Minerals • Naturally occurring inorganic solid with definite structure and composition. • 4000 different minerals found on Earth.
5 Characteristics 1. All are formed by nature. Form on or inside Earth with no input from humans. – Ex – salt, diamonds, graphite
5 Characteristics 2. Are inorganic - Are not alive , never were alive. 3. All are solids
5 Characteristics 4. All are elements or compounds with unique composition. 5. Atoms are arranged in a pattern that repeats over and over again.
Crystals • A solid in which the atoms are arranged in repeating patterns.
Minerals 1 Atom Patterns • The word crystalline means that atoms are arranged in a pattern that is repeated over and over again. • For example, graphite’s atoms are arranged in layers.
How Minerals Form 1. The cooling of hot melted magma. If magma cools fast small crystals form if it cools slow large crystals form. 2. From minerals dissolved in liquids: When the liquid evaporates the atoms in the minerals stay behind and form crystals. 3. When a solution becomes saturated with another substance crystals will precipitate out of the solution.
Minerals 1 Mineral Compositions and Groups • Ninety elements occur naturally in Earth’s crust. Approximately 98 percent (by weight) of the crust is made of only eight of these elements.