science

1. Properties of Minerals
What is a
mineral?

2. The Rules of the Mineral
 Every Mineral must
follow these set of
rules
 1. Naturally Occurring
 2. Inorganic
 3. Solid
 4. Crystal Structure
 5. Definite Chemical
Composition

3. Mineral Questions
1. Are pearls considered minerals?
• No, because they are made from
animals.
2. Is naturally occurring glass considered
to be a mineral?
• No, because it does not have a crystal
structure.

5. Crystal Structure
 A crystal is a solid in which the atoms
are arranged in a pattern that repeats
again and again.
 Internal Arrangement of the Atoms
A tetrahedral site lies in the center of a 4-
A tetrahedral site lies in the center of a 4-
A tetrahedral site lies in the center of a 4-
A tetrahedral site lies in the center of a 4-
A tetrahedral site lies in the center of a 4-
A tetrahedral site lies in the center of a 4-
A tetrahedral site lies in the center of a 4-
A tetrahedral site lies in the center of a 4-
A tetrahedral site lies in the center of a 4-
A tetrahedral site lies in the center of a 4-
A tetrahedral site lies in the center of a 4-
A tetrahedral site lies in the center of a 4-

6. Definite Chemical Composition
 This means that a mineral always
contains certain elements in definite
proportions
 Quartz- always has one atom of Silica
for every two atoms of oxygen

7. The Mineral Beryl
Emerald Aquamarine

8. The Mineral Corundum
 Ruby Sapphire

9. Birthstones
January - Garnet July - Ruby
February - Amethyst August - Peridot
March -AquamarineSeptemberSapphire
April – Diamond October - Opal
May – Emerald November - Topaz
June - Pearl December - Zircon

10. Identifying Minerals
Each Mineral has its own specific
properties that can be used to identify it.
 6. Crystal Shape
 7. Cleavage &
Fracture
 8. Special
Properties
 1. Hardness
 2. Color
 3. Streak
 4. Luster
 5. Density

11.  .

12. Mohs Hardness Scale
 1 = Softest (talc or graphite)
 10 = Hardest (diamond)
 How do you determine if one mineral is
harder than the other?
 Perform a scratch test.
 If the mineral gets scratched it is softer than
the object that scratched it.

13. Which mineral is gold?
How would you be able to
tell the difference?

14. Streak- the color of a mineral
when it is made into a powder
 Pyrite(fool’s gold) is
very similar in color to
real gold, but Pyrite
has a greenish-black
streak and gold has a
gold streak.

16. Luster- describes how light
reflects off a minerals surface
 Metallic Luster- describes minerals that are
shiny.
 Glassy Luster- describes minerals that look
like they have a glassy surface, ex. Quartz
 *Minerals are usually described as having a
metallic or non-metallic luster.

17. Which mineral has a metallic
luster and which has a glassy
luster?

18. Crystal Shape
 Every crystal has a characteristic shape that is due
to its Crystal structure.
 Halite(NaCl or Salt)- will always have six sides
and form a cube
Hoppered pink Halite crystals from the evaporation

20. Minerals will either break by
cleavage or fracture?
 Cleavage- a minerals ability to split easily
along flat surfaces
 Fracture- minerals which break with rough
or uneven surfaces

23. Special Properties
 Fluorescence- some minerals glow under
ultraviolet light ex.) Fluorite
 Magnetism- some metallic minerals are
naturally magnetic ex.) Magnetite
 Effervescence- some minerals such as
Calcite fizz when acid is placed on it
 Electrical Properties- a few minerals, such
as quartz produce an electrical current

24. Fluorite

25. Scheelite(fluorescent mineral)

26. Magnetite
Magnetite