1. With a partner near you…
On a sheet of paper in your notes, come up with what you think defines a mineral. Make a list of properties.
What makes a mineral different from a rock?

2. What is a Mineral?

3. What is a mineral?
Solid
Not liquid, gas, or plasma

4. What is a mineral?
Naturally-occurring
Not man-made

5. What is a mineral?
Inorganic
Never alive

6. What is a mineral?
Fixed chemical composition: an element or a compound

7. What is a mineral?
Crystal structure: atoms or molecules in an orderly pattern

8. Examples of minerals
Halite
(rock salt)
Mica
Quartz

9. Not minerals

10. Most minerals are compounds
Quartz: silicon and oxygen
SiO2
Most abundant in earth’s crust
Halite: sodium and chloride
NaCl

11. Native Minerals
Made up of single elements
Gold
Copper
Silver
Sulfur

12. Important Mineral Facts…
There are more than 2,000 kinds of minerals, but fewer than 20 are common minerals that form rock
10 minerals make up 90% of the earth’s crust
Ex. Quartz, feldspar, mica, calcite

13. 2 Main Groups of Minerals
Silicates
Non-Silicates

14. Silicates They contain atoms of silicon (Si) and oxygen (O).
Forms a tetrahedron (see drawing)
Many contain one or more kind of atom
Ex. Feldspar – silicon and oxygen with potassium
SiO2 - Quartz
*96% of the crust is made of silicates

15. Non-silicates
6 Groups

16. #1 Native Elements
One type of atom

17. #2 Halides
K, Na, or Ca cation, with a Cl or F anion
Halite (NaCl)

18. #3 Sulfides
Contains S atom
Pyrite (FeS2)

19. #4 Carbonates
Contains CO3 as part of the compound

20. #5 Sulfates
Contains SO4 as part of the compound
Gypsum (CaSO42H2O )

21. Gypsum Caves
Largest Crystals in the World are found in Northern Mexico in the Cave of Crystals
Cave of Crystals Video

22. Oxides Contains O atom except for silicates, carbonates, and sulfates.
Hematite (Fe2O3 )