1. Characteristics & Properties

2. What is a Mineral? Must meet 5 characteristics One of these is an mineral and the other is not…

3. Naturally Occurring The growing process must occur in the natural world Heating/cooling processes in magma

4. Inorganic Cannot form from materials that were once part of a living thing Coal Obsidian

5. Solid Definite volume & shape The particles must be pressed tightly together

6. Crystal Structure The particles must line up in a pattern= that forms a crystal Flat sides are faces Faces meet at edges and corners http://nanocrystallography.net/images/swp b3.pdf

7. Definite Chemical Compound This means that a mineral always contains certain elements in definite proportions Almost all minerals are compounds Their properties will be different from the Some elements can be a mineral

8. NONaturally Occurring Illegal Inorganic ScienceSolid 'CauseCrystal ScienceStructure Can - Definitely Definite CauseChemical Catastrophes Compound

9. Identifying Minerals GoldPyriteChalcopyrite

10. Color Physical property Can only be used to ID a few minerals Many minerals have the same color

11. Streak Color of the powder form of the mineral Not always the same as the physical color of the mineral

12. Luster of Minerals MetallicGlassyWaxy, Greasy, Pearly Submetallic/DullSilkyEarthy Luster how light reflects from the faces of the crystal

13. Heft/Density Mass in a given space (mass/volume) Heft- picking up and feeling – has to be done with minerals of similar sizes Find density using displacement

14. Hardness Moh’s Hardness Scale A mineral can scratch any mineral softer than itself

15. Crystal Structure Geologists classify the crystal structures into 6 groups Structure is obvious when grown with plenty of space Crystals grown in tight spaces are often incomplete Some only visible under microscope Opal is the exception to the rule- no crystal structure

16. Crystal Structures

17. Cleavage & Fracture Cleavage: splits easily along flat surfaces Depends on arrangement of atoms Fracture How a mineral looks when it breaks apart in a irregular way

18. Special Properties Fluorescence Electrical Properties Optical Properties Reactivity Magnetism Calcite Aragonite Magnetite