Minerals, Rocks and Fossils

What is a mineral? Naturally occurring Naturally occurring Non-organic Non-organic Characteristic chemical composition Characteristic chemical composition Distinctive physical properties Distinctive physical properties Crystalline structure Crystalline structure

Mineral properties Color Color Luster Luster Habit (Shape) Habit (Shape) Cleavage & Fracture Cleavage & Fracture Streak Streak Hardness Hardness Other Other

Color: Not mineral specific

Luster: How minerals reflect light Non- metallic Metallic

Mineral Habit (Shape) Shape a mineral takes if grown unimpeded Mineral Java Applet Mineral Java Applet

Cleavage & Fracture Cleavage: planes of weakness along which minerals can break Fracture: surfaces along which minerals can break

Cleavage & Fracture Best identified on a fracture surface

Streak: The powdered form of a mineral

Hardness: Based on Moh’s scale of hardness

Other Properties Specific gravity Specific gravity Reaction to acid Reaction to acid Striations Striations Magnetism Magnetism

Classifying Rocks Rocks are classified by how they formed and what they’re made of Rocks are classified by how they formed and what they’re made of There are 3 general classes of rocks There are 3 general classes of rocks Igneous Rocks…are formed when lava and magma crystallize to form solid rock Igneous Rocks…are formed when lava and magma crystallize to form solid rock Metamorphic Rocks…are formed when an existing rock is partially melted, squeezed, or both Metamorphic Rocks…are formed when an existing rock is partially melted, squeezed, or both Sedimentary Rocks…are formed when sediments (sand clay, and silt) are compressed and become solid rock Sedimentary Rocks…are formed when sediments (sand clay, and silt) are compressed and become solid rock

Igneous Rocks

Metamorphic Rocks Gneiss Schist

Sedimentary Rocks Shale Conglomerate Sandstone

Fossils The remains or imprints of living things of the past found in Sedimentary rocks.

Fossils provide information about life and conditions in the past.

Fossils of Sea Creatures Oceans once covered the area Oceans once covered the area What part of the ocean What part of the ocean

Fossils of Plants Plant fossils can tell us about the ancient environment Plant fossils can tell us about the ancient environment

Animal Fossils Animal fossils can tell us Animal fossils can tell us –About past environments –What the animal ate –How they lived

Mineral Test Lab Sample Name ColorLusterCleavage/fractureHardnessstreak