SUE

1
SUES
Help! Theres been a tornado and my minerals are
all mixed up. What am I to do?
This sound like a job for Super Geology Man!
Never fear, Super Geology Man is here!
I am Super Geology Mans cousin and I will be
your guide. Click on me throughout this show to
go to the next slide.
2
Lets take a look at what we have hereYou sure
do have quite a variety of minerals.
3
Wow! You sure do know a lot about minerals, Super
Geology Man. How do you know so much?
That is a very good question, Sue. When I was a
boy I was very interested in rocks and minerals.
My father, Spider Man, was not real thrilled with
the idea.
Yet, I convinced him that like spiders, rocks and
minerals were just a different area in science.
I also taught him that minerals can be very
valuable. Did you know that even diamonds and
gold are minerals?
4
You see, true minerals come from the earth and
are pure, solid substances made up of crystals.
Some minerals, like gold and carbon, are made of
one element. Others, like salt and quartz, are
made of a combination of elements. Only natural
substances are true minerals. So if you find some
salt in a salt mine, it is a mineral, but if you
make salt in a science laboratory, it is not -
even though they are exactly the same! Click on
the diamond to learn more.
5
You see, true minerals come from the earth and
are pure, solid substances made up of crystals.
Some minerals, like gold and carbon, are made of
one element. Others, like salt and quartz, are
made of a combination of elements. Only natural
substances are true minerals. So if you find some
salt in a salt mine, it is a mineral, but if you
make salt in a science laboratory, it is not -
even though they are exactly the same! Click on
the diamond to learn more.
6
You can tell what a mineral from its
characteristics, just like you can tell who a
person is from their characteristics.
Oh, you mean like how people have different color
hair, eyes, skin, and some people wear glasses
and some dont?
7
Exactlyminerals have different streak and color,
cleavage and fracture, crystal shape, and
hardness. That is how we identify what they are.
Let me show you
8
Exactlyminerals have different streak and color,
cleavage and fracture, crystal shape, and
hardness. That is how we identify what they are.
Let me show you
9
Color
Color is the reason that most minerals are so
appealing. Color is a one of the first
characteristics a geologist looks as to identify
a mineral. Be careful, because some colors may
be deceiving, therefore you would do more tests.
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Streak
The picture on the right is two different types
of quartz, but small particles in each one change
its color! So color is not always a reliable way
to identify a mineral. Instead, we can check the
mineral's streak. "Streak" is the color of the
powdered mineral. Most minerals always make the
same color streak. Quartz's streak is always
white, no matter what its color.
11
Fracture Cleavage
Many mineral crystals break in certain waysinto
cubes, sheets, pyramids, or in other patterns.
These patternscalled 'cleavage'depend on the
structure of atoms inside the crystal. Some kinds
of atoms are joined together quite strongly.
Other kinds have weak joints. The crystal will
cleave (break) where the joints are weakest.
Mica cleaves into thin sheets, because the
weakest joints are between flat sheets of
strongly-jointed atoms.
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Fracture Cleavage
Not all minerals cleave neatly. Some don't break
in any particular way. Instead, they simply
fracture into odd shapes. For example, quartz
fractures into shell-like pieces.
Galena cleaves into cubes, because the joints
inside are equally strongthere are no weaker
joints to make it break in a different pattern.
13
Crystal Shapes
Mineral crystals form distinct shapes, depending
on their structure. Figuring out which shape can
help you identify the mineral. (These shapes may
not always be easy to see without a special
microscope, especially if the mineral grows in
groups.)
Calcite can crystallize in a dog-tooth shape
Apatite forms six-sided columns (hexagon)
Mica forms in sheets
Quartz can crystallize as a pyramid
Fluorite crystals may form as cubes
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Hardness
Some minerals are very hard, others are very
soft. We can use the Mohs Hardness Scale to
compare the hardness of any mineral. The higher
the number on the scale, the harder the mineral
is. Each mineral can scratch only those minerals
that are on the same level or below it on the
scale. Do you know what the hardest mineral is?
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Hardness
A pocket knife has a hardness of 5.5 on the Mohs
scale. If your knife can scratch a mineral, it
must be softer than 5.5. If it can't, then it
must be harder than 5.5.
Your fingernail has a hardness of 2.5 on the Mohs
scale. If you can scratch a mineral with your
fingernail, it must be softer than 2.5. If you
can't scratch it, it must be harder than 2.5.
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Youre amazing, Super Geology Man! You have
taught me so much about minerals.
Thank you, Sue. I think that everyone should
know about minerals and how to identify them.
They are so cool!
Now, lets see what you have learned.
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• A mineral.
• can be made up of one element or a combination of
  elements.
• are pure, solid substances made up of crystals.
• have different streak and color, cleavage and
  fracture, crystal shape, and hardness.
• D. is all of all of the above.

18
Terrific!
Yes, Minerals are made up of crystals of one
element or more than one element. You can test
streak and color, cleavage and fracture, crystal
shape, and hardness to identify them.
19
Try Again
You are very closePlease take a closer look.
Click on the minerals to warp back in time and
review what I said. The mineral on the left will
help you to remember what a mineral is. The
mineral on the right will help you remember
mineral identification.
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See if you can match the statement with the
correct mineral identification method.
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WAY TO GO! The higher the number on Mohs Hardness
Scale, the harder the mineral is. Try the next
one.
22
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! Figuring out the crystal
shape can help you identify the mineral.
23
OUT OF THIS WORLD! Fracture and cleavage depends
on the structure of atoms inside the crystal.
Some kinds of atoms are joined together quite
strongly. Other kinds have weak joints. The
crystal will cleave (break) where the joints are
weakest.
24
FAR OUT! Most minerals always make the same color
streak. Quartz's streak is always white, no
matter what its color.
25
YOU DID IT! Color is a one of the first
characteristics a geologist looks as to identify
a mineral. Be careful, because some colors may
be deceiving, therefore you would do more tests.
26
Oops! Please go back and try again.
Here are some visual clues.
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Oops! Please go back and try again.
Here are some visual clues.
28
Oops! Please go back and try again.
Here are some visual clues.
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Oops! Please go back and try again.
Here are some visual clues.
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I do not know what I would have done without you,
Super Geology Man. You have helped me sort my
minerals and taught me a lot of things I did not
know. I sure will be able to help my customers
and maybe I can teach them a thing or two about
minerals.
Dont be humble, Sue. You were a great student
and will be able to teach your customers a lot.
It was my pleasure helping you. Hey, thats my
job.
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