Minerals are naturally occurring, inorganic solid, with definite composition, and in an orderly arrangement of atoms

When atoms are arranged in a pattern that is repeated over and over again it is called crystalline

Minerals have crystalline patterns Graphite is arranged in layered patterns.

Crystals are solid in which atoms are arranged in orderly repeating patterns

A crystal system is a group of crystals that have similar atomic arrangements and thus similar external patters

Crystals that have a place to develop show the crystal patterns like figure 2, if no space is provided the arrangement is still there but no place to show it (figure 2)

Magma is hot molted rock If it reaches the surface, it is called lava where it can

cool quickly. If it cools quickly, crystals don’t have to form (obsidian).

As magma cools, either under surface or at surface, the atoms lose heat, move together to combine into compounds thus forming specific minerals

When magma cools slowly crystals form that can be seen (granite)

When minerals are dissolved in water and slowly evaporate, crystals form (halite)

Silicates are the most common rock forming groups containing silicon and oxygen

Si and O are most abundant element in earth’s crust

Color is true for some minerals, not all so scientists rely on several techniques to identify minerals

Hardness: how easily a mineral can be scratched according to Mohs Scale (finger nail, penny, nail, glass)) table 1

Luster: the way light reflects off a mineral (metallic and non metallic)

Specific Gravity (how heavy a mineral is in relation to water 1 g/cm3

Streak: rubbed against a un-porcelain plate it leaves a particular color

Cleavage and fracture: Minerals break along smooth flat surfaces have cleavage (mica)

Those minerals that break with uneven jagged edges have fracture