Minerals

1. What is a mineral?

1.1. Minerals must be naturally occurring, inorganic, solid, have definite chemical composition, and ordered internal structure.

1.1.1. Crystals are small minerals that greatly increase in size. The limited amount of space decides the crystal's size and shape.

1.2. 10 most common elements in the Earth's Crust.

1.2.1. 1. Oxygen O 46.1%                            2. Silicon Si 28.2%                          3. Aluminum Al 8.23%                     4. Iron Fe 5.63%                              5. Calcium Ca 4.15%                       6. Sodium Na 2.36%                        7. Magnesium Mg 2.33%               8. Potassium K 2.09%                       9. Titanium Ti 0.565%                       10. Hydrogen H 0.14%

2. Kentucky Minerals

3. Minerals can form when the minerals are drawn out of a solution, molten rocks cool, heat and pressure

4. Kentucky has 3 formal mineral districts

5. Minerals mined in Kentucky include Limestone, Dolomite, Sand, Gravel, Clay, Shale, and Fluorite.

6. Identifying minerals

7. 7 physical mineral properties

7.1. Cleavage: Breakage of a mineral along a line of weakness.

7.2. Color: Visible light reflected

7.3. Hardness: Resistance to scratching and abrasion

7.4. Luster: Character of light reflected

7.5. Streak: Color of the mineral when powdered.

7.6. Form: Geometric Shape

7.7. Specific Gravity: Ratio of the mass equal to an equal volume of water.

8. Special Properties

8.1. Magnetism

8.2. Flourescence

8.3. Double Refraction

8.4. Taste

8.5. Reaction to HCI

8.6. Radioactivity