Form by natural geological processes without human intervention.

Refers to the specific elements and their proportions that make up the mineral.

contains calcium (Ca), sulfur (S), oxygen (O), and water (H2O).

Some minerals, like magnetite, are magnetic and can attract iron filings or a compass needle.

These are made of compounds of sulfur usually with a metal. They tend to be heavy and brittle.

forms prismatic or prism-like crystals that are thicker than the needle as in a pencil (Indicolite)

Has a very distinctive "rotten egg" smell due to the presence of sulfur compounds

the tendency of a mineral to break along flat planes of weakness in its crystal structure.

They form from halogen elements like chlorine, bromine, fluorine, and iodine combined with metallic elements. They are very soft and easily dissolved in water.

Those minerals are naturally occurring in nature in an uncombined form with a distinct mineral structure. It can be classified as metal, semimetals and non metals.

It is the term used for those substances that do not fit neatly into one of the eight classes.

Refers to a mineral's ability to dissolve in a liquid.

Method used to categorize minerals based on the chemical composition and structure

Refers to the overall shape or growth pattern of the mineral.

Refers to the conditions (temperature, pressure, chemical environment) under which a mineral remains stable. Some minerals may alter or decompose under certain environmental conditions, leading to the formation of new minerals.

These are made of compounds of sulfur combined with metals and oxygen. It is a large group of minerals that tend to be soft, and translucent.

Minerals may react chemically with other substances.

describes how light reflects off a mineral's surface. Common lusters include metallic, glassy, and pearly.

Often glows in a variety of colors, such as blue, purple, or green, when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light.

They are often formed when other minerals are broken down by weathering. They are often brightly colored.

looks like a flattened and thin crystal. (Wulfenite)

measured by Mohs Hardness Scale, which compares the resistance of a mineral to scratching.

It in formed from the combination of a metal with oxygen. This group ranges from dull orms like bauxite to gamle rubies and sapphires.

have definite solid form.

most obvious property of a mineral, but it can be misleading because impurities can change the color

are the building blocks of rocks. They are naturally occurring solid substances with a defined chemical composition and crystalline structure.

Has a salty taste, which is one of its identifying characteristics.

is the color of a mineral's powder when rubbed against a streak plate. It can be different from the mineral's color.

This measures how heavy a mineral feels for its size. Specific gravity compares the density of a mineral to the density of water.

(Feb. 12, 1813 - Apr. 14, 1895) was an American geologist, mineralogist, volcanologist, & zoologist.

These are group of minerals made of carbon, oxygen, and a metallic element.

-3 dimensions of the mineral have about the same length, like that of a cube or sphere. (Garnet

the atoms in a mineral are arrange in a specific, repeating pattern, which gives the mineral its crystal form.

how a mineral breaks along irregular surfaces when it does not have cleavage.

Each mineral has a specific chemical formula.

This is the largest group of minerals. It contains silicon and oxygen, with some aluminum, magnesium, iron.and calcium

are not formed by biological processes.