““Minerals”Minerals”

• I. Elements, Compounds & Mixtures:A. Matter - Anything that has mass and takes up space. B. All matter can be classified into three areas:

1. Elements2. Compounds 3. Mixtures

C. Element - is a substance that can not be separated into a simpler substance by ordinary chemical means.

1. Ex = Oxygen or O2, Carbon or C12, Hydrogen or H2, and Nitrogen or N2.2. Atom - The smallest part of an element. The basic building blocks of matter.

3. Molecules - Two or more atoms held together by chemical forces.

A.) It is possible to have one atom make up an element. B.) It is also possible that the element exists as a molecule.

D. Compound - made up of atoms of different elements that are connected together.

1. Ex. = H2O, CO2, & NaCl. E. Mixture - Two or more substances physically combined.

1. Ex. = Rocks, Sea Water, Air, & Soil.

““Minerals”Minerals”

““Classification”Classification”

1. Rubber Band 2. Eraser

3. Paper Clip 4. Red Pencil

5. Red String 6. White String

7. Copper Peg 8. Wood Peg

9. Wooden Block 10. Ruler

11. Index Card 12. Straw

13. Glass 14. Rock

15. Candle

““Classification Cont.”Classification Cont.”

1. Elements:

A.) Paper Clip B.) Copper 2. Compounds:

A.) Rubber Band B.) Eraser

C.) Red String D.) White String

E.) Wood Peg F.) Wood Block

G.) Index Card H.) Straw

I.) Glass J.) Ruler 3. Mixtures:

A.) Red Pencil B.) Rock C.) Candle

Mineral CharacteristicsMineral Characteristics

• I. Mineral Characteristics:A. Mineral - is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite structure and composition. B. There are more than 4000 minerals found on earth. C. All minerals share five characteristics.

1. All minerals are formed by one of three natural processes.

A.) Formed from cooled magma.

B.) Form from minerals dissolved in liquid. - After the water evaporates the mineral stays behind & dries. This forms the mineral.

- Magma - hot melted rock under earth’s surface.

Mineral Characteristics Cont.Mineral Characteristics Cont.

2. All minerals are inorganic. A.) Minerals are not alive, never were, and were not made up by once living things. B.) Example: Is coal a mineral? Is Oil a mineral?

3. All minerals are solid and have a definite shape. A.) Liquids + Gases could never be minerals because they do not have a definite shape.

4. All minerals have definite compositions. A.) Some rocks are made of different things.

5. A mineral’s atoms are arranged in a definite pattern, that repeats over and over again.

Mineral Characteristics Cont.Mineral Characteristics Cont.

A.) The repeating pattern of atoms are called crystals.

B.) When magma cools slowly, large crystals form.

C.) When magma cools rapidly, small crystals form.

• II. Mineral Identification:A. Properties of minerals:

1. Appearance - you cannot rely on a minerals appearance alone to tell them apart. Ex. Gold and Pyrite (Fools Gold).

2. Hardness - is how easily a mineral can be scratched.

A.) We can use hardness to identify minerals by using the Mohs Scale of Hardness.

““Mineral Identification Cont.”Mineral Identification Cont.”

B.) An object with a hardness of 1 is the softest, and an object with a hardness of 10 is the hardest mineral.

C.) Objects with the same hardness will scratch each other.

D.) Which mineral is harder Quartz or Calcite?

3. Luster - Describes how light is reflected from the mineral’s surface.

A.) Luster will be either metallic or nonmetallic.

B.) Metallic - shines like metal.

C.) Nonmetallic - does not shine like a metal.

D.) Ex. Gold - metallic, Quartz - nonmetallic.

““Mineral Identification Cont.”Mineral Identification Cont.”

4. Color - Can help in identifying minerals.

A.) Usually not enough.

B.) Gold and Pyrite.

5. Streak - is the color of the mineral when it is broken up and powdered.

A.) When a mineral is rubbed across an object with a greater hardness a streak of color is sometimes left behind. B.) Ex. Gold leaves a yellow streak, and Pyrite leaves a greenish brown streak.

““Mineral Identification Cont.”Mineral Identification Cont.”

6. Cleavage - Minerals have cleavage if it can break across a smooth flat surface.

A.) Ex. A layer cake taken apart in layers is broken with perfect cleavage.

B.) Halite and Calcite break with perfect cleavage. 7. Fracture - Minerals that break with rough or jagged edges

have fracture.

A.) Grabbing a chunk out of a layer cake would be like breaking a mineral with fracture.

B.) Quartz has fracture.

““Mineral Identification Cont.”Mineral Identification Cont.”

8. Special Properties - some mineral have unique properties.

A.) Calcite fizzes when Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) is put on it.

Examples:

B.) Magnetite is attracted to magnets.

C.) Halite dissolves in water.

• III. Uses of Minerals:A. Gems - a valuable mineral highly prized because they are rare and beautiful.

1. Most minerals are forms of gems.

““Uses of Minerals”Uses of Minerals”

2. Example: Amethyst is a gem form of Quartz.

3. The gem’s value depends on its rarity, size and cut.

4. The most rare and valuable gems are called Precious Stones.

A.) Examples: Amethyst, Turquoise, and Topaz.

5. All other gems are called Semiprecious Stones.

B.) Ores - a mineral that contains a useful substance that can be extracted and used for a profit.

1. Iron can be extracted from Hematite.

2. Aluminum can be extracted from Bauxite.

““Uses of Minerals”Uses of Minerals”

3. The value of an ore depends on its supply ; its demand and cost of extraction.

4. If it cost raises, or demands fall, a substance may not be considered an ore.