What is a Mineral?

Minerals

What are they? How are they made? What is defined as a mineral? How are they distributed?

It’s used in the production of hydrofluoric acid, carbon electrodes, toothpaste, and paint pigment.

​​Fluorite

Used in ceramics and glass; batteries; lubricating greases; rocket propellants; batteries; and medicine.

​​Lithium

Gold is used in jewelry and arts; medicine; medallions and coins; and scientific and electronic instruments.

​​Gold

It’s used primarily in aircraft engines, cutting tools, wear-resistant applications, chemicals, and permanent magnets

Cobalt

​Minerals in Every Day Life

A mineral is a naturally occurring solid that forms by inorganic processes, has a crystal structure, and a definite chemical composition.


**All 5 of these things must be true for something to be a mineral.**

The giant crystals here are a mineral called Selenite.

​

What is a mineral?

Multiple Choice

How many things must be true for something to be considered a mineral?

• 2

• 5

• 7

• 8

All minerals are substances that form from natural processes.

Selenite forms naturally from chemical elements as water evaporates.

Naturally Occurring

A mineral is always a solid, which means it has a definite volume and shape. The particles in a solid are tightly packed together.

Selenite is a solid

​​Solid

​The 5 Requirements to be a Mineral

Formed from materials that were NOT part of living things.

Selenite forms from sulfate evaporate from water.

Formed Inorganically

The particles inside a mineral line up in a repeating pattern. This repeating pattern forms a crystal.

Selenite has a crystal structure

Crystal Structure

A mineral always contains the same elements in the same amounts.

Selenite always has calcium, oxygen, sulfur, and hydrogen.

Definite Chemical Composition

​​The 5 Requirements to be a Mineral

Multiple Choice

The particles in a mineral line up in a repeating pattern. This pattern is called a(n):

• Solid

• Inorganic Chemical

• Crystal

Multiple Choice

A mineral must be a _________.

• Solid

• Liquid

• Gas

• Any of the above.

Poll

Is salt a mineral?

• Yes

• No

Is salt a solid? YES!

Does salt occur naturally? YES!

Is salt formed by inorganic processes? YES!

Does salt have a crystal structure? YES!

Does salt have a definite chemical composition? YES!

​

Is salt a mineral?

Poll

Is pepper a mineral?

• Yes

• No

Is pepper a solid? YES!

Does pepper occur naturally? YES!

Is pepper formed by inorganic processes? NO!!!

Does pepper have a crystal structure? NO!!!

Does pepper have a definite chemical composition? NO!!!

​

Is pepper a mineral?

Poll

Do you think ice is a mineral?

• Yes

• No

Is ice a solid? YES!

Does ice occur naturally? YES!

Is ice formed by inorganic processes? YES!

Does ice have a crystal structure? YES!

Does ice have a definite chemical composition? YES!

​

Is ice a mineral?

Categorize

Options (10)

Biotite

Gypsum

Sulfur

Graphite

Wood

Plastic

Glass

Ceramic

Rubber

Salt

Using the 5 things that are necessary to be a mineral, which of these are minerals and which are not?

Mineral

Not a Mineral