What is a Mineral?

NAME THAT MINERAL CHARACTERISTIC:

Under a microscope, sulfur atoms form a repeating pattern.

• crystal structure

• inorganic

• definite chemical composition

• solid

CRYSTAL STRUCTURE means

• made of the same chemicals

• has crystals you can see with your eyes

• has atoms that form a pattern

• NOT liquid or gas

NAME THAT MINERAL CHARACTERISTIC:

Scientists do not agree about whether or not ice is a mineral because of this characteristic.

• naturally occurring

• inorganic

• solid

• definite chemical composition

NATURALLY OCCURRING means

• NOT made by people

• made in a volcano

• made by people

• not living

NAME THAT MINERAL CHARACTERISTIC:

Pyrite does not come from living things.

• solid

• crystal structure

• naturally occurring

• inorganic

INORGANIC means

• made from the same chemicals

• not liquid or gas

• made from living things

• NOT made from living things

NAME THAT MINERAL CHARACTERISTIC:

People create steel by mixing iron and other materials, so steel is not a mineral.

• solid

• naturally occurring

• definite chemical composition

• inorganic

NAME THAT MINERAL CHARACTERISTIC:

Diamonds from all over the world are made of the same types of atoms (carbon)!

• solid

• naturally occurring

• definite chemical composition

• crystal structure

SOLID means

• NOT made by people

• NOT liquid or gas

• has atoms that form a pattern

• liquid or gas

DEFINITE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION means

• has atoms that form a pattern

• liquid or gas

• made of the same chemicals

• NOT made by people