Download Minerals

Minerals
Bellringer
• Brainstorm what do you know
about minerals.
• How do you think minerals relate to
earth science or the periodic table?
What is a Mineral?
• Naturally occurring: Not man-made. Made
by natural processes
• Inorganic solid: Are not alive, were never
part of anything living.
• Solids with Specific Chemical Composition:
solid with a unique chemical composition of
elements
• Definite Crystalline Structure: Atoms
arranged in geometric patterns
Why are Minerals Important?
• Earth’s crust is
composed of about
3,000 minerals.
• Minerals play a role in
forming rocks, shaping
Earth’s surface, and
shaping civilization.
• Wars have been fought
over gold and silver,
Why are Minerals Important?
• Uses of minerals:
• Make computers,
cars, televisions,
desk, roads,
buildings, jewelry,
beds, paints,
sports equipment,
and medicine
Ores
• Ore is a type of
rock that contains
minerals with
important
elements such as
metals.
• Ores are mined for
profit.
Mines
• Underground mining
is used to remove
ores located deep
within Earth’s crust.
• If it is too expensive
to remove waste
material from the
ore, the ore will not
be profitable.
Gems
• Valuable minerals prized
for their rarity and beauty.
• Rubies, emeralds,
diamonds are cut, polished
and used for jewelry.
• Diamonds are not the
most valuable gems
because others are more
rare (rubies and emeralds).
Questions? Write question and
answer in 3 ring binder
• 1. What is a mineral?
• 2. What is an ore?
• 3. Why are some minerals classified as
gems?
• 3. List several gems
• 4. Make a concept map with the definition
of a mineral and the uses (crystalline,
inorganic, natural, ore, mines, gems, profit,
rarity= examples of words to be used)