Chapter 3 ( aka Unit 7A): Minerals

Part I: Mineral Formation & Structure 1. What are minerals? 1. Minerals are natural, inorganic solids with a definite chemical composition and a particular crystalline structure.

Part I: Mineral Formation & Structure 2.What are the five characteristics of minerals? 2.  Minerals are formed in nature and can’t be man made.  Inorganic- not from living things  Solid  Always the same chemicals in exact proportions.  Crystals are always the same shape.

Part I: Mineral Formation & Structure 3. How many minerals are found in the Earth’s curst? 3. Over 2,000

Part II: Mineral Composition 4. What are Silicates? Quartz SiO 2 4. Made up of silicon, oxygen, and sometimes other elements. Silicates are the largest group of the minerals.

Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder believed quartz to be water ice, permanently frozen after great lengths of time. (The word "crystal" comes from the Greek word for purity.) He supported this idea by saying that quartz is found near glaciers in the Alps, but not on volcanic mountains, and that large quartz crystals were fashioned into spheres to cool the hands. He also knew of the ability of quartz to split light into a spectrum. This idea persisted until at least the 1600s.Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder believed quartz to be water ice, permanently frozen after great lengths of time. (The word "crystal" comes from the Greek word for purity.) He supported this idea by saying that quartz is found near glaciers in the Alps, but not on volcanic mountains, and that large quartz crystals were fashioned into spheres to cool the hands. He also knew of the ability of quartz to split light into a spectrum. This idea persisted until at least the 1600s. Cool Facts about Quartz

Jewelry; watchesJewelry; watches laboratory tubes and crucibles laboratory tubes and crucibles radio, television, and radar radio, television, and radar Quartz makes up almost all of two very important building stones. Sandstone is a rock made up of quartz sand held together by a natural cement.Quartz makes up almost all of two very important building stones. Sandstone is a rock made up of quartz sand held together by a natural cement. Many more….Many more…. Uses of Quartz

Olivine - Mg 2 SiO 4 August birthstoneAugust birthstone Igneous rockIgneous rock Found in MeteoritesFound in Meteorites

Part II: Mineral Composition 5. What are Carbonates – 5. Carbonates are made up of CO 3 and a metal Calcite is often the primary constituent of the shells of marine organisms; makes up sedimentary rock and limestone Calcite CaCO 3 Hematite Fe 2 O 3- herma, Greek word for blood; Found on Mars; used as a “booby trap” in Egyptian tombs ( irritant to eyes and skin)

Part II: Mineral Composition 6. What are sulfides ? 6. Sulfides are made up of sulfur and one or more metals. Pyrite FeS 2 or Fool’s Gold

Part II: Mineral Composition 7. What are Sulfates ? 7. SO 4 and one or more metals? Example: Gypsum :CaSO 4. 2H 2 O Gypsum found plaster board linings for houses; fertilizer, surgical splints and casting

Part II: Mineral Composition 8. What are Halides? 8. Consist of halogen, Cl, or F and a metal Use for HID ( high intensity lamps) Seen naturally in reefs

Part II: Mineral Composition 9. Native elements – 9. Not combined with anything Diamonds Cooper Nickel Gold Arsenic

Part III Mineral Identification 10. What are the properties of minerals? 10. Mineral properties include Luster, streak, cleavage, fracture, specific gravity, and hardness

Part III Mineral Identification 11. What is luster11. Luster is the way a mineral reflects light; described as metallic, pearly, silky, glassy, dull, greasy

Part III Mineral Identification 12. What is streak? 12. Streak is the color of a mineral in powered form. How? Rub a mineral across a streak plate

Part III Mineral Identification 13. What is color?13. Color – different impurities can make the same minerals different colors

Part III Mineral Identification 14. What is cleavage? 14. Cleavage means the ability to break along smooth flat surfaces

Part III Mineral Identification 15. What is fracture? 15. Fracture means the way a mineral tends to break. Unevenly or evenly?