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.