WHAT IS A MINERAL? WHERE DOES A MINERAL COME FROM?

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CH. 13.1- MINERALS AND ROCKS

WHAT ARE MINERALS?

A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid that has an orderly crystalline structure and a definite chemical compositionOccur in NatureMust be formed within Earth, on the surface, or within organisms

Be Chemically InorganicCan not have any carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonding

Solid w/ an orderly Crystalline structureAtoms and ions are arranged in an orderly and repetitive manner

Each mineral has a unique crystal structureDefinite Chemical Composition

MINERAL FORMATION

Minerals can form by crystallization from magma or lava, from precipitation related to evaporation or hydrothermal solutions, or from exposure to high pressure and temperature, or they can be produced by organisms

Crystallization from magma or lavaMagma cools inside the crust, or lava hardens on the surfaceCrystallization occursSize of the crystals depends on several factorsRate at which it coolsEx: slow cooling = large crystals

Location in/on Earth Lava cools much faster

PrecipitationOccurs when the liquid in a solution evaporates and the remaining solids crystallizeEx: when water from the ocean evaporates, salt crystals can form

Pressure and Temperature when a mineral is subjected to great changes in temperature or pressure, it’s atoms may rearrange Causes it to become a different type of mineral known as a polymorph

Example When carbon crystallizes, it forms

graphite (in your pencil) When carbon crystallizes under high

pressure and temperature, it forms a diamond

Produced by OrganismsOrganisms like mollusk shells and coral produce calcium bicarbonate, which helps to make the hard structures on their bodies

MINERALS ARE CATEGORIZED INTO GROUPS BASED ON THE ELEMENTS OR COMPOUNDS THEY CONTAIN