What is a mineral?• A mineral is a

naturally occurring,

inorganic solid that

has a crystal

structure and a

definite chemical

composition.

Let’s break down the five parts of the

definition.

Naturally Occurring:

• Formed by processes of the natural world

Naturally Occurring:

• Formed by processes of the natural world

• Not made by humans

Inorganic:

• Cannot be formed from materials that were once a part of a living thing.

• in- (HH3)

• Is coal a mineral?

Inorganic:

• Cannot be formed from materials that were once a part of a living thing.

• in - not

• Is coal a mineral?

• Coal is NOT a mineral because it is made from fossilized plants!

Solid:

• When a substance is a solid, its atoms or molecules are held in fixed positions and it has a constant shape.

• Examples

Crystal Structure:

• Particles of a mineral line up in a pattern that repeats over and over

• How a mineral breaks is known as cleavage and fracture.

• Cleavage describes how a mineral breaks into flat surfaces

(usually one, two, three or four surfaces). Cleavage is

determined by the crystal structure of the mineral.

• Fracture describes how a mineral breaks into forms or shapes other than flat surfaces.

Crystal Structure:

• Particles of a mineral line up in a pattern that repeats over and over

• How a mineral breaks is known as cleavage and fracture.

• Cleavage describes how a mineral breaks into flat surfaces

(usually one, two, three or four surfaces). Cleavage is

determined by the crystal structure of the mineral. Diamond

• Fracture describes how a mineral breaks into forms or shapes other than flat surfaces. Chert, Flint

Definite Chemical Composition:

• Always contains certain elements in definite proportions

Quartz

Definite Chemical Composition:

• Always contains certain elements in definite proportions

• This gives the mineral it’s color!

Quartz

• Is ice a

mineral?

Is it naturally occurring?

Is it inorganic?

Is it solid?

Image taken from http://www.chaseday.com/hailstones.htm

Does it have a crystal structure?

http://www.galleries.com/Minerals/OXIDES/ice/ice.htm

Does it have a definite chemical composition?

•H2O,

Hydrogen

Oxide

Is an ice cube a mineral?

• Only natural ice

counts as a mineral

such as snow, natural

lake or river ice,

glaciered ice and

permafrost.

http://www.emporia.edu/earthsci/amber/go336/merhoff/index.htm

Is water a mineral?• Liquid water does not

get the same

consideration (as to

being a mineral) by

most mineralogists

because it lacks the

crystalline structure of

ice.