MineralsMinerals

What is a Mineral?What is a Mineral?

SolidSolid not gasnot gas not liquidnot liquid

What is a Mineral?What is a Mineral?

SolidSolid Naturally OccurringNaturally Occurring

must be found in naturemust be found in nature was not made in the laboratorywas not made in the laboratory

What is a Mineral?What is a Mineral?

SolidSolid Naturally OccurringNaturally Occurring InorganicInorganic

not made from a living thingnot made from a living thing does not contain chains of carbon atomsdoes not contain chains of carbon atoms

What is a Mineral?What is a Mineral? SolidSolid Naturally OccurringNaturally Occurring InorganicInorganic Definite Crystal StructureDefinite Crystal Structure

Atoms arrange themselves in an orderly Atoms arrange themselves in an orderly fashion to create regular geometric patternsfashion to create regular geometric patterns

Crystal Palace - MexicoCrystal Palace - Mexico

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/a-night-of-exploration/galleries/into-the-lost-crystal-caves/at/mirrors-chamber-topography-1697354/

Crystal Cave VideoCrystal Cave Video

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/explorer/videos/a-dangerous-beauty/

What is a Mineral?What is a Mineral?

SolidSolid Naturally OccurringNaturally Occurring InorganicInorganic Definite Crystal StructureDefinite Crystal Structure Definite Chemical FormulaDefinite Chemical Formula

GoldGold (Au) (Au) CalciteCalcite (CaCO (CaCO33))

QuartzQuartz (SiO (SiO22)) PyritePyrite (FeS (FeS22))

Formation of MineralsFormation of MineralsEvaporation

Minerals can form when solutions evaporate and the materials

dissolved in the water crystallize.

Formation of MineralsFormation of Minerals

Volcanic Activity

As magma and lava cooled, minerals crystallized. Some atoms were stable and

did not combine.

Formation of MineralsFormation of Minerals

Heat, pressure and chemical change deep inside the Earth create minerals. They form from existing

minerals that are transformed by the heat and pressure.

Heat and Pressure

Mineral FactsMineral Facts

More than 4000 minerals have been More than 4000 minerals have been identified.identified.

New minerals are still being New minerals are still being discovered.discovered.

NJ is one of two places in the world NJ is one of two places in the world that have more different minerals than that have more different minerals than any other place on Earth!any other place on Earth!

Composition of the Earth’s Composition of the Earth’s CrustCrust

98.5% of Earth’s Crust is made of:98.5% of Earth’s Crust is made of:

-Oxygen (O)-Oxygen (O)-Silicon (Si)-Silicon (Si)-Aluminum (Al)-Aluminum (Al)-Iron (Fe)-Iron (Fe)-Calcium (Ca)-Calcium (Ca)-Sodium (Na)-Sodium (Na)-Potassium (K)-Potassium (K)-Magnesium (Mg)-Magnesium (Mg)

mostly in combination with one another.mostly in combination with one another.

Most minerals are made of chemically Most minerals are made of chemically combined (bonded) elements. These combined (bonded) elements. These

minerals are grouped according to the minerals are grouped according to the elements in them.elements in them.

Oxides – Oxides – have oxygen in them have oxygen in them Halides – Halides – have halogens in them have halogens in them Sulfides – Sulfides – have sulfur in them have sulfur in them Carbonates – have COCarbonates – have CO33 in them in them Sulfates – Sulfates – have SO have SO44 in them in them Silicates – Silicates – have SiO have SiO44 in them in them

Most Common MineralsMost Common Minerals Silicates – 92% of all minerals contain Silicates – 92% of all minerals contain

oxygen and siliconoxygen and silicon

Silicon Dioxide – also known as quartz Silicon Dioxide – also known as quartz (large pieces) or sand (small pieces) (large pieces) or sand (small pieces) makes up 75% of the Earth’s crust!makes up 75% of the Earth’s crust!

9 minerals make up 99% of Earth: 9 minerals make up 99% of Earth: feldspar, pyroxene, mica, olivine, feldspar, pyroxene, mica, olivine, dolomite, quartz, amphibole, clay, dolomite, quartz, amphibole, clay, calcitecalcite

FeldspFeldsparar

PyroxenePyroxene

MicaMica

OlivineOlivine

DolomiteDolomite

QuartzQuartz

AmphiboleAmphibole

ClayClay

CalciteCalcite

Most elements combined to Most elements combined to make minerals but some did make minerals but some did

not.not. Called the Native Minerals (one element alone)Called the Native Minerals (one element alone) Also called Native ElementsAlso called Native Elements

Copper (Cu) Gold (Au) Sulfur (S)

Ore – rock that contains Ore – rock that contains minerals that can be minedminerals that can be mined

Iron OreIron Ore Gold OreGold Ore

Alloy – mixture of two or more Alloy – mixture of two or more mineralsminerals

Bronze = copper + tin Brass = copper + zincPewter = tin +

copper + lead + antimony

Stainless Steel = iron

+ chromium + nickel

Solder = tin + lead

Every American Requires Every American Requires 40,000 Pounds of New Minerals 40,000 Pounds of New Minerals

per Yearper Year at this level of consumption the average newborn at this level of consumption the average newborn

infant will need a lifetime supply of:infant will need a lifetime supply of:-795 lbs of lead (car batteries, electric -795 lbs of lead (car batteries, electric components)components)-757 lbs of zinc (to make brass, rubber, paints)-757 lbs of zinc (to make brass, rubber, paints)-1500lbs of copper (electrical motors, wirings-1500lbs of copper (electrical motors, wirings-3593 lbs aluminum (soda cans, aircraft)-3593 lbs aluminum (soda cans, aircraft)-32,700 lbs of iron (kitchen utensils, automobiles, -32,700 lbs of iron (kitchen utensils, automobiles, buildings) buildings)-28,213 lbs of salt (cooking, detergents)-28,213 lbs of salt (cooking, detergents)-1,238,101 lbs of stone, sand, gravel, cement -1,238,101 lbs of stone, sand, gravel, cement (roads, homes, etc.)(roads, homes, etc.)