Download Rocks and Minerals!

Rocks and Minerals!
A Review of Chemistry!

An atom is the smallest particle of
matter that contains the characteristics
of an element.

An element is a chemical made of all the
same type of atoms.

Types of elements (most common in the
Earth’s crust)
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Oxygen (O)
Silicon (S)
Aluminum (Al)
Iron (Fe)
Calcium (Ca)
Sodium (Na)
Potassium (K)
Magnesium (Mg)

Substance is a material with a specific
chemical composition.

Compound is a pure chemical substance
consisting of two or more different
chemical substances.

Mixture is a collection of molecules or
atoms of different types.
Rocks and Minerals!
 A mineral
is a naturally
occurring, inorganic solid
with an orderly crystalline
structure and definite
chemical composition.

Now let’s look at each part of the
definition in detail!
A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic
solid with an orderly crystalline structure and
definite chemical composition.
 Naturally
occurring means
that the mineral was made
by natural geologic
processes over time.
Minerals cannot be made
by humans!
Silicon Wafer: Not Naturally
Occurring!!!
Also, not natural!
A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic
solid with an orderly crystalline structure and
definite chemical composition.
 Inorganic
means that it does
not typically contain carbon.
There are a few exceptions
such as calcium carbonate
(limestone).
Peat (partially decomposed
organic material) is not a mineral
A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic
solid with an orderly crystalline structure and
definite chemical composition.
 Solid
means that the minerals
are solid within normal
temperatures on the Earth!
(They can be melted or turned
into a liquid if heated up high
enough!)
Tar: Not a solid so not a mineral!
A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic
solid with an orderly crystalline structure and
definite chemical composition.
 Orderly
crystalline structure
means that the atoms are
arranged in an orderly and
repetitive manner. There are a
few exceptions to this.
Obsidian (volcanic glass) is
sometimes not considered a
mineral!
A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic
solid with an orderly crystalline structure and
definite chemical composition.
 Definite
chemical composition
means that the minerals are
composed of elements that
occur in a consistent ratio.
Halite (NaCl) has a definite
chemical composition!