Mineral Notes Schaumburg High School矿物质绍姆堡中学.pptVIP

Mineral Criteria Inorganic: not made up of living things Naturally Occurring: exist in nature Crystalline Solid: regularly repeating crystalline structure Consistent Chemical Composition: consistent, no variety Mineral Classes Silicates: contain silicon (Si) and oxygen (O) Nonsilicates: do not contain silicon (Si) and oxygen (O), 6 major groups Carbonates, Halides, Native elements, Oxides, Sulfates, Sulfides Mineral Identification Color: easy to observe, minerals vary in color. Many minerals are similar in color. Small amounts of certain elements may greatly affect the color of a mineral. Weathered surfaces may hide the color of minerals. Examine freshly exposed surfaces. Gold We’re going streaking! Streak: color of the mineral in powdered form. Rub a mineral against a piece of unglazed ceramic tile (streak plate). The streak’s color may differ from the color of the mineral itself. My precious Luster: light that is reflected from a mineral’s surface. Metallic: reflects light similar to polished metal. Nonmetallic: All other minerals. Glassy, waxy, pearly, brilliant, and dull or earthy. Galena Hey, Mohs! Why I awtah… Mohs hardness scale: standard scale against which the hardness of minerals is rated. (1-10) 1 is soft, 10 is hard The bonds between the atoms that make up a mineral’s internal structure determines the hardness of that mineral. Test the hardness by scratching the minerals. p. 111 Mohs Hardness Scale Gypsum Talc Diamond Cut! Cleavage: tendency of a mineral to split along specific planes of weakness to form smooth, flat surfaces. Break along flat surfaces that generally run parallel to planes of weakness in the crystal structure. Quartz Acanthite Time for a Break! Fracture: break unevenly into pieces that have curved or irregular surfaces. Uneven or irregular fracture: rough surface Splintery or fibrous fracture: looks like a piece of broken wood. Conchoidal fractures: curved surfaces. Asbestos Tiptopite (clear) Montgomeryite Not again!