Chapter 5: Minerals of Earth’s Crust

By Julia DovnarovichPeriod 4

What is a Mineral?

A mineral is a natural, usually inorganic solid that has a characteristic chemical composition, an orderly internal structure, and a characteristic set of physical properties.

Silicates• A silicate mineral is a mineral that contains a

combination of Silicon and Oxygen, and that may also contain one or more metals.

• 96% of Earth’s crust is made up of silicate minerals.

• Silicate minerals have 6 types of crystalline structures based on the arrangement of the Silicon-Oxygen tetrahedra.

Nonsilicates• A nonsilicate mineral is a mineral that does

not contain compounds of Silicon and Oxygen.

• Approximately 4% of Earth’s crust is made up of nonsilicate minerals.

• There are 6 major groups of nonsilicate minerals: Carbonates, Halides, Native Elements, Oxides, Sulfates and Sulfides.

Properties Used to Identify Minerals

1. Color2. Streak3. Luster4. Cleavage and Fracture5. Hardness6. Crystal Shape7. Density

Special Properties

• Fluorescence• Phosphorescence• Chatoyancy• Asterism• Double Refraction• Magnetism• Radioactivity