Introduction to Minerals and Identification | Physical Geography with Professor Patrich

This lecture introduces the basics of identifying minerals, including the definition of minerals, the physical properties, and the importance of understanding why minerals exist. We discuss that minerals have properties such as color, luster, hardness, streak, cleavage, or fracture.

Minerals are naturally-occurring, solid substances composed of chemical elements. This means that minerals, ranging from salt to rubies, are made up from the elements that appear on a periodic table. They are inorganic, not living or made up of living things. Minerals form a crystalline structure, which gives rocks their ‘rough’ texture.

🧭 Find Jeremy here:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calgeog/?hl=en
📧 E-mail: CaliforniaGeographer@gmail.com
🌐 Website: www.BackyardGeographer.com

Access the Free OER Physical Geography Textbook Here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1prHnOB77NSpjZwYkOqx-oYWF2NpqS0HG