What is a Mineral?

1
What is a Mineral?
2
Mineral or Not?

• Minerals
• Gold
• Ruby
• Pyrite
• Calcite
• Gypsum
• Quartz

• Not Minerals
• Sand
• Water
• Coal
• Bones
• Dirt
• Oxygen

3
Features of Minerals

• Solid

4
Features of Minerals

• Naturally Occurring
• Over 3000 have been identified
• 100 are considered common
• Found in the crust

5
Features of Minerals

• Inorganic
• Comes from nonliving things

6
Features of Minerals

• Crystal
• Structure

becomes
7
Features of Minerals

• Definite Chemical Composition

Sulfur S
Silica SiO2
Chalcopyrite CuFeS2