MineralsGroup2


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Minerals: __** are naturally occuring inorganic solid substance with a definite chemical composition and structure. **__Characteristics of a Mineral:__** To be a mineral, a substance must be an inorganic, naturally occurring solid, with a set parameter of chemical formulas and a crystalline structure. Color, luster, cleavage, streak, and hardness are physical characteristics of a mineral. The chemical composition of a mineral determines the overall geometric arrangements of that mineral. How the atoms **bond** with each other determines other properties including crystal shape, cleavage, behavior of light, and hardness.
 * __Chemical Properties of a Mineral:__** Every substance on earth is made of atoms, the building blocks of all matter.


 * __Mineral Families:__** Mineral families are divided into classes depending on the **anion or positive radical** that is part of their chemical formula. A positive radical is a combination of elements that have a positive charge and is a prominent part of the chemical formula that makes up the mineral.

__**Physical Properties of Minerals:**__ [|//Hardness//] : the physical hardness of a mineral is usually measured according to the [|Mohs scale]. This scale is relative and goes from 1 to 10. Minerals with a given Mohs hardness can scratch the surface of any mineral that has a lower hardness than itself. [|//Luster//] indicates the way a mineral's surface interacts with light and can range from dull to glassy (vitreous).


 * __Special properties:__**A mineral's color is generally the result of trace elements within the mineral.Minerals can be only identified absolutely by x-ray analysis and chemical tests. The x-ray analysis determines the structure of the mineral and the chemical tests determine the composition of the mineral. Structure and composition are the defining marks of a mineral.