Minerals are naturally formed materials composed of elements that were never alive. They have distinctive properties including crystalline structures, consistent compositions regardless of location, and characteristics like color, luster, hardness, and streak used to classify them. Minerals can be metals like gold or have other properties such as waxy or dull surfaces. Scientists use scales to systematically rate attributes such as a mineral's hardness from soft to very hard.

1. MineralsMinerals

2. Minerals are…Minerals are…
Formed naturallyFormed naturally

3. Minerals are…Minerals are…
Made of materials that wereMade of materials that were
never alive.never alive.

4. Minerals are…Minerals are…
The same no matter whereThe same no matter where
they are found.they are found.
gold nuggets

5. Minerals are…Minerals are…
Arranged in regular patternsArranged in regular patterns
and made of crystals.and made of crystals.

6. Some minerals are metals.Some minerals are metals.
Aluminum Gold

7. ScientistsScientists classifyclassify, or group and describe,, or group and describe,
minerals in many ways. They classifyminerals in many ways. They classify
minerals by color, luster, texture, hardness,minerals by color, luster, texture, hardness,
and streak.and streak.

8. The color of the mineral depends on theThe color of the mineral depends on the
chemicals in them.chemicals in them.
galena malachite
vanadinite sulfur

9. Luster is theLuster is the
amount of lightamount of light
reflected fromreflected from
the mineral’sthe mineral’s
surface (howsurface (how
shiny it is).shiny it is).
Quartz has aQuartz has a
glassyglassy luster. Itluster. It
looks like glass.looks like glass.

10. Magnetite and Purpurite have a
metallic luster. They look like shiny
metal.

11. Peridot has aPeridot has a waxywaxy luster. It looksluster. It looks
as if it is covered with wax.as if it is covered with wax.

12. Kaolinite has aKaolinite has a dulldull luster. It does notluster. It does not
reflect much light, and is not veryreflect much light, and is not very
shiny.shiny.

13. Texture describes how a mineral feels. Minerals mayTexture describes how a mineral feels. Minerals may
be rough, smooth, bumpy, or soapy. Can you guessbe rough, smooth, bumpy, or soapy. Can you guess
which mineral has each texture?which mineral has each texture?
Copper - ???
Gold - ???
Calcite - ???Peridot - ???

14. Copper -
SMOOTHGold - BUMPY
Calcite - ROUGHPeridot - SOAPY

15. All minerals are hard, butAll minerals are hard, but
some are harder thansome are harder than
others. Scientists test theothers. Scientists test the
hardness of a mineral byhardness of a mineral by
trying to scratch it with atrying to scratch it with a
nail. Scientists use thenail. Scientists use the
Hardness Scale to rate aHardness Scale to rate a
mineral’s hardness.mineral’s hardness.
Minerals at the top of theMinerals at the top of the
scale are soft and easy toscale are soft and easy to
scratch. Those at thescratch. Those at the
bottom are hard andbottom are hard and
difficult to scratch.difficult to scratch.
1.Talc
2.Gypsum
3.Calcite
4.Flourite
5.Apatite
6.Orthoclase
Feldspar
7.Quartz
8.Topaz
9.Corundum
10.Diamond
1.Talc
2.Gypsum
3.Calcite
4.Flourite
5.Apatite
6.Orthoclase
Feldspar
7.Quartz
8.Topaz
9.Corundum
10.Diamond

16. Diamonds are the hardest minerals. It is almostDiamonds are the hardest minerals. It is almost
impossible to scratch a diamond. Talc is the softestimpossible to scratch a diamond. Talc is the softest
mineral. You can scratch it with your fingernail.mineral. You can scratch it with your fingernail.
Apatite and feldspar have medium hardnesses.Apatite and feldspar have medium hardnesses.
Diamond –
the hardest
mineral
talc – the
softest mineral
apatitefeldspar

17. Some minerals leave a trail, or streak,Some minerals leave a trail, or streak,
when rubbed on a hard surface.when rubbed on a hard surface.
Scientists classify minerals by theScientists classify minerals by the
color of their streak. Hematite leavescolor of their streak. Hematite leaves
a red-brown streak.a red-brown streak.

18. Pyrite leaves a black streak.Pyrite leaves a black streak.
Rhodochrosite leaves a white streak.Rhodochrosite leaves a white streak.
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