Minerals All minerals have four characteristics Crystalline solid Inorganic (they do not come from anything that is or ever was living). For example, sugar is not a mineral because it was once part of plant. Coal is not a mineral because it is made from decayed plants. Naturally occurring (not made by man) Unique combination of elements

Silicates Most minerals are silicates, meaning they are composed of silicon plus oxygen plus other elements. Most common rock-forming minerals are silicates. Most minerals are silicates because they contain oxygen and silicon and those are the two most abundant (common) minerals in Earth’s crust.

Ores A mineral is an ore if it is useful and profitable to mine. Titanium is a useful ore because it is light and durable. Titanium can be used to make automobiles, aircraft, and wheelchairs. Ilmenite and rutile are mined for titanium. They can be found in vein mineral deposits, beach sands, and magma-formed rocks. Advantages of extracting minerals is that they are useful, profitable, and can be used for energy. Disadvantages include the fact mining can be expensing and it can harm the environment. Of course, in order to mine an ore, you must first locate the mineral.

Mining

CRYSTALS Crystal Structure refers to the repeating pattern in which atoms are arranged in a crystal. When a liquid evaporates ions might come together to form a crystal So some crystals are formed from minerals dissolved in liquids. Crystals can come in many shapes. Cube, Hexagon, monoclinic, tetragonal etc. A salt crystal is cubic in shape.

Mineral Identification Tests for hardness and streak help identify minerals. The Mohs hardness scale works when one mineral is rubbed against a mineral with a known hardness. You can also check how it reflects light, if the LUSTER is METALLIC or GLASSY. You can see how it breaks; if it breaks along a smooth flat surface that is CLEAVAGE. Minerals can form when magma cools. Slow cooling equals large crystals, fast cooling equals small crystals.

Minerals, continued Gemstones are rare and beautiful. Even though minerals may be the same color they might be different in every other way. Graphite is one of the softest minerals.