5 Characteristics of Minerals

• Minerals – a mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid that has crystal structure and a definite chemical composition.

TOC#10

Minerals

Minerals

Naturally Occurring

*must be found in the earth

Minerals

Naturally Occuring

*must be found in the earth

InorganicCannot form from

materials that were once living

Minerals

Naturally Occuring*must be found in the earth

InorganicCannot form from

materials that were once living

SolidHas a definite

shape and volume

Minerals

Naturally Occuring*must be found in the earth

Crystal Structure

The repeating pattern of a

mineral's particles

InorganicCannot form from

materials that were once living

SolidHas a definite shape

and volume

Minerals

Naturally Occuring*must be found in the earth

Crystal StructureThe repeating pattern of a

mineral's particles

InorganicCannot form from

materials that were once living

SolidHas a definite shape

and volume

Definite Chemical

CompositionAlways contains

certain elements in the same amounts