Download Minerals Powerpoint

Minerals
Rocks are made up of minerals but
minerals are not made up of rocks!!
Minerals
 There are different kinds of minerals in
rocks because rocks are made up of
minerals.
 Minerals are not made up of rocks.
 The definition of a mineral includes very
specific parts
 It is multipart definition that helps us
distinguish rocks from minerals
Definition Part #1: Solid
 Matter, things, can be in three different
forms in nature
 Gas (Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen)
 Liquid (Water)
 Solid (Minerals, Wood, Rock, Metal)
 Minerals must be solids
Definition Part #2: Inorganic
 Things in nature are either Organic or Inorganic
 Organic means: Comes from living things
 Inorganic means: Not coming from living things
 So minerals cannot
come from living things
Definition Part #3: Naturally Formed
 Minerals are naturally formed
 They are found in nature
 Natural things include rocks, minerals, wood
 They are not man-made
 People cannot make a
mineral
 Man-made things include
plastic, glass, concrete,
Styrofoam
Definition Part #4: Structure
 Minerals have a definite
structure
 Structure means: The individual pieces of
the mineral are arranged in a way that is
specific to that mineral
 You would have to study this aspect of
minerals with a microscope
Definition Part #5: Same throughout
 Minerals are made up of the same things
 There is not a mixture of parts like in
rocks.
The whole definition of minerals….
 A solid (not a liquid or a gas)
 Inorganic (not living)
 Naturally formed (not man made)
 Has definite structure
 Is the same throughout (is not
made up of different things)
http://www.minerals.net/gemstone/index.htm
Interesting Facts about Minerals
 Approximately 4,000 different minerals
have been identified by scientists so far!
 50-100 new minerals are discovered every
year!
Properties / Characteristics
of Minerals
 Properties help us identify minerals
 We can use these properties to help us
classify minerals just like the scientists
who first found and identified them!
Property #1: Color
 Minerals can be many
different colors
 Color can change due
to IMPURITIES (other
things in the mineral
that are not pure)
 Example: Pyrite (fool’s
gold) will turn brown or
black when exposed to
air
http://www.minerals.net/mineral/carbonat/calcite/images/4assortd.htm
Property #2: Luster
 Luster means: “the
way a surface reflects
light” (www.dictionary.com)
 Whether or not it is
shiny!!
 Minerals that are shiny
have a METALLIC
luster.
 Minerals that are dull
have a NONMETALLIC
luster.
http://www.minerals.net/mineral/sulfides/pyrite/pyrite2.htm
Property #3: Streak
 If you were to rub a
mineral on a special
piece of porcelain
(pottery-like) called
a “streak plate”,
streak is the color of
the powder left
behind
 In simple terms, the
color of its powder
when rubbed!! 
http://www.minerals.net/mineral/oxides/hematite/hematit6.htm
Property #4: Cleavage
 If you were to break a mineral, “cleavage”
is when it breaks and creates smooth, flat
surfaces or pieces
 Examples include
 Mica – breaks into
sheets
 Halite – breaks at 90
degree angles
in three directions
http://www.flickr.com/photos/orbitaljoe/108073872
/
Property #5: Fracture
 If you were to break a
mineral, “fracture” is
when it breaks and
creates a rough
surface
 An Example includes
 Quartz – creates a
curved fracture
Property #6: Hardness
• A mineral’s resistance to
being scratched.
• The ability of a harder
material to scratch a softer
material
 Measured on the MOHS
hardness scale.
 It was created in 1812 by the
German mineralogist,
Friedrich Mohs
 A Mohs Value of 1 is the
softest and 10 is the hardest.
http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/elements/diamond/diamond.htm
Mohs Hardness Scale
1. Talc
Softest
2. Gypsum
3. Calcite
4. Fluorite
5. Apatite
6. Orthoclase
7. Quartz
8. Topaz
9. Corundum
10. Diamond Hardest
Property #7: Density
 Measure of how much
matter (stuff) is in the
mineral.
 Golf ball feels heavier
than ping-pong ball
because it is more
dense (made of more
stuff).
http://www.minerals.net/mineral/elements/gold/gold1.htm
Special Property #1: Fluorescence
 Does it glow under
ultraviolet light?
 Yes: Then is has the
property of
Fluorescence
 No: Then is does
not have the property
Fluorescence
http://www.sterlinghill.org/Tour%20information.htm
Special Property #2:
Chemical Reactions
 Does it bubble in
acid??
Special Property #3: Optical
 Optical means:
 pertaining to sight or vision; visual
(www.dictionary.com)
 Example: A thin piece of
calcite placed over something
will cause a double image
Special Property #4: Magnetism
 Magnetism means:
“the properties of
attraction possessed by
magnets” (www.dictionary.com)
 Natural magnets that
attract iron
 Do other metals or
minerals stick to it like
magnets?
http://www.minerals.net/mineral/oxides/magnetit/magneti4.htm
Special Property #5: Taste
 Example: Halite
has a salty taste.
 DO NOT
TASTE
MINERALS!
http://mineral.galleries.com/scripts/item.exe?LIST+Minerals+Halides+Halite
Special Property #6: Radioactivity
 Minerals that contain radium or uranium
are radioactive
Common Uses of Minerals
 Aluminum: packaging, transport,






building (Yes, like aluminum cans)
Beryllium: fluorescent lights (Like the
ones in school!)
Copper: electric cables, wires, switches
Feldspar: glass and ceramics
Iron: buildings, automobiles, magnets
Calcite: toothpaste,
construction
http://www.mii.org/commonminerals.php
Even we need minerals!!!
http://www.mii.org/www.mii.org