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5 Mineralnotes

This document discusses key concepts about rocks and minerals. A mineral is defined as a naturally occurring inorganic substance with a definite chemical composition. Minerals can be identified based on several physical properties, including color, streak, luster, cleavage, fracture and hardness. However, color is a poor indicator as minerals can be multiple colors. The most reliable property for identification is streak, which is the powder form of the mineral. Silicon and oxygen make up the greatest percentage of the Earth's crust and combine to form silicate compounds, with silicon and oxygen atoms arranged in a specific tetrahedral structure.

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40 views

5 Mineralnotes

This document discusses key concepts about rocks and minerals. A mineral is defined as a naturally occurring inorganic substance with a definite chemical composition. Minerals can be identified based on several physical properties, including color, streak, luster, cleavage, fracture and hardness. However, color is a poor indicator as minerals can be multiple colors. The most reliable property for identification is streak, which is the powder form of the mineral. Silicon and oxygen make up the greatest percentage of the Earth's crust and combine to form silicate compounds, with silicon and oxygen atoms arranged in a specific tetrahedral structure.

Uploaded by

api-288815589
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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You are on page 1/ 17

Rocks & Minerals

NOTES
Pages 1 - 3

Key Concept #1

What is a mineral?
It is a

naturally occurring

substance which has a

inorganic

definite chemical composition

What would be the opposite of this?


man-made

organic

random composition

ESRT Mineral Chart Click Here

On to the next
Concept

Key Concept #2

What causes minerals to have


different physical properties?

their internal arrangement of atoms

Key Concept #2
Give an example of two minerals which have
the same chemical composition but different
physical properties Click Here

On to the next
Concept

Key Concept #3

The Main Physical Properties


Used to Identify Minerals
Color

a poor indicator
minerals can be multiple colors
many minerals are the same color

Key Concept #3

The Main Physical Properties


Used to Identify Minerals

Streak
themore
powder
reliable
formthan
of a color
mineral

Key Concept #3

The Main Physical Properties


Used to Identify Minerals
Luster

how light reflects off a mineral


metallic

non-metallic

looks like a
metal

looks earthy, waxy,


greasy or brilliant

Key Concept #3
The Main Physical Properties
Used to Identify Minerals
Cleavage
the mineral breaks in a predictable pattern
because of its arrangement of atoms

Key Concept #3
The Main Physical Properties
Used to Identify Minerals
Fracture
the mineral breaks randomly

Key Concept #3

The Main Physical Properties


Used to Identify Minerals
Hardness
resistance to being scratched
It is NOT the same as breaking!
For example:
You can break glass easily with steel.
However, steel will not scratch glass.

Key Concept #3

The Main Physical Properties


Used to Identify Minerals
Hardness
Hardne
ss
1 (softest)
2
3
4
5

MOHS SCALE OF
HARDNESS

Mineral

TALC
GYPSUM
CALCITE
FLUORITE
APATITE

Hardnes
s
6
7
8
9

10 (hardest)

Mineral

ORTHOCLA
SE

QUARTZ
TOPAZ
CORUND
UM
DIAMOND

Key Concept #4
Minerals have a definite chemical composition.
What two elements, by mass, make up the greatest
percentage of the Earths crust?

oxygen

silicon

Key Concept #4
Minerals have a definite chemical composition.
These two elements combine to form compounds called

silicates (SiO4)

Key Concept #4
Minerals have a definite chemical composition.
They combine in a specific structure called a:

silicon-oxygen tetrahedra

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