Earth’s Minerals, Rocks

and the Rock Cycle

Minerals
A mineral is a solid material that forms by a natural process.
A mineral can be
made of an element,
such as gold (Au),

or a compound,
such as salt (NaCl).
A Mineral has a specific chemical composition. Its chemical
composition is different from other minerals.

Quartz Gypsum Magnetite Feldspar

SiO2 CaSO4·2H2O Fe(II)Fe(III)2O4 KAlSi3O8–NaAlSi3O8 –
CaAl2Si2O8
Each type of mineral has physical properties that differ from
others. These properties include crystal structure, hardness,
density, and color.
Minerals form by natural processes. Minerals are created by
processes that happen in or on the Earth.

When hot lava cools, mineral crystals form. Minerals also precipitate from water

Compounds, such as sugar, that are formed by living things

are not considered minerals. Neither are diamonds made in a
laboratory.
A mineral is an inorganic
substance. It was not made by
living organisms. Organic
substances contain carbon.
Some types of organic
substances are protein,
carbohydrate, and oils.
Although diamonds are made of
carbon, they were not formed by
living processes.
Everything else is inorganic.
In a few cases, living
organisms make inorganic
materials. The pearls made
by oysters are inorganic, as
are their shells, but they are
not considered minerals.
A few minerals are made of only one kind of element.

Sulfur (S) Gold (Au) Graphite (C)

Minerals that are not just a single element are made of
chemical compounds.

Calcite is made of calcium

Olivine [(Fe, Mg)2SiO4] Fluorite (CaF2)
carbonate (CaCO3)
Each mineral has its own unique chemical formula even if
they are made of the same elements.

hematite (Fe2O3) magnetite (Fe3O4)

Minerals must be solid.
For example, ice and water have the same chemical
composition (H2O). Ice is a solid, so it is a mineral. Water is
a liquid, so it is not a mineral.
Some solids are not crystals. Glass, or the rock obsidian,
are solid. However, they are not crystals. In a crystal, the
atoms are arranged in a pattern
Sometimes two different minerals have the same chemical
composition. But they are different minerals because they
have different crystal structures. For example, diamond and
graphite are both made of carbon but have different crystal
structures.
A mineral's crystal
shape is
determined by the
way the atoms are
arranged.
The patterns of atoms affect a mineral's physical properties.

Physical properties include

Melting point Solubility Luster (how a mineral
reflects light)

Color Hardness (The ability to Streak (color of the

resist being scratched) powdered mineral)

Specific gravity (density) Cleavage (The way in Tenacity (How well a

which a mineral breaks mineral resists breakage)
along smooth flat planes)
Other characteristics may be useful in identifying some
minerals:
Transparency - Objects are visible when viewed through a mineral.

Translucency - Light, but not an image, is transmitted through a mineral.

Opaqueness - No light is transmitted, even on the thinnest edges.

Taste - Taste can be used to help identify some minerals, such as halite (salt).

Acid reaction - Object reacts to hydrochloric acid. The most distinguishing characteristic of
calcite is that it effervesces when hydrochloric acid is applied.

Magnetism - Magnetism is a distinguishing characteristic of magnetite.

Crystal shape -
Summary
● A mineral is an inorganic, crystalline
solid.
● A mineral forms through natural
processes.
● It has a definite chemical composition.
● Minerals can be identified by their
characteristic physical properties. They
include crystalline structure, hardness,
density, breakage, and color.