1. Section 1.1: What is a Mineral?
Is an element a mineral?
Are minerals the same as rocks?
Aren’t all minerals shiny like gemstones?
Let’s get this stuff straight…

2. Section 1.1: What is a Mineral?
A mineral is a naturally formed, inorganic solid that has a definite crystal structure (crystal lattice…8th grade chemistry)
Rocks are made of minerals
Minerals are not made of rocks

3. Section 1.1: What is a Mineral?
If you cannot answer “yes” to these five questions, then you do NOT have a mineral
1. Is it a solid?
Minerals cannot be liquid/gas
2. Is it nonliving material?
Minerals are inorganic; not made of living things
3. Does it have a crystal structure?
Atoms, ions, or molecules arranged in definite, repeating pattern
4. Is it formed in nature?
Man-made crystalline materials are not minerals
5. Does it have a definite chemical composition?
Specific & constant number and arrangement of atoms

4. Section 1.1: What is a Mineral?
Atoms & Compounds
Elements are made of 1 type of atom; an atom is the smallest part of an element that has the properties of that element
Compounds are made of 2 or more elements bonded together
Example: NaCl-sodium chloride aka the mineral halite
Native Element
A mineral that is composed of only one element
gold, silver, copper

5. Section 1.1: What is a Mineral?
Crystals
Solid, geometric forms of minerals produced by repeating patterns of atoms throughout the mineral
Type of atoms determine the
arrangement (electrons
in outer shell)

6. Section 1.1: What is a Mineral?
Two Groups of Minerals (based on chemical composition)
1. silicate minerals
2. nonsilicate minerals

7. Section 1.1: What is a Mineral?
Silicate Minerals
90% of Earth’s crust
Silicon (Si) and Oxygen (O) combine with other elements
See Figure 4
quartz feldspar mica

8. Section 1.1: What is a Mineral?
Nonsilicate Minerals
10% of Earth’s crust
SiO not present in compound
See Figure 5

9. Section 1.1: What is a Mineral?
Native elements (copper)
Carbonates (contain C & O; calcite)
Halides (F, Cl, Br, I with Na, K, or Ca; fluorite)

10. Section 1.1: What is a Mineral?
Oxides (Al or Fe with O; corundum)
Sulfates (contain S & O; gypsum)
Sulfides (S with Pb, Fe, or Ni; galena)