Minerals

​Minerals

​The Vikings were believed to have an edge over other mariners due to their use of a sunstone. The sunstone possessed a crystal structure that polarized light in a way where an "azimuth" (waypoint) could be determined even when the sky was overcast or the sun was below the horizon.

​Potentially Icelandic Spar

Open Ended

Why do we need to learn about minerals?

5 criteria to be a mineral.
(must have all 5)

It has to come from nature. It cannot be man made.

​

​1. Naturally occuring

It cannot be alive.
-No metabolism

​

​2. Inorganic

CANNOT be liquid or gas






<----calcium silicate perovskite

​

​3. Must be solid

4. Specific Chemical Composition

​It will always contain the same elements no matter what.

​5. Specific crystal formation

Open Ended

Knowing what we know about the rules of minerals, can Water (H₂O) be a mineral?

4 classes of minerals

​​Halides

​​Carbonates

Sulfates

​​Silicates

​Silica based

ex: Apophyllite

​Sulfur based

ex: Copper (II) sulfate

Carbon based

ex: Calcite

Bonding of a halogen sometimes with a Cl

ex: Flourite

Open Ended

What mineral do you think this is?

Open Ended

What mineral do you think this is?

Open Ended

What mineral do you think this is?

Open Ended

What mineral do you think this is?

So how do we determine a mineral's identity?

​Mass Spectroscopy

Scanning Electron Microscope

​Luckily, we don't have to do that.

​In your NB, using the propertied listed above, list out the specific properties of a mineral given to you.

Use mindat.org to find these properties.

​

Word Cloud

What is the luster of you mineral?

Open Ended

What is the cleavage of your mineral?

Word Cloud

What is your mineral's hardness?

Poll

Is your mineral effervescent?

• yes

• no

Poll

Do you understand minerals better now?

• yes

• a little bit

• absolutely not

• what's a mineral?

​Well let's see about that...

Multiple Choice

Is cubic zirconia considered a mineral?

• Yes
• No
• Only on Tuesdays
• Maybe

Multiple Choice

Is a glass plate considered a mineral?

• Maybe
• No
• Yes
• Only if it's made of quartz

Multiple Choice

Is gold (Au) considered a mineral?

• No
• Maybe
• Yes
• Only in certain conditions

Multiple Choice

Why is a puddle of water not considered a mineral?

• Because it is not transparent
• Because it is not wet enough
• Because it is water in liquid form and a mineral must be a solid.

• Because it is made of ice

Poll

So how did you do?

• I got them all right.

• I got most of them.

• I got one or two right and I need help.

• I am SO lost.