Download What is a Mineral

Define a mineral.
List the 5 characteristics
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Explain each term.
Naturally Formed

Inorganic

Crystalline structure

Solid

Definite Chemical Composition
 Its chemical composition may be written down in a ___________________ and is fairly
consistent or within a ________________
Example:
 Halite (salt) ____________
 Galena (lead) __________
Kinds of Minerals
 More than ___________ have been identified
 Fewer than _____________are common
 These are called _______________-_________________ minerals
List the ten that make up _______________ of the crust
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Ferromagnesian minerals
 Contain _____________ and _________________
Two groups of minerals
Based on _________________________ composition
 _________________________
 ___________________________
Silicates—contain a combination of
 _________________
 _________________
 Silicates make up more than _______________________ of the Earth’s crust
Six Kinds of Silicate Mineral Arrangements






Isolated-do not link with other silicon or oxygen atoms
Ring—form rings by sharing oxygen atoms
Single-chain silicates—form by sharing oxygen atoms
Double chain silicates—form when two single chains of tetrahedra bond to each other
Sheet silicates—form when each tetrahedron shares three of its oxygen with other tetrahedra
Framework silicates--form when each tetrahedron is bonded to four other tetrahedra
Silica tetrahedra Lab part 1
 Materials
 Toothpicks
 1 small marshmallow
 4 large marshmallow
 See page 106
Lab part 2
 Go to the lab stations and note the characteristics on your lab paper
 Ideas are on the lab paper and on the card with the sample
 Turn in when finished
Lab part 3
 Pair up and cut out a sheet of silicon tetrahedron
 Get a piece of construction paper and assemble the different silicon tetrahedra structures—see
the lab sheet or page 107
 Label the structures
 Clean up your mess
Nonsilicates
List the 6 groups
1. ____________________
Composition
____________________________
Example
___________________
2. ____________________
____________________________
___________________
3. ____________________
____________________________
___________________
4, ____________________
____________________________
___________________
5. ____________________
____________________________
___________________
6. ____________________
____________________________
___________________
Mineral Identification
 Minerals are identified using their ___________________ ________________________
 The properties include crystal form, hardness, cleavage, luster, color, streak, and
specific gravity.
Crystal Shape
 There are ______________ basic crystal systems
 Which one of these is not on page 112?
Crystal Form
Crystal form is caused by the
Quartz is the most commonly identified by its __________________ form
Remember the six-sided crystal?
Crystal= _________________
Two or more minerals that have the ______________ -___________________ composition but
different crystal structures are called ___________________________.
Hardness
Moh's Scale of Hardness
10 Diamond
9 Corundum
8 Topaz
7 Quartz
6 Feldspar
5 Apatite
4 Fluorite
3 Calcite
2 Gypsum
1 Talc
Hardness of some common objects
2.5
3
5
5.5
7
Fingernail
Penny
Pocket Knife
Window Glass
Steel File
Cleavage
 The tendency of a mineral to
 Some have good
 It depends on the crystal structure and chemical bonds: the stronger the bond the poorer
the cleavage.
Fracture
 A break that is not along a ______________________ plane
 Common type is ____________________ ___________________________.
Ex. Quartz
Broken glass appearance
 Or can be splinters and _________________--asbestos
Luster
The way light _________________________________ from the surface
I. Metallic
II. Nonmetallic
 Greasy
 Silky
 Pearly
 Glassy

Color
 Color is good for a few minerals like copper and turquoise, but is _______________a very
____________________ means of identification.
 The majority of minerals appear in a ________________ of colors.
_______________________ can change the color.
Streak
 The color of the ________________________ mineral
Much more reliable.

Drag the mineral across a __________________ ___________________________.

Hematite--______________________-_____________________ to black,
but usually reddish brown

Limonite--yellowish brown
Specific Gravity
 A mineral’s density
d=m/v
Density = mass/volume
 Densities are compared to an equal volume of water

There is ___________ ____________________
Quartz -- 2.65
Silver -- 10.5
Gold -- 19.3
There are no units in specific gravity!
Other Tests
 Taste
Halite--NaCl has a ___________________ taste
Fizz
 If a mineral contains CO3 it will effervesce (___________________) when you drop dilute
___________________ (hydrochloric acid) on it.
 Ex. Calcite CaCO3
Feel
 Talc has a ______________________feel
Smell
 Sulfur has a rotten egg smell
 Kaolinite has an __________________ smell
Others
 Writes on paper--_____________________________
 Rusty look—limonite
 Double refraction--calcite
How to Identify Minerals
 This film reviews some of the tests covered in your notes.
Mineral Lab
 Test each of the minerals to determine their physical properties, and then identify them using
the chart.
 Fill this in well.
The Other box is what nails down the ID and should include main identifying
characteristics.
 This is a major grade.