Introduction to Rocks and Minerals

First… A bit of Chemistry Review

Atoms

3 Basic parts of an Atom: (subatomic particles) Drawing of an Atom

Elements
• The simplest materials naturally occurring on Earth.
The smallest particle of an element is the ___________.
• What do the numbers and symbols on this element card represent?

• Oxygen and Silicon make up _________ of crustal rocks (aluminum makes up the next 8%)
• Examples:

Molecules vs. Compounds

• When two or more atoms join together they form _______________.
• Examples:
• A molecule is the smallest particle of a chemical ______________.

Isotopes
• Atoms can sometimes exist in nature with different numbers of ____________
(therefore the atomic mass is different). We call these isotopes.
• Examples:
 Rocks vs. Minerals
A rock is not a mineral, and a mineral is not a rock! But they are definitely related!

Minerals
Minerals include examples such as:

Key Characteristics of a Mineral:

- is _________________ occurring (not man-made)
- is ______________
- is an ________________ element or compound.
- has a definite ________________ _________________

Minerals can be defined by their chemical composition and internal crystal structure, but
we will learn to use special tests and other properties to identify minerals over the next
few days!

Rocks
• A ______________ cohesive aggregate of one or more minerals
• A ______________ of minerals
• Examples:

• ________________ is solid rock firmly attached to Earth. Outcrops of bedrock

can sometimes be seen at the surface.

☺ Homework Questions: (you may use a textbook, pg.3 and pgs. 29-33)

1. What is an isotope? Give an example.

2. Define compound. Describe how a compound is different and similar to a molecule.

3. What is a mineral? How is it different from a rock?

4. What minerals make up the majority of the Earth’s crust?

5. Name four branches of Earth Science.