1. Rocks & Minerals NOTES Pages 1 - 3 ©Mark Place, 2009-2010

2. ESRT Mineral Chart Click Here
Frayer Model Box #1
What is a mineral?
naturally occurring
inorganic
It is a
definite chemical composition
substance which has a
What would be the opposite of this?
man-made
Organic
(Living)
mixture
ESRT Mineral Chart Click Here

3. Graphite (pencil lead)
Frayer Model box #2
Minerals can be made of the same elements
But have different physical properties
because of the way their atoms are arranged.
Two examples of common minerals
Click Here
Graphite (pencil lead)
&
Diamonds (Jewelry)

4. The Least Useful Physical Property Used to Identify Minerals
Frayer Model Box #3
The Least Useful Physical Property
Used to Identify Minerals
Color
a poor indicator
minerals can be multiple colors
many minerals are the same color

5. The Most Useful Physical Properties Used to Identify Minerals
Frayer Model Box # 4
The Most Useful Physical Properties
Used to Identify Minerals
1. Streak
2. Luster
3. Hardness
4. Fracture
5. Cleavage
6. Magnetism

6. The Main Physical Properties Used to Identify Minerals
#1. Streak
The mark left when a mineral is rubbed on a tile.
more reliable than color
the powder form of a mineral

7. The Main Physical Properties Used to Identify Minerals
#2. Luster
how light reflects(bounces) off a mineral.
metallic
non-metallic
looks like a
metal
looks earthy, waxy,
greasy ,dull,pearly,silky

8. The Main Physical Properties Used to Identify Minerals
#3. Hardness
resistance to being scratched
It is NOT the same as breaking!
For example:
You can break glass easily with steel.
However, steel will not scratch glass.

9. The Main Physical Properties Used to Identify Minerals
Hardness Continued
Fingernail- 2.5 copper coin 3 and 4
Iron nail- 5 tile-6.5
MOH’S SCALE OF HARDNESS
Hardness
Mineral
1 (softest) 6 2 7 3 8 4 9 5
10 (hardest)
TALC
ORTHOCLASE
GYPSUM
QUARTZ
CALCITE
TOPAZ
FLUORITE
CORUNDUM
APATITE
DIAMOND

10. The Main Physical Properties Used to Identify Minerals
#4. Fracture
The mineral breaks randomly and unevenly because of the arrangement of atoms.

11. The Main Physical Properties Used to Identify Minerals
5. Cleavage
The mineral breaks in a predictable pattern because of its arrangement of atoms.
Some minerals break into smooth flat sheets.

12. Examples of Cleavage

13. Examples of Cleavage

14. Examples of Cleavage

15. Examples of Cleavage

16. Examples of Cleavage

17. Examples of Cleavage

18. Examples of Cleavage

19. One Mineral,
Many Colors

20. Different Minerals
Same Color