What is a mineral?
Natural occurring
Minerals are not made in a lab.
Silicates
Most common mineral groups (90% of Earth's).
Based on the silicates anion.
Feldspar, quartz
Oxides
Metal cations bonded to oxygen anions
Important ore minerals
Magnetite, Hematite
Hardness
How easily a mineral can be scratched
Mohs Hardness Scale
1=Softest, 10=Hardest
67
What do some minerals taste like?
Some minerals tasty salty
Solid
All minerals besides liquid, mercury, are solid at room temperature.
Carbonates
These minerals contain the carbonate anion.
Often in sedimentary environments.
Calcite, Dolomite
Sulfides
metal cations + sulfide anions
often in ore deposits and hydrothermal vents
Galena, Pyrite
Streak
The color a mineral is when it is rubbed on a streak plate.
What was the heaviest crystal ever?
380,000 kg
Inorganic
Minerals are not made from animal or plant matter.
Sulfates
Contain the sulfate anion
Often form from evaporation
Gypsum, Barite
Phosphates
Contain phosphate anion
Found in bones, and are used for fertilizers
Apatite
Luster
How a mineral reflects light.
Could be described as metallic, glassy, dull, and more.
What mineral is known as fools gold?
Pyrite
Specific arrangement
Atoms within a mineral are arranged in a specific, repeating pattern.
Halides
Contain halogen elements, bonded with metals.
Form through the evaporation of mineral-rich water.
Fluorite, Halite
Native Elements
Single elements in its pure form
found in many settings
Gold, Copper
Cleavage/Fracture
Cleavage=When a mineral breaks along a smooth plane.
Fracture=When a mineral breaks roughly.
What mineral can be created from peanut butter?
Diamond