Each statement represents a primary learning objective for parts of this unit. After you complete the unit, you should be able to:

• List the main characteristics that an Earth material must possess to be considered a mineral and describe each characteristic.

• Compare and contrast the three primary particles contained in atoms.

• Distinguish among ionic bonds, covalent bonds, and metallic bonds.

• List and describe the properties used in mineral identification.

• List the common silicate and nonsilicate minerals and describe what characterizes each group.

• Discuss Earth’s mineral resources in terms of renewability.

• Differentiate between mineral resources and ore deposits.

Earth's crust and oceans are home to a wide variety of useful and essential minerals. Most people are familiar with the common uses of many basic metals, including aluminum in beverage cans, copper in electrical wiring, and gold and silver in jewelry. However, some people are not aware that pencil “lead” contains the greasy-feeling mineral graphite and that bath powders and many cosmetics contain the mineral talc. Moreover, many do not know that dentists use drill bits embedded with diamonds to drill through tooth enamel. In fact, practically every manufactured product contains materials obtained from minerals.

In addition to the economic uses of rocks and minerals, every geologic process in some way depends on the properties of these basic Earth materials. Geologic events, such as volcanic eruptions, mountain building, weathering and erosion, and even earthquakes, involve rocks and minerals. Consequently, a basic knowledge of Earth materials is essential to understanding all geologic phenomena.