This interactive lesson on minerals starts with a definition of minerals and compares crystalline and amorphous minerals. The composition is discussed and a chart shows the relative amounts of elements in minerals. Next, there is a discussion of the characteristics by which minerals are identified including luster, color, streak, hardness, and cleavage and fracture along with special properties such ... Full description.

This site provides an in-depth look at mineral properties and identification. An alphabetical listing of common minerals allows the user to see a picture and view physical properties of the particular mineral. Properties of minerals are explained, including cleavage, hardness, crystal form, and luster. There are also downloadable labs for crystal models and mineral data sheets. Dichotomous and hardness ... Full description.

An Internet-based set of course notes for minerals providing an outline of topics that would be covered in a lecture. Topics covered include bonds, states of matter, physical properties of minerals, Moh's Hardness Scale, silicates and nonsilicates, progressive polymerization, enivronmentrs of mineral formation and rock characteristics. The pages are truly notes, listing important topics but not providing ... Full description.

This slide show provides students with basic information on mineralogy. It explains how the term "mineral" is defined, the properties that are used to identify minerals, their importance in daily life, and some general facts. For each identifying property, an example mineral and photograph are provided. Addresses to websites with additional information are also included. Full description.

Information and links for teaching rocks and minerals as a unit are provided on this website. The properties of minerals are discussed as well as a comparison of minerals and rocks. Links provide resources to discover more mineral information, deposit and gemstone explanations, and teaching resources. Full description.

In this activity, students will discover that minerals have specific characteristics that help to identify them. They will learn that minerals are formed by inorganic processes, are crystalline solids with an internal orderly arrangement of atoms, have specific chemical compositions, and have specific physical and chemical characteristics. They will also learn that minerals are commonly identified ... Full description.

This activity can be used as the introduction for a unit on mineral or crystal structure. It requires the students to create shapes cooperatively and put them together. This is analogous to individual crystals forming or to minerals forming. They will understand that minerals are made up of structures in certain patterns, and that these structures determine some of the properties of the minerals. Full description.

This guide provides introductory information about rocks and minerals. Topics include some of the common rock-forming minerals, what rocks are made of, and where they come from (the three basic rock types). There are descriptions and photos of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, a glossary, and a simple identification chart that has links to websites with additional information. Full description.

This webpage of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Park Service (NPS) highlights general information about rocks and minerals. A description of rock-forming minerals (with photos) illustrates the basic composition of rocks. These minerals include feldspar, mica, quartz, calcite, and others. The three rock types are described (igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic) in terms ... Full description.

This unit provides younger students with an introduction to rocks and minerals. Topics include the definition of a mineral, the physical properties of minerals and how they are measured, and a discussion of quartz, the most basic silicate mineral and one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's crust. The discussion on rocks includes the rock cycle, the three rock types (igneous, sedimentary, ... Full description.