With a partner near you…

1. With a partner near you… • On a sheet of paper in your notes, come up with what you think defines a mineral. Make a list of properties. • What makes a mineral different from a rock?

2. What is a Mineral?

3. What is a mineral? • Solid • Not liquid, gas, or plasma

4. What is a mineral? • Naturally-occurring • Not man-made

5. What is a mineral? • Inorganic • Never alive

6. What is a mineral? • Fixed chemical composition: an element or a compound

7. What is a mineral? • Crystal structure: atoms or molecules in an orderly pattern

8. Examples of minerals Halite (rock salt) Mica Quartz

9. Not minerals

10. Most minerals are compounds • Quartz: silicon and oxygen • SiO2 • Most abundant in earth’s crust • Halite: sodium and chloride • NaCl

11. Native Minerals • Made up of single elements Gold Copper Sulfur Silver

12. Important Mineral Facts… • There are more than 2,000 kinds of minerals, but fewer than 20 are common minerals that form rock • 10 minerals make up 90% of the earth’s crust • Ex. Quartz, feldspar, mica, calcite

13. 2 Main Groups of Minerals • Silicates • Non-Silicates

14. Silicates • They contain atoms of silicon (Si) and oxygen (O). • Forms a tetrahedron (see drawing) • Many contain one or more kind of atom • Ex. Feldspar – silicon and oxygen with potassium • SiO2 - Quartz • *96% of the crust is made of silicates

15. Non-silicates • 6 Groups

16. #1 Native Elements • One type of atom

17. #2 Halides • K, Na, or Ca cation, with a Cl or F anion Halite (NaCl)

18. #3 Sulfides • Contains S atom Pyrite (FeS2)

19. #4 Carbonates • Contains CO3 as part of the compound

20. #5 Sulfates • Contains SO4 as part of the compound Gypsum (CaSO42H2O)

21. Gypsum Caves • Largest Crystals in the World are found in Northern Mexico in the Cave of Crystals Cave of Crystals Video

22. Oxides • Contains O atom except for silicates, carbonates, and sulfates. Hematite (Fe2O3)