MINERALS ARE EVERYWHERE

WHAT IS A MINERAL? All Minerals share the following 5 characteristics: Naturally occurring: a mineral forms by natural geologic processes like crystallization, evaporation or pressure and heat. Therefore cubic zirconium is NOT a mineral but diamonds are. NOT A MINERAL made by man IS A MINERAL made by nature

Inorganic: made of non-living things. Halite (salt) is an example but sugar is not because sugar comes from sugar cane a plant. SALTSUGAR YES A MINERAL NOT A MINERAL

Solid: hard and breakable Definite chemical composition: most minerals are chemical compounds made of two or more elements like salt (NaCl). A few minerals, such as gold and silver, consist of a single element (native form). SiO 2 PbS Cu FeS 2

Definite crystalline structure: the atoms are arranged in orderly, repeating patterns to form crystals

HOW DO MINERALS FORM? Crystallization from magma: magma is a molten rock. It forms deep within the Earth. As magma cools, elements combine to form minerals.

Precipitation: when water evaporates out of lakes, rivers, ponds, and oceans the dissolved substances react to form minerals. Limestone caves are formed this way also.

Pressure and temperature: existing minerals are exposed to heat and pressure and recrystallize into different minerals.

THE MOST COMMON ELEMENTS IN EARTH’S CURST Over 4,000 minerals have been named and new ones are named each year. Only a few dozen are known as common minerals. All minerals are classified into groups based on their composition (the elements that make them up). Most minerals are made up of two or more elements 92 elements are found in nature, but only 8 are in great abundance:

1. Oxygen (O)_____ 2. Silicon (Si)_____ 3. Aluminum (Al)_____ 4. Iron (Fe)_____ 5. Calcium (Ca) _____ 6. Sodium (Na)_____ 7. Potassium (K)_____ 8. Magnesium (Mg)_____ 48% 29% 8% 2% 5% 2% 4%

MINERAL GROUPS: The Silicates …also called the “rock formers” because they make up most of the rocks that we see All members of this family contain SILICON and OXYGEN (SiO 2 ) Quartz (SiO 2 ) and Feldspar (KAlSi 3 O 8 ) are the 2 most common minerals Mica (also a silicate) is another common mineral found in rocks Quartz FeldsparMica

The Carbonates …contain the elements carbon, oxygen (CO 3 ) and one or more other metallic elements. Calcite (CaCO 3 ) is the most common carbonate and dolomite (CaMg(CO 3 ) 2 ) is another carbonate mineral that contains magnesium and calcium. Carbonates fizz when HCL is dropped on it. Calcite Calcite fizzing Dolomite

Other mineral groups include: Sulfides: minerals with sulfur (S) and one or more elements Ex: Pyrite (FeS 2 ) Sulfates: elements with the sulfate compound (SO 2 ) Ex: Olivine (Fe 2 SO 4 ) Native elements: Smallest group, are made up of only 1 element, Examples: Gold (Au), Silver (Ag), Copper (Cu)

Which group?

Which group do the following minerals belong in??? Al Oxide Diamond (C)Native Element KAlSi 3 O 8 Silicate Silicate OxideSulfate Sulfide Native Element CaSO 4 Sulfate PbSSulfide

AMAZING EARTH SCIENCE FACTS A ______________ is found in nature, inorganic, solid with a definite chemical composition and structure. Mineral properties like hardness and crystal structure depend on the mineral’s _____________________________ ________ are minerals that are mined because they contain substances that are useful and profitable…some ores are pyrite, galena, graphite and sulfur ______________________ —are the two most abundant elements in Earth’s crust mineral internal atomic structure Ores Oxygen and Silicon