MineralsGroup1

Minerals are naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a specific chemical composition and a definite crystalline structure.

Characteristics of a Mineral are shapes the earth's surface are not alive are solids naturally occurring.

Chemical Properties of a Mineral are the temperature effects the mineral.

Mineral Families- minerals are classified based on their chemical properties and characteristics- Minerals that contain silicon and oxygen and usually one or more other element are __Silicates -__ - __Carbonates__ when Oxygen combines easily with almost all other elements, and forms other mineral groups.-- __Oxides__ -- are compounds of oxygen and a metal. - __Ore__ are minerals that contain a valuable substance that can be mined at a profit.

Physical Properties of Minerals are color which is one of the most visible characteristic of a mineral. Another physical property of a mineral is its streak. To find the streak of a mineral the mineral is rubbed across an unglazed porcelain plate. Once you do this the mineral will leave a color powdered streak behind. The streak is the color of the mineral when it is crushed and powdered.Finding out whether a mineral has either cleavage or fracture is another way to identify a mineral. When a mineral is broken it breaks along the weak planes. Along the line that the mineral broke if there are many flat planes and splits easily then this means that the mineral has cleavage but if along the line there is many jagged edges and it is rough then the mineral has fracture. Hardness is another way to identify minerals. To do this you can use the Moh's scale of hardness to see what minerals scratch. If the mineral scratches the object it means that it is harder than the object but if it does not then it is softer. Some minerals have unique crystal shapes. If a mineral does it is very easy to identify. Using crystal formation to identify minerals is very rare. Luster is weather a mineral reflects light or not. A mineral is either metallic or nonmetallic. Using texture is another easy way to identify a mineral. To find out the texture of an object you can easily just see how the mineral feels when you touch it. Some examples of texture that a mineral can be are smooth, rough, ragged, greasy, or soapy.

Special properties- magnetism:when an object contains iron. double refraction: when light shines through a mineral and then it is split into two different rays. effervescence:it is a reaction when hydrochloric acid makes calcite fizz. Iridescence: when colors are bent from light rays. Fluorescence: a mineral is caused to glow in the dark because of ultraviolent rays.