1. What is a mineral? How do minerals form?

2. How can minerals form? Extreme Cold Volcanic Activity
Water Evaporation
Return to Beginning

3. YES! Minerals from solutions
A solution is a mixture in which one substance is dissolved in another. When water evaporates, elements and compounds that are dissolved in water are left behind and crystallization occurs.
BUT, they also form from…

4. YES! Minerals from magma and lava
Minerals can form as hot magma cools inside the crust or as lava hardens on the surface of the Earth. The rate at which the magma cools, the amount of gas the magma contains, and the chemical composition of the magma all affect crystal size. Since lava is on the surface of the Earth, it will cool quickly and form minerals with small crystals.
BUT, they also form from…

5. NO, cold does not create minerals
Return to Question

6. What is a mineral? A mineral must be: Answer Question
naturally occurring
inorganic
solid
has a crystal structure
definite chemical composition.
Answer Question

7. Which of these is a mineral?

8. NO Go Back This is a maple leaf.
It is not a mineral because it is ORGANIC.
A mineral must be INORGANIC, never alive.
Go Back

9. NO Go Back This is water. It is not a mineral because it is not SOLID.
A mineral must be solid.
Go Back

10. NO
This is steel.
It is not a mineral because it is made by people.
A mineral must be NATURALLY OCCURING.
Go Back

11. CORRECT! How do minerals form? This is talc.
It is a very soft mineral and easily powdered.
How do minerals form?