MINERALS

Silicate Minerals Nonsilicate Minerals

•Have both Silicon (Si) and Oxygen (O) elements in them

•Make up more than 90% of Earth’s crust

•Might have other elements in them as well

•Examples: Quartz (SiO2) Talc Mg3Si4O10(OH)2

•Do NOT contain Silicon and Oxygen

• Dividing into different classes depending on elements in them

•Examples: Copper (Cu) Calcite (CaCO3) Galena (PbS)

http://www.mineralogy4kids.org/groups.html

What Are Properties of Minerals???

1. COLOR Not reliable due to:

ImpuritiesMany minerals have same colorSome minerals have more than one

color

COLORS OF FLUORITE

2. HARDNESS

The ability of a mineral to resist being scratched.

Relative to the hardness of other minerals and objects

2 scalesField hardness scaleMoh’s hardness scale

HARDNESS

FIELD HARDNESS SCALE

Fingernail Copper Penny Steel Nail Glass Plate Steel File

MOH’S HARDNESS SCALE

1. Talc

2. Gypsum

3. Calcite

4. Fluorite

5. Apatite

6. Feldspar7. Quartz8. Topaz9. Corundum10.Diamond

3. LUSTER

The way a mineral reflects light Either Metallic or Nonmetallic Never described as “shiny” (that is

what luster means)

METALLIC LUSTERS

Shines like a metal: Chrome, Silver, Copper, Gold, Bronze, Lead, etc.

NONMETALLIC LUSTERS

Brilliant (High Shine/Sparkly) Pearly or Silky Glassy(Vitreous) Waxy/Greasy Dull Earthy

4. STREAK

Powdered residue left behind when rubbed across a porcelain tile

Only works for minerals with a hardness less than 7 (tile=7)

Streak may be different than outer color More consistent/reliable than color

5. CLEAVAGE The breaking of a mineral

along flat surfaces Can be 1,2, or 3 directional 3 Directions: Similar to

sides of a cube or rhombus

Mica breaks into single sheets- 1 Directional

6. FRACTURE

Breaking of a mineral in an uneven or jagged fashion

“Splintery”-splits like wood

“Earthy”/Uneven “Conchoidal”-curved “Fibrous”- like fibers

7. DENSITY = Mass per volume (g/mL) Every mineral has its own

unique density, regardless of its size

○ Ex: The density of any piece of gold will always be 19 g/mL

The density of any piece of silver will always be 10.5 g/mL

8. CRYSTAL SHAPE

Microscopic shape of crystals Slow cooling = larger crystals Fast cooling = smaller crystals Cubic, Hexagonal, Octagonal,

Rhomboid, Trapezoidal, etc

9. SPECIAL PROPERTIES Magnetism (lodestone/magnetite) Taste (Halite-salty) Acid reaction (calcite) Double refraction Fluorescence (glow in UV) Phosphorescence (glow continues) Odor (Sulfur) Radioactivity (Uraninite)

ScienceNow Diamond Factory

Diamond Factory Video(click on “Watch Diamond Factory”)