This sound like a job for Super Geology Man! Never fear, Super Geology Man is here! Help! There’s been a tornado and my minerals are all mixed up. What am I to do? I am Super Geology Man’s cousin and I will be your guide. Click on me throughout this show to go to the next slide.

Let’s take a look at what we have here…You sure do have quite a variety of minerals.

Wow! You sure do know a lot about minerals, Super Geology Man. How do you know so much? Yet, I convinced him that like spiders, rocks and minerals were just a different area in science. I also taught him that minerals can be very valuable. Did you know that even diamonds and gold are minerals? That is a very good question, Sue. When I was a boy I was very interested in rocks and minerals. My father, Spider Man, was not real thrilled with the idea.

You see, true minerals come from the earth and are pure, solid substances made up of crystals. Some minerals, like gold and carbon, are made of one element. Others, like salt and quartz, are made of a combination of elements. Only natural substances are true minerals. So if you find some salt in a salt mine, it is a mineral, but if you make salt in a science laboratory, it is not - even though they are exactly the same! Click on the diamond to learn more.

Oh, you mean like how people have different color hair, eyes, skin, and some people wear glasses and some don’t? You can tell what a mineral from its characteristics, just like you can tell who a person is from their characteristics.

Exactly…minerals have different streak and color, cleavage and fracture, crystal shape, and hardness. That is how we identify what they are. Let me show you…

Color is the reason that most minerals are so appealing. Color is a one of the first characteristics a geologist looks as to identify a mineral. Be careful, because some colors may be deceiving, therefore you would do more tests.

The picture on the right is two different types of quartz, but small particles in each one change its color! So color is not always a reliable way to identify a mineral. Instead, we can check the mineral's streak. "Streak" is the color of the powdered mineral. Most minerals always make the same color streak. Quartz's streak is always white, no matter what its color.

Many mineral crystals break in certain ways—into cubes, sheets, pyramids, or in other patterns. These patterns—called 'cleavage'—depend on the structure of atoms inside the crystal. Some kinds of atoms are joined together quite strongly. Other kinds have weak joints. The crystal will cleave (break) where the joints are weakest. Mica cleaves into thin sheets, because the weakest joints are between flat sheets of strongly-jointed atoms.

Galena cleaves into cubes, because the joints inside are equally strong—there are no weaker joints to make it break in a different pattern. Not all minerals cleave neatly. Some don't break in any particular way. Instead, they simply fracture into odd shapes. For example, quartz fractures into shell-like pieces.

Mineral crystals form distinct shapes, depending on their structure. Figuring out which shape can help you identify the mineral. (These shapes may not always be easy to see without a special microscope, especially if the mineral grows in groups.) Fluorite crystals may form as cubes Calcite can crystallize in a dog-tooth shape Quartz can crystallize as a pyramid Apatite forms six-sided columns (hexagon) Mica forms in sheets

Some minerals are very hard, others are very soft. We can use the Mohs Hardness Scale to compare the hardness of any mineral. The higher the number on the scale, the harder the mineral is. Each mineral can scratch only those minerals that are on the same level or below it on the scale. Do you know what the hardest mineral is?

Your fingernail has a hardness of 2.5 on the Mohs scale. If you can scratch a mineral with your fingernail, it must be softer than 2.5. If you can't scratch it, it must be harder than 2.5. A pocket knife has a hardness of 5.5 on the Mohs scale. If your knife can scratch a mineral, it must be softer than 5.5. If it can't, then it must be harder than 5.5.

You’re amazing, Super Geology Man! You have taught me so much about minerals. Now, let’s see what you have learned. Thank you, Sue. I think that everyone should know about minerals and how to identify them. They are so cool!

A mineral…. A.can be made up of one element or a combination of elements.can be made up of one element or a combination of elements. B.are pure, solid substances made up of crystals.are pure, solid substances made up of crystals. C.have different streak and color, cleavage and fracture, crystal shape, and hardness.have different streak and color, cleavage and fracture, crystal shape, and hardness. D. is all of all of the above.is all of all of the above.

