Minerals Lessons

Unit 3 Lesson 1: Minerals

What are minerals, how do they form, and how can they be identified?

Poll

Mineral or Not a Mineral: Ice

• Mineral

• Not a Mineral

Poll

Mineral or Not a Mineral: Gold

• Mineral

• Not a Mineral

Poll

Mineral or Not a Mineral: Wood

• Mineral

• Not a Mineral

Poll

Mineral or Not a Mineral: Diamond

• Mineral

• Not a Mineral

Poll

Mineral or Not a Mineral: Table Salt

• Mineral

• Not a Mineral

1. Definite chemical composition

2. Solid

3. Usually inorganic

4. Crystalline Structure

5. Naturally Occurring

​To be a mineral...

A mineral is a naturally occurring, usually inorganic solid that has a definite crystalline structure and chemical composition.

​What is a mineral?

What do minerals have in common?

1. Elements - Pure substances

2. Atoms - building blocks of matter

3. Compounds - a substance made up of molecules of two or more elements.

​

​Definite Chemical Composition

-Matter is anything that has volume and mass. Volume refers to the amount of space that an object takes up.

-Matter is found as a solid, liquid, or a gas. ​

-Liquids and gasses are not minerals.

-Weird but True: Liquid water is not a mineral, but solid ice is!

​Must be Solid

• Something that is not made up by living things or the remains of living things.

• There are some exceptions

  • Kidney Stones

  • Clam Shells

• Most are still inorganic

Usually Inorganic

• A solid geometric form that results from a repeating pattern of atoms or molecules.

• All minerals can be placed into crystal classes according to their shape.

​

​Crystalline Structure

• Minerals are formed through a variety of natural processes on earth and throughout the universe.

• Evaporation of Water to Lava Cooling

​

​Naturally Occurring

Draw

Circle yes or no for the following options. What is a mineral and what is not?

High temperature and pressure can break bonds and form new bonds with minerals. Carbon in rocks can form diamond or graphite in varying conditions.

As magma cools atoms join to form different minerals. Minerals also form as lava cools. Quartz crystallizes from magma and lava.

​As Magma and Lava Cool

How are minerals formed?

​By Metamorphism

​From Solutions

When water evaporates it precipitates out of solutions. Minerals like gypsum form in this way. Hot water solutions can precipitate minerals better.

How are minerals Classified?

Multiple Choice

Why is Earth's crust made of mostly silicate minerals?

• Silicate minerals are easily dissolved in water which is also abundant on Earth's surface

• Silicon and oxygen are common in Earth's crust

• Non-Silicate Minerals are denser and closer to the core

• Heat and pressure force lighter silicate minerals up in Earth's crust

​Identifying Minerals