There are five key characteristics of minerals: 1. They are naturally formed and not man-made. 2. They are inorganic, composed of non-living materials like iron and lead. 3. They are solids with a definite volume and shape under normal conditions. 4. They have a definite and consistent chemical composition throughout, like galena (PbS). 5. They have a crystalline atomic structure with atoms arranged in repeating patterns, like NaCl.

1. MINERALS
Mr. Froelich

2. FIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF MINERALS
1. Formed in Nature
 Not Human Made

3. FIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF MINERALS
2. Inorganic
 Formed from nonliving things
 Ex: Iron, Lead

4. FIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF MINERALS
3. Solid
 Has definite volume and
shape at normal conditions

5. FIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF MINERALS
4. Definite Chemical Composition
 Composition is same throughout mineral
Ex: Galena PbS
(Lead Sulfide)

6. FIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF MINERALS
5. Crystalline Structure
 Atoms arranged in repeating pattern
 Highly Ordered
Organization
 Ex: NaCl

7. CRYSTAL STRUCTURE

8. WHAT TO ASK YOURSELF
• Is it organic material of any kind?
• Is it a solid?
• Is it naturally made?
• Does it have a crystalline structure?

9. NOW LETS PLAY
Mineral or not?

10. WOOD

11. DIAMOND

12. QUARTZ

13. GRANITE

14. SALT

15. SUGAR

16. FOSSIL

17. GLASS

18. COAL

19. COPPER

20. ICE

21. ANSWERS
Minerals Non-Minerals
Diamond Wood
Quartz Granite
Ice Fossil*
Copper Coal
Salt Glass
Sugar

23. MINERAL PROPERTIES
Mr. Froelich

24. COLOR
o Not always reliable
o Impurities – other materials in it
o Mineral contact with water or the atmosphere
o Defects in the crystalline structure

25. LUSTER
o Ability to reflect light of surface
o Metallic – looks as if made of metal
o Nonmetallic – looks glassy or not like metal
o Pearly- looks like a pearl
o Waxy-Looks like wax
o Earthy

26. HARDNESS
o Moh’s Scale of Hardness
o Ranges from 1(soft) to
10(hard)
Nail (4.5)
Write this table
down

27. STREAK
o Color of powder when scraped on porcelain

28. DENSITY
• This is used because minerals have
specific densities
• Density of copper is 8.96 g/mL

29. CRYSTAL SHAPE
o The way atoms/molecules arrange while mineral
forms

30. CLEAVAGE
o When minerals break along smooth surfaces
o Can have cleavage in multiple directions

31. FRACTURE
o When minerals break with
jagged or rough surfaces

32. CLEAVAGE/FRACTURE
o NOTE: Minerals can contain both cleavage and
fracture!
Cleavage
Fracture

33. 1. Carbonates react with acids to form bubbles of CO2.
2. Some minerals fluoresce (glow) when exposed to UV light.
3. Some respond to magnets.
4. Some are radioactive.
Calcite reacts
with acid
SPECIAL PROPERTIES