Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 6
Minerals: The Building Blocks
of Rocks
In This Chapter
Figuring out what makes something a mineral
Organizing elements into crystals
Using physical characteristics for mineral identification
Finding silicate minerals in most rocks
Learning about less common minerals
Nearly every rock on the earth is built of minerals. You are probably familiar with gem-
stone minerals, but even the less eye-catching rocks are made of minerals.
Every mineral is a combination of elements; the atoms are organized into geometric
structures called
crystals.
In many rocks the mineral crystals are too small for you to see
without a magnifying glass or microscope, but they're still there.
In this chapter, I show you how elements are organized into crystals and how minerals
are identified. I also give you an introduction to silicate minerals (the types of minerals
found in most rocks in the earth's crust) and the less-common (but still important)
nonsilicate minerals.
Meeting Mineral Requirements
To be considered a mineral, an earth material must meet these requirements:
It's solid:
Minerals are solid — not liquid or gas — at the temperature of earth's sur-
face.
