Minerals and Rocks

Learning Targets:

Identify common rock-forming minerals
using their physical and chemical properties.

Classify rocks into igneous, sedimentary and

metamorphic.

Identify the minerals important to society.

 MINERAL

A naturally-occuring, inorganic solid that
exhibits a crystalline structure and can be
represented by chemical formula.
 MINERAL

Naturally-occuring,
Inorganic
Solid
Crystalline structure
Can be represented by chemical formula.
 QUESTION

How is a mineral different from a rock?
Properties of Minerals

Optical Properties
 Luster
 Light Transmission (opaque, transparent,
translucent)
 Color
 Streak
Mineral Strength
Specific Gravity
Luster

Properties of Minerals

Mineral Strength
 Tenacity
 Hardness
 Cleavage
Tenacity



Cleavage

 Common Rock-Forming
Minerals

 Quartz
 Feldspar
 Mica
 Pyroxene
 Amphibole
 Olivine
 Calcite

