1. Minerals

2. What is a mineral? Solid (hard) Natural (not man made) Inorganic (not living) Crystal structure (repeating pattern) Definite composition (made of the same thing throughout)

3. Common Examples of Minerals Gold Diamond Quartz Feldspar Copper

4. How to tell them apart Properties or Characteristics –Physical traits of the mineral

5. Properties Color –Least useful, the same mineral can be many colors

6. Properties Transparency –How see through the mineral is Some Transparent Examples: TRANSPARENTTRANSLUCENTOPAQUE

7. Properties Luster –The way the light reflects off the mineral

8. Properties Crystal Shape –Repeating patterns

9. Properties Streak- The color of a mineral’s powder Some minerals do not leave powder

10. Properties Hardness –What the mineral can scratch Diamond10 Corundum9 Topaz8 Quartz7 Orthoclase (Feldspar)6 Apatite5 Fluorite4 Calcite3 Gypsum2 Talc1 2.5Fingernail 2.5–3Gold, Silver 3Copper penny 4-4.5Platinum 4-5Iron 5.5Knife blade 6-7Glass 6.5Iron pyrite 7+Hardened steel file Mohs Hardness Scale

11. Properties Cleavage- breaks into flat sheets Fracture- breaks jaggedly

12. Properties Reaction to acid- some minerals bubble when acid is put on them

13. Properties Special properties –Magnetism –Optical illusions –Fluorescence