Yes, Minerals are made up of crystals of one element or more than one element. You can test streak and color, cleavage and fracture, crystal shape, and hardness to identify them.

You are very close…Please take a closer look. Click on the minerals to warp back in time and review what I said. The mineral on the left will help you to remember what a mineral is. The mineral on the right will help you remember mineral identification.

See if you can match the statement with the correct mineral identification method. 1. Hardness The patterns crystals break in: cubes, sheets, pyramids, or in other patterns.The patterns crystals break in: cubes, sheets, pyramids, or in other patterns. One of the first characteristics a geologist looks at to identify a rock.One of the first characteristics a geologist looks at to identify a rock. Identifying minerals by their distinct shapes.Identifying minerals by their distinct shapes. Mohs Hardness Scale is used to identify this.Mohs Hardness Scale is used to identify this. The color of the powdered mineral when scraped on tile.The color of the powdered mineral when scraped on tile.

1. Hardness The patterns crystals break in: cubes, sheets, pyramids, or in other patterns.The patterns crystals break in: cubes, sheets, pyramids, or in other patterns. 2. Crystal Shape One of the first characteristics a geologist looks at to identify a rock. One of the first characteristics a geologist looks at to identify a rock. Identifying minerals by their distinct shapes.Identifying minerals by their distinct shapes. Mohs Hardness Scale is used to identify this. The color of the powdered mineral when scraped on tile. The color of the powdered mineral when scraped on tile. WAY TO GO! The higher the number on Mohs Hardness Scale, the harder the mineral is. Try the next one.

1. Hardness The patterns crystals break in: cubes, sheets, pyramids, or in other patterns.The patterns crystals break in: cubes, sheets, pyramids, or in other patterns. 2. Crystal Shape One of the first characteristics a geologist looks at to identify a rock.One of the first characteristics a geologist looks at to identify a rock. 3. Fracture/Cleavage Identifying minerals by their distinct shapes. Mohs Hardness Scale is used to identify this. The color of the powdered mineral when scraped on tile.The color of the powdered mineral when scraped on tile. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! Figuring out the crystal shape can help you identify the mineral.

1. Hardness The patterns crystals break in: cubes, sheets, pyramids, or in other patterns. 2. Crystal Shape One of the first characteristics a geologist looks at to identify a rock.One of the first characteristics a geologist looks at to identify a rock. 3. Fracture/Cleavage Identifying minerals by their distinct shapes. 4. Streak Mohs Hardness Scale is used to identify this. The color of the powdered mineral when scraped on tile.The color of the powdered mineral when scraped on tile. OUT OF THIS WORLD! Fracture and cleavage depends on the structure of atoms inside the crystal. Some kinds of atoms are joined together quite strongly. Other kinds have weak joints. The crystal will cleave (break) where the joints are weakest.

1. Hardness The patterns crystals break in: cubes, sheets, pyramids, or in other patterns. 2. Crystal Shape One of the first characteristics a geologist looks at to identify a rock.One of the first characteristics a geologist looks at to identify a rock. 3. Fracture/Cleavage Identifying minerals by their distinct shapes. 4. Streak Mohs Hardness Scale is used to identify this. 5. Color The color of the powdered mineral when scraped on tile. FAR OUT! Most minerals always make the same color streak. Quartz's streak is always white, no matter what its color.

1. Hardness The patterns crystals break in: cubes, sheets, pyramids, or in other patterns. 2. Crystal Shape One of the first characteristics a geologist looks at to identify a rock. 3. Fracture/Cleavage Identifying minerals by their distinct shapes. 4. Streak Mohs Hardness Scale is used to identify this. 5. Color The color of the powdered mineral when scraped on tile. YOU DID IT! Color is a one of the first characteristics a geologist looks as to identify a mineral. Be careful, because some colors may be deceiving, therefore you would do more tests.

Don’t be humble, Sue. You were a great student and will be able to teach your customers a lot. It was my pleasure helping you. Hey, that’s my job. I do not know what I would have done without you, Super Geology Man. You have helped me sort my minerals and taught me a lot of things I did not know. I sure will be able to help my customers and maybe I can teach them a thing or two about minerals.

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