This document provides information about minerals from several journal entries and lesson plans on the topic. It defines a mineral as a naturally occurring inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and crystal structure. It discusses how to calculate mineral density by dividing mass by volume. The Mohs hardness scale and other mineral properties like cleavage and fracture are also explained. Finally, it discusses how minerals form and their various uses, including in producing metals and applications like toothpaste.

1. Minerals
Friday, 15 October 2010
Journal Question:
What are minerals? Where could you find minerals in nature?
How are minerals useful?
Plan for the Day:
• Notes
• Classifying Objects as Minerals
• Notes
• Begin Mineral Properties Chart

2. Minerals
What Is a Mineral?
A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid that has a
crystal structure and a definite chemical composition.
- Properties of Minerals

3. Minerals
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
Journal Question:
Amber is a precious material used in jewelry. It forms when the
resin of pine trees hardens into stone. Is amber a mineral?
Explain.
Plan for the Day:
• Notes
• Classifying Minerals
• Assignment

4. Minerals
Calculating Density
To calculate the density of a mineral, divide the mass of the
mineral sample by its volume.
Density = Mass/Volume
Practice Problem
A sample of calcite has a mass of 324 g and a volume of
120 cm3. What is its density?
324 g ÷ 120 cm3 = 2.7 g/cm3
- Properties of Minerals

5. Minerals
Mohs Hardness Scale

6. Minerals
Friday, 22 October 2010
Journal Question:
The mineral platinum is an element that often occurs as a pure
metal. If a sample of platinum has a mass of 430g and a volume of
20 cm3, what is its density? Show your work and explain your unit.
Plan for the Day:
• Notes
• Classifying Minerals
• Identifying Minerals
• Assignment

7. Minerals
Identifying Minerals
- Properties of Minerals
Geologists classify crystal structures into six groups based
on the number and angle of the crystal faces.

8. Minerals
Cleavage and Fracture

9. Minerals
Special Properties

10. Minerals
Crystal Systems Activity
Click the Active Art button to open a browser window and
access Active Art about crystal systems.
- Properties of Minerals

11. Minerals
Mineral Density
Use the line graph of the mass
and volume of pyrite samples to
answer the questions.
- Properties of Minerals

12. Minerals
Mineral Density
50 g; 10 cm3
Reading Graphs:
What is the mass of Sample
B? What is the volume of
Sample B?
- Properties of Minerals

13. Minerals
Mineral Density
5 g/cm3
Calculating:
What is the density of Sample
B?
- Properties of Minerals

14. Minerals
Mineral Density
100 g; 20 cm3
Reading Graphs:
What is the mass of Sample
C? What is the volume of
Sample C?
- Properties of Minerals

15. Minerals
Mineral Density
5 g/cm3
Calculating:
What is the density of Sample
C?
- Properties of Minerals

16. Minerals
Mineral Density
The density of samples B and
C is the same.
Comparing and Contrasting:
Compare the density of
Sample B to that of
Sample C.
- Properties of Minerals

17. Minerals
Mineral Density
8 g
Predicting:
A piece of pyrite has a
volume of 40 cm3. What is its
mass?
- Properties of Minerals

18. Minerals
Mineral Density
No; density does not depend
on size. Larger samples have
more mass, but the ratio
between mass and volume is
constant.
Drawing Conclusions:
Does the density of a mineral
depend on the size of the
mineral sample? Explain.
- Properties of Minerals

19. Minerals
Data Sharing Lab
Click the PHSchool.com button for an activity about sharing
data for the Skills Lab Finding the Density of Minerals.

20. Minerals
End of Section:
Properties of
Minerals

21. Minerals
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
Journal Question:
What is the difference between fracture and cleavage? Graphite is
a mineral made up of carbon atoms that form thin sheets. Will
graphite break apart with fracture or cleavage? Explain.
Plan for the Day:
• Collect Assignment
• Identifying Minerals
• Notes
• Making Crystals

22. Minerals
Crystallization
- How Minerals Form

23. Minerals
More on Mineral Formation
Click the PHSchool.com button for an activity
about mineral formation.
- How Minerals Form

24. Minerals
End of Section:
How Minerals
Form

25. Minerals
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
Journal Question:
Describe what might have happened to form this geode.
Plan for the Day:
• Go Over Assignment
• Look at Mineral Handprints
• Notes
• Video: Minerals
• Change Seats

26. Minerals
Uses of Minerals
Minerals in Our Environment
Rubies Video

27. Minerals
Producing Metals from Minerals

28. Minerals
Producing Metals from Minerals
Strip Mine
Shaft Mine
Open Pit Mine

29. Minerals
Producing Metals From Minerals
- Using Mineral Resources
Aluminum
Video

30. Minerals
Producing Metals from Minerals

31. Minerals
End of Section:
Using Mineral
Resources

32. Minerals
Friday, 5 November 2010
Journal Question:
What type of toothpaste do you use? Why do you use that
particular brand? Do you think all toothpaste is equally effective in
cleaning teeth? What do you think the active ingredient in
toothpaste does?
Plan for the Day:
• Change Seats
• Finish Video
• Review Sheet
• Lab: A Mouthful of Minerals (pg. 136-137)

33. Minerals
Monday, 8 November 2010
Journal Question:
Color and luster are both properties of minerals. How are they
similar? How are they different? How can each be used to help
identify a mineral?
Plan for the Day:
• Discuss & Hand in Lab
• Questions on Review Sheet
• Write Jeopardy Questions
• Play Jeopardy
Note: Test Wednesday!