Chapter 2Rocks and minerals

Table of Contents

How science works pg 1-2 Scientific Method pg 3-8 Science Engineering pg

10-12 Chapter1 review pg

11,13 Minerals-Earth’s Jewels pg 15-20

Minerals- Earth’s Jewels pg 16What is a

mineral?

What are rocks made of?

How are minerals formed?

A mineral is inorganic solid material with a particular chemical make up and orderly arrangement of atoms.

Rocks are composed of two or more minerals.

Minerals form from magma or lava or through evaporation or precipitation.

Minerals- Earth’s Jewels pg16 What are the

formation clues of minerals?

How to identify minerals

Mineral formation clues include size and how mineral crystals fit together.

There are properties or characteristics used to identify minerals.› Solid materials with

repeating pattern of atoms are called crystals.

Minerals- Earth’s Jewels pg16 How to identify

minerals continued 2. Some minerals

have cleavage, splitting into thin sheets; other minerals have fractions, breaking into rough edges.

Biotite produces thin sheets or flakes when chipped.

Minerals- Earth’s Jewels Pg 18 Properties &

Characteristics continued

3. Color or Streak (color of a powered mineral)

4.Luster describes how light reflects from a mineral’s surface.

Adamantine - a brilliant luster such as that of diamond

Vitreous - glassy, bright Greasy - a dull sheen

Minerals – Earth’s Jewels pg18 Properties &

characteristics continued

5.Mohs scale uses hardness to classify minerals from 1 to 10 (1 is the softest 10 is the hardest).

6.Specific gravity compares the weight of the mineral to one with equal volume.

7.Other properties of minerals include magnetism, double refraction, taste, or reactions with acid.

Minerals – Earth’s Jewels pg18 What are some

common minerals?

Most rock forming minerals are silicates or carbonates.

1.Rare minerals which can be cut and polished are gems.

2.Diamonds are produced under pressure beneath Earth’s surface and brought to the surface by special volcanic eruptions

Minerals – Earth’s Jewels pg20 Common

minerals continued

What makes gems valuable?

Summary

3. An ore contains enough useful minerals to be sold at a profit

4.Ores must be processed to extract the minerals

They are rare. Not only are gems produced under unusual circumstances these minerals usually need to be clear with no blemishes or cracks.

Science Homework

Front and back of worksheet due Wednesday 9/21/11