Mineral Characteristics and Properties

• Minerals are naturally formed, inorganic solids
• Minerals have a definite crystalline structure and chemical composition
• Minerals contain one or more of the 92 naturally occurring elements
• Most minerals are made of compounds being substances with 2 or more chemically combined elements
• Rocks like granite consist of minerals like quartz, feldspar and biotite
• Quartz is made of silicon and oxygen

Mineral Characteristics and Physical Properties

• Minerals are naturally occurring and not man-made or biologically produced
• Minerals are inorganic and not formed from living organisms
• Minerals exist as a solid
• Minerals have a definite arrangement of atoms, giving them a crystalline structure
• Minerals physical properties include color, luster, hardness, streak, cleavage, and density

Crystal Types of Shapes

• Crystals are solids with atoms, ions, or molecules in a definite pattern
• Each mineral possesses a definite crystal structure
• Crystal shape types include Cubic, Tetragonal, Trigonal, Orthorhombic, Hexagonal, Monoclinic, and Triclinic
• Halite, Calcite, Galena & Fluorite are Cubic in shape
• Quartz & Calcite are Hexagonal in shape
• Sulfur is Orthorhombic in shape
• Mica and Gypsum are Monoclinic in shape
• Feldspar is Triclinic in shape

Formation of Minerals

• Minerals form from the cooling of magma
• Minerals can precipitate out of a solution
• Minerals can form from weathering of rock or evaporation
• Minerals can be formed when rocks are metamorphosed when subjected to heat and pressure
• Garnet and mica are formed when rocks are metamorphosed when subjected to heat and pressure.
• Atmospheric oxygen, water, and acid rain causes chemical changes
• Feldspars can change to kaolin, and pyrite (fool's gold) will change into limonite (brown iron ore)

Magma

• Magma that cools when it reaches the Earth's surface forms crystals
• As magma cools, atoms lose heat energy, move together, combine into compounds with repeating patterns, and form crystals
• If magma cools slowly, the crystals that form will be large and easily seen
• If magma cools quickly, the crystals that form will be very small

Solutions

• Crystals can also form from minerals dissolved in water
• When water evaporates in dry climates, ions left behind combine to form crystals

Earth's Crust

• 98% of the Earth's crust comprises 8 of the 92 naturally occurring elements
• The elements are oxygen(46.6%), silicon(27.7%), aluminum(8.1%), iron(5.0%), calcium(3.6%), sodium(2.8%), potassium(2.6%), magnesium(2.1%) and other traces(1.5%)

Mineral Groups - Silicate

• Silicate minerals contain silicon and oxygen, two of the most common elements in the Earth's crust
• Silicates make up 90% of the Earth's crust
• Examples of silicate minerals are Quartz or Mica
• Quartz is the basic building block for many rocks
• Quartz is used to make glass
• Mica can easily be separated into sheets when they break
• Feldspar is the main component of most rocks on the Earths surface
• Feldspar is used to make porcelain

Mineral Groups - Nonsilicate

• Nonsilicate minerals lack silicon and oxygen
• Nonsilicate minerals include native elements, carbonates, halides, oxides, sulfates and sulfides
• Native elements consist of minerals composed of one kind of element for example Gold, Copper, and Silver
• Carbonates consist of minerals containing both carbon and oxygen
• Carbonates examples include calcite and dolomite and are used in cement and building stones
• Halides are compounds that form when fluorine, chlorine, iodine, or bromine, combine with sodium, potassium, or calcium, and are used in the chemical industry or as detergents
• Oxides are compounds that form when elements such as aluminum or iron, combines chemically with oxygen, and are used in abrasive, aircraft parts, and paint
• Sulfates are minerals that contain sulfur and oxygen (SO4) and are used in cosmetics or toothpaste
• Sulfides are minerals containing one or more elements, such as lead, iron, or nickel, combined with sulfur, and they are used in batteries, medicines and electronic parts