Minerals

The Five Properties of Minerals

In Earth science, a mineral has a very specific definition. In order for a substance to be classified as a mineral, it must adhere to five characteristics. In this interactivity, click on each of the checkboxes to learn about these five characteristics. Click on the player button to begin.

View a printable version of the interactivity.

 

The Formation of Minerals

Some minerals commonly occur in nature, while others are rare. The abundance of a mineral depends on where in the Earth it forms, the rate or speed of formation, and the abundance of the elements that make up the mineral. In this interactivity, you will examine the different ways minerals can form. Click the player button to begin.

View a printable version of the interactivity.

 

Mineral Groups

Classification occurs in all areas of science. Minerals are subdivided by similarities that they share with one another. Minerals are classified into seven major groups based on their chemical composition. There are also several minor groups of mineral classification. In this activity, you will explore the seven major mineral groups. Click the player button to begin.

View a printable version of the interactivity.

 

Mineral Groups Review

There are over three thousand known minerals and only seven mineral groups. In this non-graded activity, review your knowledge of the mineral groups. After reading each question, select the correct mineral group. Click the player button to get started.