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Describing MineralCharacteristics

Minerals

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What are minerals?

A mineral is a naturally occurring solid chemicalsubstance that is formed through geologicalprocesses and that has a characteristic chemicalcomposition, a highly ordered atomic structure,

and specific physical properties. By comparison,a rock is an aggregate of minerals and/ormineraloids and does not have a specificchemical composition.

Essentially Rocks are made from

Minerals therefore Minerals are the BuildingBlocks of life.

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Colour

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Sometimes, one mineral candisplay a number of colours.

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and polished

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Acid Test!

NO!!

Not that type of

Acid..

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This refers to the appearance of thesurface of the mineral.

Lustre

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Lustre

Metallic Lustre

Galena

Pyrite

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Adamantine

Diamond

Lustre

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Glassy (Vitreous)

Rose Quartz

Lustre

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Pearly

talc

Lustre

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Resinous

Amber

Lustre

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Waxy

Common Opal

Lustre

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Dull

Brucite

Lustre

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Earthy

Kaolinite

Lustre

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Streak

Oh Behave!

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Cleavage

Cleavage, is the tendency of crystallinematerials to split along definite planes,

creating smooth surfaces, of whichthere are several types.

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Cleavage

Perfect micaceous

Muscovite mica

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Cubic

Halite

Cleavage

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Fracture

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Fracture

Conchoidal

Sulfur

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Irregular (uneven)

Cinnabar

Fracture

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Hackly

Fracture

Native Copper

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Parting

Fracture

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Density

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Hardness

Hardness is measured using Mohs Scale

Finger Nail

(2.5)

Copper Coin

(3)

Steel Blade

(5.5)

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This refers to the natural shape createdwhen the crystal forms, it is dependenton the internal structure of the mineral.

Crystal Form

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Crystal Form

Six sided

Quartz

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Cubic

Fluorite

Crystal Form

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Octahedron

Magnetite

Crystal Form

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The shape created by crystal growthwhen unusual conditions force the

crystal from its natural form.

Mineral Habit

e.g. Pyrite Sun formedbetween layers of Shale.

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Mineral Habit

Acicular (needle-like)

Natrolite

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Botryoidal (grapelike)

Siderite

Mineral Habit

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Radiating

Brochantite

Mineral Habit

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Dendrytic

Psilomelane

Mineral Habit