Soils, Rocks and Minerals

What is a Mineral?What is a Mineral? Naturally-formed Naturally-formed solidsolid substance with a substance with a crystalcrystal

structurestructure There are about 4000 types of minerals on earth.There are about 4000 types of minerals on earth.

Pyromorphite

What do all minerals What do all minerals have in common?have in common?

All:All:1.1. Are formed by Are formed by naturalnatural processes. processes.

2.2. Are Are NOTNOT alive and NEVER were alive alive and NEVER were alive

3.3. Are elements or compounds with a Are elements or compounds with a uniqueunique chemical makeupchemical makeup

4.4. Are made up of particles that are arranged Are made up of particles that are arranged in a pattern that is repeated over and over in a pattern that is repeated over and over (called a (called a CRYSTALCRYSTAL))

Groups of MineralsGroups of Minerals

Minerals are grouped by the Minerals are grouped by the elements they are made of.elements they are made of.

Amethyst

Beryl (Emerald) Calcite

Carbonates are made from

carbon

Silicates are made from

silicon

Oxidates are made from

oxygen

Phosphates are made from

phosphorus

Mineral GroupMineral Group CharacteristicsCharacteristics ExamplesExamples

SilicatesSilicates

Contain Contain oxygenoxygen & & silicasilicaThe most The most abundantabundant group of group of mineralsminerals

Quartz, micaQuartz, mica

MICA Quartz

Mineral GroupMineral Group CharacteristicsCharacteristics ExamplesExamples

Non-SilicatesNon-Silicates

Make up only Make up only 5%5% of the of the Earth’s crustEarth’s crustInclude some Include some of the most of the most important important mineralsminerals

iron, copper, iron, copper, gold, silver, gold, silver, diamonds, diamonds, rubiesrubies

Silver

GoldRuby Iron

Copper

Diamond

Mineral GroupMineral Group CharacteristicsCharacteristics ExamplesExamples

CarbonatesCarbonates Carbon & Carbon & oxygen and a oxygen and a positive ion, positive ion, such as such as calciumcalcium

Calcite Calcite (CaCO(CaCO33))

Calcite with Duftite inclusions

Mineral GroupMineral Group CharacteristicsCharacteristics ExamplesExamples

OxidesOxides Metallic ion Metallic ion and oxygenand oxygen

Hematite Hematite (Fe(Fe22)O)O33

How do minerals form?How do minerals form?

1) Cooling of 1) Cooling of magmamagma (hot, (hot, liquid liquid rockrock and minerals inside the earth and minerals inside the earth

2) Elements dissolved in 2) Elements dissolved in liquidsliquids (usually water)(usually water)

Uses of MineralsUses of Minerals

Minerals are used all around us!!Minerals are used all around us!!

Answer in NotebookAnswer in Notebook

1. What are the 4 characteristics that all minerals share?

2. What element do all phosphate minerals contain?

3. What are two examples of silicates?4. What type of minerals are diamonds and gold?5. What are the two ways minerals form?6. What mineral is used in drywall?