LESSON 4

MINERALS
Define what is a mineral. OBJECTIVES

Discuss the properties of minerals.

Enumerate examples of minerals and its uses.

 BELL WORK

If you find a
treasure box
with gems and
jewelries,
what would
you do with it?
 What is a MINERAL?

It is a naturally – occurring, inorganic,

homogenous solid with definite
chemical composition and
ordered/crystalline structure.
1. IT IS NATURALLY OCCURRING

 made by a natural process

without any artificial means
 2. INORGANIC
 No organic material (anything that
has once been part of an organism)
 3. HOMOGENEOUS SOLID
 Uniform in appearance and is
in the solid state of matter
 4. DEFINITE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

 Possesses uniformity
of chemical
composition/exact
chemical
constituents
5. ORDERED CRYSTALLINE STRUCTURE

 Elemental components are

arranged in an ordered fashion
 REMEMBER!

All 5 criteria must be PRESENT for a

material to be called a mineral,
otherwise it is called a
MINERALOID.
 COMMON EXAMPLES OF MINERALS AND THEIR
USES

GRAPHITE GEMSTONES
black pigment used to write in pencils Used in the production of jewelry
 COMMON EXAMPLES OF MINERALS AND THEIR
USES

COPPER GOLD
used in electrical products such as wires Used in the production of jewelry, dentistry,
and also in making coins and electronics
COMMON EXAMPLES OF MINERALS AND THEIR
USES

MICA QUARTZ
used in making window glasses Used in the glass, scientific instruments
and watches
COMMON EXAMPLES OF MINERALS AND THEIR
USES

TITANIUM TALC
used in human body repairs and Used in ceramics, antiperspirants, and baby
alloying of steel powders
 LET’S
PRACTICE!!!

CLASSIFY THE FOLLOWING

EXAMPLES AS MINERALS
OR NOT MINERALS
GEM STONES / PRECIOUS STONES
MINERAL WATER
SEASHELLS/CLAMS
GRAPHITE OF PENCIL
PROPERTI
ES OF
MINERALS
 1.COLOR
Perceived wavelength of light that
bounced off from the material and is
detected by our eyes
 2. STREAK
The color of the mineral in
powdered form
 3. LUSTER
The behavior of light as it is
reflected from a surface of a
mineral
4. HARDNESS
The resistance of a
mineral to scratch
Which mineral can scratch quartz?

A.CORUNDUM
B.ORTHOCLASE
C.FLUORITE
D.CALCITE
 5. TENACITY
 Mineral’s toughness or
resistance to breaking or
deformation
 6. CLEAVAGE
 the tendency of a mineral to
break in a particular direction
7. OTHER PROPERTIES
 magnetism
 fluorescence
 taste
 odor
 reactivity to chemicals
IN SUMMARY… Please watch these video links for
visuals and further details about this lesson:

BRIEF SUMMARY OF MINERALS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a7p1NFn64s
 OBJECTIVES

Define what is a mineral.

Discuss the properties of minerals.

Enumerate examples of minerals and its uses.