Mineral Definition & Groups

Native Element

Mineral made up of only one element. Ex. silver, gold, copper

Oxides

Minerals that are composed of oxygen and a metal. Ex. hematite and magnetite

Halides

Minerals that are made up of chloride or fluoride along with calcium, sodium, or potassium. Ex. halite

Carbonates

Minerals that contain one or more metallic elements and the carbonate ion. Ex. calcite, dolomite

Silicates

Minerals that contain silicon, oxygen, and usually one or more other element. Ex. feldsapr, quartz

Sulfates

Minerals that contain sulfate ions. Ex. gypsum

Sulfides

Minerals that contain sulfur and one or more other elements. Ex. pyrite

Mineral

Naturally occurring, inorganic, crystalline solid that has a specific chemical composition.

Inorganic

Not alive, never was alive, not produced by living things or biological processes

Naturally Occuring

Not man made, formed by natural procedded

Gems

Valuable minerals prized for their beauty and rarity

crystal

a solid in which the atoms are arranged in a pattern that repeats again and again

Solid

not a liquid or gas; definite shape and volume

Specific Composition

An exact ratio of elements, specific "recipe" makes up each mineral

Definite Crystalline Structure

An orderly, repeated arrangement of atoms

Ore

Rocks that contain certain valuable minerals that can be mined for a profit.