Science Starter: November 2, 2011Science Starter: November 2, 2011

• True or False: Write the statement in your True or False: Write the statement in your notebook. If it is False change it to make it True.notebook. If it is False change it to make it True.

1.1. A mineral is a substance that only contains one type A mineral is a substance that only contains one type of atom.of atom.

2.2. Minerals are always a solid.Minerals are always a solid.3.3. Minerals can be manufactured (man-made).Minerals can be manufactured (man-made).4.4. Salt is an example of a mineral.Salt is an example of a mineral.

Properties of MineralsProperties of Minerals

Properties of Minerals:Properties of Minerals:Why do we care?Why do we care?

• Property – characteristic, quality or trait of Property – characteristic, quality or trait of somethingsomething

• Used to IDENTIFY a mineralUsed to IDENTIFY a mineral

Appearance Property: StreakAppearance Property: Streak

• StreakStreak – – color of the color of the powderpowder a mineral a mineral leaves behind when leaves behind when you scrape it across you scrape it across somethingsomething

• Shows Shows true colortrue color better than looking at a better than looking at a whole mineralwhole mineral

• Use “streak plate” Use “streak plate” made of porcelainmade of porcelain

Appearance Properties: LusterAppearance Properties: Luster

• LusterLuster – the way a mineral reflects light – the way a mineral reflects light• (QUALITATIVE OBSERVATION (QUALITATIVE OBSERVATION ))

• Luster Terms:Luster Terms:• MetallicMetallic – shiny like a metal – shiny like a metal• NonNonmetallicmetallic – – notnot shiny like metal shiny like metal

• Oily – feels or looks greasyOily – feels or looks greasy• Glassy – shiny like glassGlassy – shiny like glass• Dull – plain, earthy Dull – plain, earthy

Metallic LusterMetallic Luster

Nonmetallic LusterNonmetallic Luster

Breaking Properties:Breaking Properties:Cleavage or FractureCleavage or Fracture

• CleavageCleavage – mineral – mineral breaks along a flat breaks along a flat surface or into sheetssurface or into sheets

• FractureFracture – when a – when a mineral breaks with mineral breaks with lots of jagged edgeslots of jagged edges

Property: DensityProperty: Density

• DensityDensity – – massmass divided by divided by volumevolume of a of a mineral (in other mineral (in other words: how heavy it is words: how heavy it is for how much space it for how much space it takes up)takes up)

• GOLD is denser than GOLD is denser than PYRITE (“Fool’s Gold”)PYRITE (“Fool’s Gold”)• Feels heavierFeels heavier

Property: HardnessProperty: Hardness

• HardnessHardness – a mineral’s resistance to being – a mineral’s resistance to being scratched scratched

• test what can scratch it and what it can test what can scratch it and what it can scratchscratch

• Use “Moh’s Scale” to assign hardnessUse “Moh’s Scale” to assign hardness• Scale of 1 to 10Scale of 1 to 10

• 10 = hardest = diamond!10 = hardest = diamond!• 1 = softest = talc!1 = softest = talc!

Special Properties Special Properties

1. Fluorescence1. Fluorescence• Fluorescent color under ultraviolet (UV) lightFluorescent color under ultraviolet (UV) light

2. Magnetic2. Magnetic• Attract magnetsAttract magnets

3. Acid reaction3. Acid reaction• Carbon dioxide gas bubbles off when you drop Carbon dioxide gas bubbles off when you drop

acid on themacid on them• Carbonates!Carbonates!

FluorescenceFluorescence

MagneticMagnetic

Carbonate Acid ReactionCarbonate Acid Reaction