What is a mineral?Mineral- a naturally occurring, inorganic, solid that has a specific crystal structure and chemical composition.1)Naturally occurring- made by the earth

1)Mineral/ quartz, sulfur, diamond, gold, silver2)Not a mineral- coal, brick, glass, steel

2)Inorganic- made of nonliving material3)Specific Chemical Composition- the elements that

make the minerals have a definite chemical formula.4)Crystal Structure- the pattern that the particles form

over and over again creating the shape of the mineral

Characteristics to classify minerals:

1.Color2.Streak- the powder of the minerals3.Luster- the way a mineral shines4.Density-heaviness5.Hardness- scratch glass, scratch steel, can scrape with fingernails...6.Breaks-

Cleavage

Color

Sulfur Amethyst Quartz

Orthoclase Feldspar Rose Quartz

Streak- the powder of the minerals.Streak is determined by scraping the mineral on

a streak plate and observing the color left on the plate.

Luster- the way a mineral shines or reflects light.

Types of lusters to select from:

Metallitic luster-(graphite) Glassy luster-(quartz)

Waxy, pearly, greasy(talc)

Dull luster (kaoloinite)

Density- how heavy the mineral

Galena- extremely heavy mineral

Hardness- if the mineral can scratch things or be scratched.

Test using Mohs Hardness Scale

How the mineral Breaks- a minerals breaks in two ways:

1. Cleavage- when a mineral splits into a pattern because of the arrangement of the atoms.

2. Fracture- the minerals breaks in no specific or irregular way.

Mica- breaks in thin sheets

Calcite-squared edges

Halite is cubic

Rose quartz Hematite Olivine

Other PropertiesSome minerals have other unique

characteristics that determine the name.

Sulfur smells like rotten eggs

Magnetite is magnetic Halite tastes salty

Florescence- glows under UV lightsFranklin County NJ has the most Florescent mineral

mined collection in the world!!!!

Rocks

What is the difference between rocks and

minerals?Rocks are made up of mixtures of minerals and other materials.

-Example: Granite is made up of...

QuartzHornblend

Orthoclase Feldspar

Igneous RocksRocks that are formed from magma (melted rock under the earth’s surface) or lava (melted rock on the earth’s

surface).Two Types of Igneous Rock

Intrusiveformed inside the

earth(magma)

Extrusiveformed on the earth (lava)

Granite

Gabbro

Obsidian

Scoria

Pumice

Texture and Crystals of rocks of Igneous Rocks

A. Texture- the size of the grains that make up the rock

B. Crystals- depends on how fast the rocks cooledVolcanic (from lava)- shot from a volcano,

cool to quickly for crystals to formFrom Magma- magma cools slowly allows

the crystallized minerals to form

Coarse Grain

(large grains)

Fine Grain (small grains, like sand)

Granite Basalt

No Crystals- cooled too quickly for crystals to form

Obsidian

Three Types of Sedimentary Rocks:A. Clastic- formed from pieces/fragments of rocks being

squeezed together.

Examples: Sandstone

Conglomerate

B. Organic- made from remains of plants and/or animals.

Limestone Shale

C. Chemical- formed from minerals dissolving in water and the forms into crystals.

Limestone Geodes

Sedimentary RocksRocks that are formed through a series of

processes: erosion, deposition, compaction and cementation.

Erosion- particles carried away by wind or water.

Deposition- particles placed in an area.

Compaction- particles squeezed under pressure.

Cementation- particles are glued together

Metamorphic RocksRocks that change under the Earth’s surface

from heat and pressure.

Characteristics of metamorphic rocks:

Foliated-layers Nonfoliated- no layers

Gneiss Marble

Rock Cycle- a series of processes on the earth’s surface and under the surface that slowly change rocks from

one type to another.