Ch. 13 Minerals

1
Ch. 13 Minerals

• Minerals are naturally formed solids with a
  crystalline structure
• Minerals are made of atoms and compounds
• Crystals have definate shapes
• EXAMPLE Table salt (NaCl) has a definate shape
  and is made of two elements

2
Silicate vs. Nonsilicate

• Silicate minerals make up 90 of the Earths
  surface have a combo. Of oxygen, silicon and at
  least one metal like iron or aluminum.
• Nonsilicate minerals do not have the
  silicon-oxygen combo.

3
Properties

• Color
• Luster how dull or shiny different types on p.
  340
• Streak using a streak plate, the mineral may
  leave a different color powder when pulled across
  the plate
• Cleavage and Fracture how the mineral breaks
  (important in jewelry)
• Mohs Hardness Scale ranges from 1 (soft) to 10
  (hard) does NOT have a set measurement
• Density used to compare the minerals to water