minerals
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Minerals. Rocks are made up of minerals but minerals are not made up of rocks!!. Minerals. There are different kinds of minerals in rocks because rocks are made up of minerals. Minerals are not made up of rocks. The definition of a mineral includes very specific parts - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Minerals
Rocks are made up of minerals but minerals are not made up of rocks!!
Minerals
There are different kinds of minerals in rocks because rocks are made up of minerals.
Minerals are not made up of rocks.
The definition of a mineral includes very specific parts
It is multipart definition that helps us distinguish rocks from minerals
Definition Part #1: Solid
Matter, things, can be in three different forms in nature Gas (Oxygen,
Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen)
Liquid (Water) Solid (Minerals,
Wood, Rock, Metal)
Minerals must be solids
Definition Part #2: Inorganic
Things in nature are either Organic or Inorganic
Organic means:
Comes from living things
Inorganic means: Not coming from living things
So minerals cannot come from living
things
Definition Part #3: Naturally Formed
Minerals are naturally formed They are found in
nature Natural things
include rocks, minerals, wood
They are not man-made People cannot
make a mineral Man-made things
include plastic, glass,
concrete, Styrofoam
Definition Part #4: Structure
Minerals have a definite structure
Structure means: The individual pieces of the mineral are arranged in a way that is specific to that mineral You would have to study this aspect of
minerals with a microscope
Definition Part #5: Same throughout
Minerals are made up of the same things
There is not a mixture of parts like in rocks.
The whole definition of minerals….
A solid (not a liquid or a gas) Inorganic (not living) Naturally formed (not man made) Has definite structure Is the same throughout (is not
made up of different things)
http://www.minerals.net/gemstone/index.htm
Interesting Facts about Minerals
Approximately 4,000 different minerals have been identified by scientists so far!
50-100 new minerals are discovered every year!
Properties / Characteristics of Minerals
Properties help us identify minerals
We can use these properties to help us classify minerals just like the scientists who first found and identified them!
Property #1: Color Minerals can be many
different colors Color can change due
to IMPURITIES (other things in the mineral that are not pure) Example: Pyrite (fool’s
gold) will turn brown or black when exposed to air
http://www.minerals.net/mineral/carbonat/calcite/images/4assortd.htm
Property #2: Luster Luster means: “the
way a surface reflects light” (www.dictionary.com)
Whether or not it is shiny!!
Minerals that are shiny have a METALLIC luster.
Minerals that are dull have a NONMETALLIC luster.
http://www.minerals.net/mineral/sulfides/pyrite/pyrite2.htm
Property #3: Streak If you were to rub a
mineral on a special piece of porcelain (pottery-like) called a “streak plate”, streak is the color of the powder left behind
In simple terms, the color of its powder when rubbed!!
http://www.minerals.net/mineral/oxides/hematite/hematit6.htm
Property #4: Cleavage
If you were to break a mineral, “cleavage” is when it breaks and creates smooth, flat surfaces or pieces
Examples include Mica – breaks into sheets Halite – breaks at 90 degree angles in three directions
http://www.flickr.com/photos/orbitaljoe/108073872/
Property #5: Fracture
If you were to break a mineral, “fracture” is when it breaks and creates a rough surface
An Example includes Quartz – creates a
curved fracture
Property #6: Hardness• A mineral’s resistance to
being scratched. • The ability of a harder
material to scratch a softer material
Measured on the MOHS hardness scale.
It was created in 1812 by the German mineralogist, Friedrich Mohs
A Mohs Value of 1 is the softest and 10 is the hardest.
http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/elements/diamond/diamond.htm
Mohs Hardness Scale
1. Talc Softest2. Gypsum3. Calcite4. Fluorite5. Apatite6. Orthoclase7. Quartz8. Topaz9. Corundum10. Diamond Hardest
Property #7: Density
Measure of how much matter (stuff) is in the mineral.
Golf ball feels heavier than ping-pong ball because it is more dense (made of more stuff).
http://www.minerals.net/mineral/elements/gold/gold1.htm
Special Property #1: Fluorescence
Does it glow under ultraviolet light? Yes: Then is has the
property of Fluorescence
No: Then is does not have the property Fluorescence
http://www.sterlinghill.org/Tour%20information.htm
Special Property #2: Chemical Reactions
Does it bubble in acid??
Special Property #3: Optical
Optical means: pertaining to sight or vision; visual (
www.dictionary.com)
Example: A thin piece of calcite placed over something will cause a double image
Special Property #4: Magnetism
Magnetism means: “the properties of attraction possessed by magnets” (www.dictionary.com)
Natural magnets that attract iron
Do other metals or minerals stick to it like magnets?
http://www.minerals.net/mineral/oxides/magnetit/magneti4.htm
Special Property #5: Taste
Example: Halite has a salty taste.
DO NOT TASTE MINERALS!
http://mineral.galleries.com/scripts/item.exe?LIST+Minerals+Halides+Halite
Special Property #6: Radioactivity
Minerals that contain radium or uranium are radioactive
Common Uses of Minerals Aluminum: packaging, transport, building (Yes, like aluminum cans) Beryllium: fluorescent lights (Like the
ones in school!) Copper: electric cables, wires, switches Feldspar: glass and ceramics Iron: buildings, automobiles, magnets Calcite: toothpaste, construction http://www.mii.org/commonminerals.php
http://www.mii.org/www.mii.org
Even we need minerals!!!