Monday, April 12, 2010

Minerals

• Minerals are the building blocks of some types of rock.

• To be considered a mineral, a material must have the following five characteristics.  If a substance is missing any of the five, it is not considered a mineral.  1)  naturally occurring, 2) inorganic, 3) solid, 4) crystal structure (even if you can't see the crystals), and 5) unique chemical composition (the recipe).

Quick Check:

a)  Is salt a mineral?   b)  Is sugar a mineral?    

You may discuss with your neighbor.  Use the five characteristics to justify your answer.

rock:   polished sample of gneiss (metamorphic)	minerals:  topaz with calcite
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