Properties of Minerals

1. Properties of Minerals Integrated Science

2. 7 Properties • Crystal Form • Hardness • Cleavage and Fracture • Luster • Color • Specific Gravity • Streak

3. 2 Properties We Will Not Use • Crystal Form • Crystal Shapes • Cleavage and Fracture • Cleavage = breaks into pieces that are the same shape • Fracture = breaks into random shaped pieces

4. 5 Properties We Will Use • Hardness • Mohs’ Scale is 1-10 • 1 is very soft and 10 is very hard • Luster • How the light is reflected off the mineral • Types • Vitreous (Glass-Like) • Metallic • Dull • Pearly • Waxy

5. Vitreous (Glassy)

6. Metallic

7. Dull

8. Pearly

9. Waxy

10. 5 Properties We Will Use • Color • Specific Gravity • A value greater than 1 means it sinks in water. ( Will feel “heavy.”) • A value less than 1 means it floats in water. • Streak • Color left by a mineral when streaked on a porcelain plate. • Not always the same color as the mineral.

11. Dichotomous Keys • A dichotomous key is a tool used to classify or identify certain items. • In the natural world they help to determine names of trees, wildflowers, mammals, reptiles, rocks, and fish.

12. Dichotomous Keys • Keys consist of a series of choices that lead the user to the correct name of a given item. • "Dichotomous" means "divided into two parts". • Therefore, dichotomous keys always give two choices in each step.

13. Making A Simple Dichotomous Map • Think about the important characteristics that would define these animals!!!

14. Making A Simple Dichotomous Map

15. How would we make a Key for these organisms?

16. Notice we always are dividing these into two main characteristics!!!

17. Dichotomous Keys help identify things!!!

18. Can you figure out what these are?