1. SNIFE Solid Naturally occurring Inorganic
Fixed chemical composition (atoms arranged in a pattern)
Elements or compounds

2. Mineral: SNIFE Solid, Naturally occurring, inorganic Fixed composition, element or compound

3. Breakage pattern
Cleavage- pattern when a mineral breaks along a flat plane- mostly at a 90o angle
Fracture- uneven pattern when mineral breaks

4. Streak- the color of the mineral’s powder
Shows the actual
color of
Mineral!

5. Luster- the way the mineral reflects light
Metallic
Non-metallic

6. Color- easiest, not very useful

7. Hardness- how hard a mineral is, based on the arrangement of atoms
Tightly packed=
Hard mineral
Loosely packed=
Soft mineral

8. You typically do not carry around a supply of the 10 minerals on the hardness scale. However, you can use the following items to help estimate the hardness of a mineral:
           Finger Nail (H = 2.5)
           Penny (H = 3)
           Knife Blade (H = 5.5)

9. Other tests Acid test- Calcite reacts to HCl
Will bubble when HCl is placed on the mineral
Taste test- halite and calcite look alike, but taste very differently!
Density-
Gold (Au)- density = 19.3g/cm3
Pyrite = g//cm3

10. Uses of Minerals Gems Ores Mining
Rarity and beauty makes them valuable
Gemstones used for jewelry are cut and polished and sometimes don’t resemble the raw form of the mineral
May have a crystal structure that allows it to be cut in facets
May have the addition of another mineral that gives it a brighter color
Ores
A mineral is an ore if it contains a substance that can be sold for profit
Hematite is the ore of iron
Bauxite is the ore of aluminum
Copper comes from chalcopyrite ore
Rutile is the ore that titanium comes from
Titanium is valuable because of its strength and low density (lightness)
Ore deposits are formed when fluids travel through weaknesses in rocks, such as fractures and cracks.
The minerals dissolved in the fluids are left behind when the liquid evaporates, forming “vein deposits
Mining
Ores are only profitable if the cost of mining them is less than the value of the material being mined
Waste rock has to be removed
This can be expensive and harmful to the environment