Minerals are the building blocks of rocks. A mineral is a naturally-occurring, inorganic, homogeneous solid with definite chemical composition and that exhibits a crystalline structure. Characteristics of Minerals 1. A mineral is Naturally-Occurring A mineral should be naturally-occurring with respect to its formation. It should be made by natural processes without the aid of any organism. In the case of laboratory studies, any material that is formed in laboratories or artificial conditions is not considered a mineral. 2. A mineral is Inorganic It is formed by inorganic processes and does not contain any organic compound. The process to produce a mineral by natural means is extended further by making sure that no organic material ( or what was once part of an organism) be considered a mineral. This would mean that bones, shells, teeth, and other hard parts of an organism are not minerals. 3. A mineral is a homogeneous Solid We should be able to see something that is uniform in appearance and is in the solid state of matter. This property of minerals is very important especially when dealing with materials in other states such as liquids and gases. A mineral should exhibit stability at room temperature, which can only be attained if it is solid. 4. A mineral has a definite Chemical Composition Most minerals are chemical compounds and can therefore be represented using a fixed or variable chemical formula. Example: A mineral with a fixed chemical formula is quartz (SiO2). This indicates that the mineral quartz contains one silicon atom and two oxygen atoms. 5. A mineral has an ordered internal/crystalline structure Minerals look like crystals since the arrangement of their atoms is ordered and repetitive. Atoms of minerals are arranged in an orderly and repeating pattern. NOTE: Knowing whether a material is crystalline or not would require sophisticated methods such as involving the use of X-rays (XRD). Mineraloids Any material which passes most of the criteria (but not all) we have set can be considered a mineraloid. Most of the time, mineraloids are naturally-occurring, inorganic, homogeneous solids with definite chemical compositions but with no ordered internal structure. Examples of mineraloids are volcanic glass and opal.

1. Earth & Life Science
MINERALS
Ma’am Merie Lyn A. Dela Cruz

2. Objectives:
• Module 2: Lesson 1
- Minerals and their Characteristics
- Different Properties of Minerals
• After going through this lesson, you are expected to:
1. Identify the examples of minerals,
2. Explain the different characteristics of minerals,
3. Differentiate minerals based on their properties,
4. Develop awareness on the importance of minerals
around us.

3. Minerals and Rocks
• Minerals are the building blocks of
rocks.
• A mineral is a naturally-occurring,
inorganic, homogeneous solid with
definite chemical composition and
that exhibits a crystalline structure.
How is a mineral different
from a rock?

4. Characteristics of Minerals
1. A mineral is Naturally-
Occurring
• A mineral should be naturally-
occurring with respect to its
formation.
• It should be made by natural
processes without the aid of any
organism.
• In the case of laboratory studies, any
material that is formed in
laboratories or artificial conditions is
not considered a mineral.

5. Characteristics of Minerals
1. A mineral is Naturally-
Occurring

6. Characteristics of Minerals
2. A mineral is Inorganic
• It is formed by inorganic processes
and does not contain any organic
compound.
• The process to produce a mineral by
natural means is extended further by
making sure that no organic material
( or what was once part of an organism) be
considered a mineral.
• This would mean that bones, shells,
teeth, and other hard parts of an
organism are not minerals.

7. Characteristics of Minerals
2. A mineral is Inorganic

8. Characteristics of Minerals
3. A mineral is a homogeneous
Solid
• We should be able to see something
that is uniform in appearance and is
in the solid state of matter.
• This property of minerals is very
important especially when dealing
with materials in other states such
as liquids and gases.
• A mineral should exhibit stability at
room temperature, which can only be
attained if it is solid.

9. Characteristics of Minerals
3. A mineral is a homogeneous
Solid

10. Characteristics of Minerals
4. A mineral has a definite
Chemical Composition
• Most minerals are chemical
compounds and can therefore be
represented using a fixed or variable
chemical formula.
• Example:
• A mineral with a fixed chemical
formula is quartz (SiO2). This
indicates that the mineral quartz
contains one silicon atom and two
oxygen atoms.

