Minerals

- A homogenous, naturally- occurring, solid and generally inorganic substance with a definable
chemical composition and orderly internal arrangements of atoms.

Minerals- letters of the alphabet

Rocks- Words

Mineralogy- study of minerals

Mineralogists- The one who study minerals

Properties:

Homogenous

– Something that is the same through and through. Cannot be broken into simpler components

Naturally Occurring

- Result of natural geological processes. Man-made minerals are called synthetic minerals. (E.g.
industrial diamonds)

Solid

- Minerals must be able to maintain a set shape nearly indefinitely. Liquids are not minerals.

Orderly arrangement of atoms

- Fixed atomic pattern. Crystal solid or crystal lattice (The organized structure of a mineral)

Chemical Composition

- A mineral can be described by a chemical formula.

Generally Inorganic-

*Organic- substance composed of C boned to H, with varying amounts of O,

N and other elements. C, alone, is not organic!

Color

- May be diagnostic for a few minerals, but in general, a given mineral can have a range of colors.

Streak

- color of the mineral in powdered form. Can be obtained by rubbing the mineral across a streak
plate or a piece of unglazed porcelain.

Luster

- quality of light that is being reflected by the surface of a mineral.

 Metallic luster- minerals that look like metals and are shiny
 Submetallic luster- minerals that develop a dull coating and are not as shiny.
 Non metallic luster- minerals that are described as a glassy, earthy, pearly, or
greasy.