With a partner near you… On a sheet of paper in your notes, come up with what you think defines a mineral. Make a list of properties. What makes a mineral.

With a partner near you…

• On a sheet of paper in your notes, come up with what you think defines a mineral. Make a list of properties.

• What makes a mineral different from a rock?

What is a Mineral?

What is a mineral?

• Solid

• Not liquid, gas, or plasma

What is a mineral?

• Naturally-occurring

• Not man-made

What is a mineral?

• Inorganic

• Never alive

What is a mineral?

• Fixed chemical composition: an element or a compound

What is a mineral?

• Crystal structure: atoms or molecules in an orderly pattern

Examples of minerals

Quartz

Halite (rock salt)

Mica

Not minerals

Most minerals are compounds

• Quartz: silicon and oxygen –SiO2

–Most abundant in earth’s crust

• Halite: sodium and chloride –NaCl

Native Minerals

• Made up of single elements

Copper

Gold

SulfurSilver

Important Mineral Facts…

• There are more than 2,000 kinds of minerals, but fewer than 20 are common minerals that form rock

• 10 minerals make up 90% of the earth’s crust

• Ex. Quartz, feldspar, mica, calcite

2 Main Groups of Minerals

• Silicates

• Non-Silicates

Silicates

• They contain atoms of silicon (Si) and oxygen (O).

• Forms a tetrahedron (see drawing)

• Many contain one or more kind of atom

• Ex. Feldspar – silicon and oxygen with potassium

• SiO2 - Quartz• *96% of the crust is made of

silicates

Non-silicates

• 6 Groups

#1 Native Elements

• One type of atom

#2 Halides

• K, Na, or Ca cation, with a Cl or F anion

Halite (NaCl)

#3 Sulfides

• Contains S atom

Pyrite (FeS2)

#4 Carbonates

• Contains CO3 as part of the compound

#5 Sulfates

• Contains SO4 as part of the compound

Gypsum (CaSO42H2O )

Gypsum Caves

• Largest Crystals in the World are found in Northern Mexico in the Cave of Crystals

Cave of Crystals Video

Oxides• Contains O atom except for silicates,

carbonates, and sulfates.

Hematite (Fe2O3 )