Introduction to Minerals

Introduction to Minerals

​

​If it is in "red", it is important to remember.

Take notes!

Label the notes as "Introduction to Minerals."

In order to be classified as a mineral, it must have all 5 of these characteristics:

1. Natural: it must occur naturally

2. Inorganic: it must NOT be made from living things or the remains of living things

3. Solid: solid everywhere on Earth's surface

4. Definite chemical composition: must have the same chemical formula throughout

5. Crystalline structure: atoms are arranged in a repeating pattern making a specific shape

Multiple Select

Select all of the following that are characteristics of a mineral.

• natural

• changing chemical composition

• organic

• solid

• crystalline structure

Multiple Select

Which of the following do NOT classify as a mineral because they don't meet all 5 characteristics?

• wood

• iceberg

• salt

• quartz

• coal

On the next two slides, write down the all the properties of minerals and what they mean....

• Color: most easily observed, but the least reliable

• ​Quartz has over 20 different varieties of colors!

• ​Fluorite and quartz both have a green variety.

Streak: color of the powder scraped off a mineral

​

​Often, the color of the mineral is not the color of its streak!

Luster: how a mineral reflects light

Hardness: rated on the Mohs scale from 1, softest, to 10, hardest.

Multiple Choice

What is the hardest mineral?

• Talc

• Diamond

• Gypsum

• Topaz

Multiple Choice

What is the softest mineral?

• Talc

• Diamond

• Gypsum

• Topaz

Multiple Select

What two minerals can a fingernail scratch? (Choose 2)

• Talc

• Gypsum

• Calcite

• Fluorite

Multiple Choice

Which of these can scratch quartz?

• Steel Nail

• Apatite

• Topaz

• Penny

Multiple Select

True or False: Glass can scratch orthoclase?

• True

• False

Multiple Select

True or False: Corundum can scratch a copper penny?

• True

• False

Multiple Select

According to the chart, which is harder apatite or fluorite?

• Apatite

• Fluorite

Multiple Choice

Which can a masonry drill bit not scratch?

• Gypsum

• Fluorite

• Quartz

• Corundum

Multiple Choice

Which mineral can scratch fluorite, but not orthoclase?

• Calcite

• Apatite

• Quartz

• Topaz

Multiple Choice

You can scratch glass with this mineral-

• Orthoclase

• Apatite

• Fluorite

• Calcite

Cleavage: breaking along flat surfaces

​FRACTURE:

Mineral does not exhibit cleavage, it breaks or fracture in an irregular manner.

Density: amount of matter in a given volume

Multiple Choice

The streak of a mineral is the color of its powder.

Which of the following statements is true about minerals' colors?

• Mineral color is always the same in any samples

• Mineral streak color may vary from sample to another

• Mineral streak color is always the same in any samples

​​Special Characteristics: odor, refraction, magnetic, fizzes, glows under a black light, etc.

​

​You will learn more about these in the virtual labs in the next two days.

Multiple Choice

The copper in a penny is a mineral. What is the luster for copper? Why?

• The luster for copper is non-metallic because it's not a metal

• The luster for copper is metallic because copper's a metal

• The luster for copper is opaque

• The luster for copper is non-metallic because it is metal.

Multiple Choice

The way a surface reflects light.

• color
• luster
• streak
• density

Multiple Choice

Color of a mineral in powdered form.

• hardness
• streak
• breakage
• density

Multiple Choice

A shiny material is described as having a __________________ luster

• metallic
• nonmetallic

Multiple Choice

A dull material is described as having a __________________ luster.

• metallic
• nonmetallic

Multiple Choice

Which mineral property is being shown here?

• luster
• cleavage
• streak
• fracture

Multiple Choice

If you look at a mineral and decide if it is metallic or nonmetallic, shiny, dull, glassy, how it reflects light -you are looking at its __________.

• luster
• cleavage
• fracture
• streak

Multiple Choice

A ________ is a naturally occurring, inorganic, solid that can have crystal structure and definite chemical composition. 

• mineral
• rock
• crystal
• fluorite

Multiple Choice

Inorganic means not made of living things.

• True
• False

Multiple Choice

What are the two types of luster? 

• Metallic and Metallic
• Nonmetallic and Shiny
• Metallic and Nonmetallic
• Shiny and Dull

Multiple Choice

The manner in which a mineral breaks along curved or irregular surfaces

• streak

• cleavage

• fracture

Multiple Choice

A measure of the ability of a mineral to resist scratching

• hardness

• luster

• streak

Multiple Choice

The splitting of a mineral along smooth, flat surfaces

• fracture

• cleavage

• hardness

Multiple Choice

Mass divided by volume

• streak

• density

• hardness