Download MINERALS

MINERALS
ARE EVERYWHERE
WHAT IS A MINERAL?
All Minerals share the following 5 characteristics:
Naturally occurring: a mineral forms by natural geologic
processes like crystallization, evaporation or pressure and heat.
Therefore cubic zirconium is NOT a mineral but diamonds are.
NOT A MINERAL
made by man
IS A MINERAL
made by nature
Inorganic: made of non-living things. Halite
(salt) is an example but sugar is not because
sugar comes from sugar cane a plant.
SALT
SUGAR
YES A MINERAL
NOT A MINERAL
Solid: hard and breakable
Definite chemical composition: most minerals are
chemical compounds made of two or more elements like
salt (NaCl). A few minerals, such as gold and silver,
consist of a single element (native form).
Definite crystalline structure:
the atoms are arranged in
orderly, repeating patterns to
form crystals
HOW DO MINERALS FORM?
Crystallization from magma:
magma is a molten rock. It
forms deep within the Earth.
As magma cools, elements
combine to form minerals.
Precipitation: when water evaporates out of lakes,
rivers, ponds, and oceans the dissolved substances
react to form minerals.
Limestone caves are formed this way also.
Pressure and temperature: existing minerals are
exposed to heat and
pressure and recrystallize into different minerals.
THE MOST COMMON ELEMENTS IN EARTH’S CURST
Over 4,000 minerals have been named and new ones are named each
year. Only a few dozen are known as common minerals.
All minerals are classified into groups based on their composition
(the elements that make them up).
Most minerals are made up of two or more elements
92 elements are found in nature, but only 8 are in great abundance:
1. Oxygen (O)
48%
_____
5. Calcium (Ca)
4%
_____
2. Silicon (Si)
_____
29%
6. Sodium (Na)
_____
2%
3. Aluminum (Al)
8%
_____
7. Potassium (K)
2%
_____
4. Iron (Fe)
_____
5%
8. Magnesium (Mg) _____
2%
MINERAL GROUPS:
The Silicates…also called the “rock formers” because
they make up most of the rocks that we see
• All members of this family contain SILICON and
OXYGEN (SiO2)
• Quartz (SiO2) and Feldspar (KAlSi3O8) are the 2 most
common minerals
• Mica (also a silicate) is another common mineral found
in rocks
Quartz
Feldspar
Mica
The Carbonates …contain the elements carbon, oxygen
(CO3) and one or more other metallic elements.
Calcite (CaCO3) is the most common carbonate and
dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2) is another carbonate mineral that
contains magnesium and calcium.
Carbonates fizz when HCL is dropped on it.
Calcite
Calcite fizzing
Dolomite
Other mineral groups include:
Sulfides: minerals with sulfur (S) and one or more elements
Ex: Pyrite (FeS2)
Sulfates: elements with the sulfate compound (SO2)
Ex: Olivine (Fe2SO4)
Native elements: Smallest group, are made up of only 1 element,
Examples: Gold (Au), Silver (Ag), Copper (Cu)
Which group?
Which
group?
Which
group?
Which
group?
Which group?
Which group?
Which
group?
Silicate
Sulfide
Oxide
Sulfate
Native Element
Which group do the following minerals
belong in???
Al203
Diamond (C)
CaSO4
KAlSi3O8
PbS
Oxide
Native Element
Sulfate
Silicate
Sulfide
AMAZING EARTH SCIENCE FACTS
•A ______________
is found in nature, inorganic, solid with
mineral
a definite chemical composition and structure.
•Mineral properties like hardness and crystal structure
internal atomic structure
depend on the mineral’s _____________________________
•________
are minerals that are mined because they
Ores
contain substances that are useful and
profitable…some ores are pyrite, galena, graphite and
sulfur
Oxygen and Silicon —are the two most abundant
•______________________
elements in Earth’s crust