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Understanding Rocks and Minerals: Formation, Properties, and Identification Techniques

This comprehensive guide explores the fundamental aspects of rocks and minerals, covering their formation, physical properties, and the ways we identify them. We delve into concepts such as the law of conservation of matter, mineral classification, crystal systems, and the differences between gems and ores. Learn about the processes that create minerals, including cooling magma and precipitation from solutions, as well as practical tests like hardness and streak for identification. Enhance your knowledge of Earth’s natural resources with this informative overview.

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Understanding Rocks and Minerals: Formation, Properties, and Identification Techniques

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Presentation Transcript

  1. ARE ALL ROCKS MINERALS?

  2. HOW DOES MATTER CHANGE? • LAW OF CONSERVATION OF MATTER: • NO MATTER CAN BE CREATED OR DESTROYED • SOLID―›LIQUID:MELTING • LIQUID ―› GAS: EVAPORATION,BOILING • GAS ―›LIQUID: CONDENSATION • LIQUID ―› SOLID: FREEZING • SOLID ―› GAS: SUBLIMATION • GAS ―› SOLID: CRYSTALLIZATION

  3. WHAT IS A MINERAL? • NATURALLY OCCURRING: Formed by natural processes. • INORGANIC: Do not come from living organisms. • SOLIDS: All minerals are solid • DEFINITE CHEMICAL COMPOSITIONS: Each mineral has a unique composition (SiO2). • CRYSTALLINE STRUCTURE: The atoms are arranged in regular geometric patterns.

  4. HOW ARE MINERALS FORMED? • MINERALS FROM MAGMA: Minerals can form from cooling magma from volcanoes. • MINERALS FROM SOLUTIONS: In nature if a solution of water becomes supersaturated, or overfilled, mineral crystals will begin to precipitate, or drop out of the solution.

  5. MAJOR CRYSTAL SYSTEMS • CUBIC • HEXAGONAL • TETRAGONAL • ORTHORHOMBIC • MONCLINIC • TRICLINIC

  6. MINERAL GROUPS • SILICATES: Silicon + Oxygen + metals Make up 96% of all minerals • CARBONATES: CO3 + metals • SULFATES: SO4 + metals • OXIDES: Oxygen + metals • HALIDES: Halogens + metal • SULFIDES: Sulfur + metals

  7. HOW DO WE IDENTIFY MINERALS? • COLOR: What color is the mineral? • LUSTER: Metallic or nonmetallic • TEXTURE: How does it feel? • STREAK: Rub a mineral across an unglazed porcelain tile, what color does it leave behind? • HARDNESS: One of the most useful tests, measures how easily a mineral can be scratched.

  8. CLEAVAGE/FRACTURE:Cleavage is when a mineral splits evenly along one or more planes. Fracture occurs when a mineral breaks roughly, jagged along the edges because of tightly bonded atoms. • DENSITY & SPECIFIC GRAVITY:D = Mass/Volume; Specific gravity = ratio of weight of the substance/weight of equal volume of water at 4˚ C.

  9. WHAT IS A GEM? • A RARE AND BEAUTIFUL MINERAL OR ROCK • WHAT IS AN ORE? • A ROCK THAT CONTAINS MINERALS YOU CAN MINE FOR USE TO MAKE A PROFIT • (EXAMPLE: BAUXITE; AN ORE MINED FOR ALUMINUM TO MAKE SODA CANS, POTS, PANS ETC.)

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