1. Minerals

2. Building Blocks of Minerals
Atom: smallest piece of matter
Element: pure substance that cannot be broken down into smaller pieces
Molecule: atoms strongly bonded together
Compound: molecules with two or more types of elements

3. What do all minerals have in common?
Definite Chemical Composition
Determined by elements or compounds
Halite:
sodium and
chloride

4. What do all minerals have in common?
Solids
All minerals are in the solid phase of matter
Liquids and gases are not minerals
Usually Inorganic
Not made up of living or remains of living things
Naturally Occurring
Formed by natural processes

5. What do all minerals have in common?
Crystalline Structure
Composed of crystals
Repeating pattern of atoms or molecules

6. How are minerals classified?
Silicate Group
Minerals that have combination of silicon and oxygen
Nonsilicate Group
Do not contain silicon and oxygen
Sorted by composition

7. How are minerals identified?
Color
Not the best identification, minerals can be different
Streak
Color of the powdered form of a mineral

8. How are minerals identified?
Luster
The way a surface reflects the light
Metallic or nonmetallic
Cleavage
The way a mineral splits along a surface

9. How are minerals identified?
Density
How much matter in a certain amount of space
Hardness
Resistance to being scratched
Special Properties
Unique things specific to minerals