Download Minerals

Minerals
Atomic number
Atomic mass
Isotopes
Neutral atom
Ions
Types of Bonds
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Ionic
Covalent
van der Waals
Mineral
Naturally formed
Inorganic
Solid
Specific chemical composition
Characteristic crystal structure
The two characteristics that best allow the study of
minerals are
1.
2.
Crystal structure: the way the atoms of the elements
are packed together
Composition: the major chemical elements that are
present and their proportions
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Because of their abundance, oxygen and silicon form the
basis for the most common rock-forming minerals, and the
most common mineral group: silicates
Other mineral groups include: oxides, sulfides, carbonates,
sulfates, and phosphates
Silicates
– Built of the silicate anion
(tetrahedron)
– The anion joins together by
sharing their oxygen atoms to
form chains, sheets and threedimensional networks
Minerals are identified by their distinct properties that result from their
composition and crystal structure
Crystal form and growth habit
Cleavage
Luster
Hardness and specific gravity
Color
Cleavage
Luster, Color and Streak
Density and Specific Gravity
Hardness
Relative resistance of a
mineral to being scratched
Governed by the crystal
structure and the strength
of chemical bonds
Moh’s relative hardness
scale