11. Characteristics of Minerals
4. A mineral has a definite
Chemical Composition

12. Characteristics of Minerals
5. A mineral has an ordered
internal/crystalline structure
• Minerals look like crystals since the
arrangement of their atoms is
ordered and repetitive.
• Atoms of minerals are arranged in an
orderly and repeating pattern.
• NOTE: Knowing whether a material
is crystalline or not would require
sophisticated methods such as
involving the use of X-rays (XRD).

13. Characteristics of Minerals
5. A mineral has an ordered
internal/crystalline structure

14. Activity # 1: Minerals
Objective: Determine the crystalline structure
of a mineral.
Materials: magnifying glass (if available), rock
salt, iodized salt
Procedure:
1. Using a magnifying glass, observe the grains
of a rock salt and an iodized salt.
2. Compare the shape of the grains of the rock
salt with that of the iodized salt.
3. Draw the shape of the grains for each.
4. Answer this question: What is the shape of
the grains?

15. Mineraloids
• Any material which passes most of the
criteria (but not all) we have set can be
considered a mineraloid.
• Most of the time, mineraloids are naturally-
occurring, inorganic, homogeneous solids
with definite chemical compositions but with
no ordered internal structure.
• Examples of mineraloids are volcanic glass
and opal.

16. Mineraloids
• Examples of mineraloids are volcanic glass
and opal.

17. Properties of Minerals
1. Color
• Color is the property of mineral that
is easiest to identify.
• It is also considered an unreliable
property to use in identifying the
mineral since slight impurities can
affect color.
• Color is the perceived wavelength of
light that bounced off from the
material and is detected by our eyes.

18. Properties of Minerals
1. Color
• Most of the time, composition
dictates what color/hue the mineral
will take. But for some, the
crystalline structure will also play a
role.
• Example:

19. Properties of Minerals
2. Streak
• It is the color of a mineral in
powdered form.
• Minerals show color differently when
ground into fine powder.
• In most cases, minerals will show
streak color equivalent to its normal
massive color. But in rare cases, the
streak color will differ from its
compact form.

20. Properties of Minerals
2. Streak
• Example:

21. Properties of Minerals
3. Luster
• It is the behavior of light as it is
reflected by the surface of a mineral.
• It can be:
a. Metallic – minerals that look like
metals and are shiny
b. Non-metallic – luster different from
metallic ones.
- There are many descriptive terms to
choose from including
pearly (looks like the surface of a pearl),
waxy ( like the surface of a candle),
vitreous (like clear or stained glass) and
silky ( like silk cloth)

22. Properties of Minerals
3. Luster
pearly (looks like the surface of a pearl),
waxy ( like the surface of a candle),
vitreous (like clear or stained glass) and
silky ( like silk cloth)

23. Properties of Minerals
3. Luster
• Example:

24. Properties of Minerals
3. Luster
• A mineral’s ability to transmit light
determines whether it is opaque,
translucent, or transparent.
• Opaque – when the light strikes the
object does not pass through.
• Translucent – when light strikes the
object and some light passes through.
• Transparent – when light strikes
and almost all the light will
completely pass through.

25. Properties of Minerals
3. Luster

26. Properties of Minerals
4. Hardness
• It is the resistance of a mineral to
scratching.
• To determine the hardness of a
mineral, a comparative hardness
scale assigning numerical values to
the hardness was made by Friedrich
Mohs.
• The Mohs Hardness Scales assigned
1 to Talc, which is the softest
mineral, and 10 to Diamond, which
is the hardest mineral.

27. Properties of Minerals
Hardness Mineral
1 Talc
2 Gypsum
3 Calcite
4 Fluorite
5 Apatite
6 Feldspar
7 Quartz
8 Topaz
9 Corundum
10 Diamond

28. Properties of Minerals

29. Properties of Minerals
5. Cleavage
• It is the mineral’s resistance to being
broken and fracture.
• It is exhibited when a mineral breaks
and smooth flat surfaces are formed
from the breakage.
• NOTE: The presence of cleavage in
mineral is independent of its
hardness. Even diamond exhibits
cleavage.

30. Properties of Minerals
5. Cleavage

31. Properties of Minerals
6. Tenacity
• describes the mineral’s reaction to
stress (breaking or deforming)
• Brittleness
• Malleability
• Ductility
• Flexible but Inelastic
• Flexible but Elastic
• Sectility