Rocks & MineralsROCKS & MINERALS

Minerals must be:

• Naturally occurring made from non-living things

Properties of Minerals

• Hardness A measure of how

easily a mineral can be scratched.

http://www.info-diamond.co.uk

Properties of Minerals• Density• Minerals will have a

certain density regardless of the size of the sample.

• Each mineral has its own density called specific gravity

http://www.astronomynotes.com/cosmolgy/

Properties of Minerals• Luster• The way a mineral

reflects light.• Can be metallic or

non-metallic.• Shiny or dull.• waxy, pearly, glassy.

This is a gem stone called tourmaline it has a glassy luster

Properties of Minerals

• Streak• The color of its

powder.• Not always the same

as the color of the mineral.

http://geology.csupomona.edu/alert/mineral/streak.htm

Properties of Minerals

• Color

first thing noticed about minerals

http://www.nmnh.si.edu/rtp/students/2004/virtualposters/poster

Rock classification

• Texture is how a rock looks and feels

• texture in rocks is determined by the size, shape, and pattern of a rocks grains.

ocal.wasp.uwa.edu.au/.../rock/rock16.jpeg

Rock classification

• Mineral composition– Rocks are made of

more than one mineral

blue.utb.edu/.../PHYS1417SPR00/Unit3Lec.html

Rock Classification• Origin of rocks

• How were the rocks formed - magma

- erosion and layering

- heat and pressure

Origin of rocks• Igneous rocks are

formed from the cooling of magma or lava– Lava is magma that

reaches the earth’s surface

www.outreach.canterbury.ac.nz/.../igneous.jpg

Origin of rocks• Sedimentary rocks

are formed from other rocks that are broken into small particles and moved by erosion (wind or water)

• The particles are squeezed or cemented together

• Rocks are layered

www.energyinst.org.uk/education/glossary/

Origin of rocks• Metamorphic rocks

are formed from heat and pressure.

• Rocks have been pushed deep into the earth’s crust

• Pressure from the earth above and heat from the mantle below cause them to change shape, color, grain and crystal structure

http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es0607/es0607page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization

Rock cycle

http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/investigations/es0602/es0602page02.cfm