How could you tell these How could you tell these minerals apart to determine minerals apart to determine which is which?which is which?

Fluorite

Talchalite

Topaz

Identifying MineralsIdentifying Minerals

• Cornell Notes Page 143.Cornell Notes Page 143.

(How can we identify which (How can we identify which mineral is which?)mineral is which?)

8 Ways to Identify 8 Ways to Identify MineralsMinerals

1. Color1. Color

Discuss- Discuss- why wouldn’t color be why wouldn’t color be the best way to identify minerals?the best way to identify minerals?

2. Luster2. Luster• the way the the way the

mineral’s surface mineral’s surface reflects light. reflects light.

• metallic, earthy, metallic, earthy,

waxy, greasy, glassywaxy, greasy, glassy

LusterLuster

• Resinous lusterResinous luster

Discuss…Discuss…

• How is How is lusterluster different from different from colorcolor??

3. Streak-- the color of the 3. Streak-- the color of the powderpowder

Streak – the color of the powderStreak – the color of the powder

Discuss…Discuss…

• How do you find a minerals How do you find a minerals streakstreak??

-Cleavage-Cleavage -breakage occurs along smooth,flat surfaces

4. The way 4. The way the mineral the mineral breaksbreaks

Examples of CleavageExamples of Cleavage

--FractureFracture• Breakage Breakage

occurs in occurs in curved or curved or irregular irregular shapesshapes

Discuss…Discuss…

• How are How are cleavagecleavage and and fracturefracture different? different?

5. Hardness5. Hardness• resistance to resistance to

scratchingscratching

• Mohs Hardness Mohs Hardness Scale 1-10Scale 1-10

Diamond 1010

(Hardest)

Talc-- 11 ( (SOFTEST)

Discuss…Discuss…

• What does What does hardnesshardness mean when referring mean when referring to minerals?to minerals?

• What scale do we use to measure What scale do we use to measure hardnesshardness??

6. Density6. Density• Minerals have Minerals have

different densitiesdifferent densities

• How much MASS How much MASS something has in something has in relation to its sizerelation to its size

Pyrite= 5.01g/cm3

7. Crystal 7. Crystal SystemsSystems• Minerals can Minerals can

form form different different shaped shaped crystals with crystals with varying varying numbers of numbers of sides.sides.

8. Special Properties8. Special Properties• Some properties only Some properties only

apply to a few types of apply to a few types of mineralsminerals

• Fluorescence• Magnetism• Chemical Reactions• Taste• Optical Properties• Radioactivity

example of optical propertiesexample of optical properties

Calcite

Quartz

ReviewReview

• 1. What is a 1. What is a mineral’s streak?mineral’s streak?

• 2. What are 7 2. What are 7 other ways to ID other ways to ID minerals?minerals?

Your House Comes From a MineYour House Comes From a Mine

ClayClay1.1.2.2.3.3.4.4.

LimestoneLimestone1.1.2.2.

CopperCopper1.1.

GypsumGypsum1.1.

IronIron

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

PetroleumPetroleum

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.