1

Week Characteristics of Earth that Sustain

1 Life

What I Need to Know

Earth is unique. It is termed as “planet of life” where matter and energy continue
to flow. Most of the cell’s processes requires energy from the Sun which is the main
source of energy. Since Earth is a closed system, energy flows to all of its living
components to continue various life processes and functions. The different forms of
energy also allow the recycling of matter needed for life. What are the characteristics
of Earth that make life possible? What makes Earth different from the rest of the
planets and other heavenly bodies in the Solar System?
In this lesson, you are tasked to describe the characteristics of Earth that
supports life.

a. b
Figure 1a. Planet earth Figure 1b. Living things thriving on earth

Take a look at the pictures. Reflect on it. What do you see? Can you describe
Earth’s characteristics through these illustrations?
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Activity 1

Guess What?

Directions: The picture in each item depicts a certain characteristic of Earth as a

planet of life. Fill in the missing letters to form the words or phrases implied. Analyze
each picture and given clue letters to answer this activity. Write your answers in a
separate sheet of paper.

1. L __ __ U __ __ W __ T __ __ E __R T __ from the __ U N

4. I __ F __ U __ N __ E of M __ O __
on E _RT __

2. P__ __ S __ __ __ E of
__ X__G __ N

5. E __ R__ H’S
A T __ O __ P H __ R __

3. D __ S __ __N __ E of
E __R T __ from the __ U N
3.
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What Is It

Earth is unique in our solar system because it has liquid water on its
surface. In fact, most of Earth’s surface is about 75 percent and covered with water.
Water is present in the atmosphere, ground, freshwater lakes, rivers, streams; and
even in the polar ice caps. Water is also found in all living things. Some plants, for
example, are as much as 90–95 percent water by weight. Adult humans are about 60
percent water by weight. Water is important for the many life functions carried out by
cells, tissues, and organs. It helps dissolve certain nutrients and carry them throughout
an organism. Water is also important for disposing of bodily wastes.
Scientists sometimes speak of Earth as having “Goldilocks” conditions—in
other words, Earth is “just right” for life as we know it. Earth’s place in the solar system
as the third planet from the Sun, places it in an area of space, that is not too hot and
not too cold. If the Sun is closer to Earth, liquid water would not be possible on this
planet as all of it would evaporate and life forms will not exist. If it were a little farther
away, it would be colder and liquid water would always be solid ice. Earth’s
temperatures range from about –88˚C to 58˚C. All organisms on the planet are
adapted to temperatures within this range.
Earth has enough gravitational force to keep most gases close to its surface.
These gases make up the atmosphere. The planet’s atmosphere is approximately
21% oxygen, a gas which is produced mostly by plants needed in respiration. Earth’s
atmosphere also traps heat and protects the Earth from the damaging rays of the Sun.
The moon, the only satellite of Earth also plays important role for life. The
moon’s gravitational pull causes tides. In some instances, the moon also plays a role
in the distribution of life forms, like in birds for migration and navigation. It also has an
effect on the planet’s polar shifts.

Activity 2

Fill me In.

Directions. Encircle the word within the parenthesis ( ) that best completes each
statement. (20 points)

Some characteristics of (Earth, Venus) that allow it to sustain life is the oxygen
(rich, poor) atmosphere and (polar ice cap, liquid water, water vapor) that is
located on the surface of the earth. Both oxygen and water are the (keys, not
necessary) to life as we know it. Oxygen is used by (animals, plants) during aerobic
(respiration, fermentation). Oxygen is (essential, not needed) for animals to adhere
to their basic needs. Surface (water, ocean) is also a basic need for all living things.
Water keeps all living things (hydrated, dry) as well as help control the (climate,
weather) which affect each organism’s survival.
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Earth is surrounded by a (thin, thick) atmosphere that contains nitrogen,

oxygen, and other (trace, tiny) gases. This atmosphere provides the (air, fumes) that
we breathe. It also helps to (regulate, estimate) the temperature so that we do not
experience extreme (hot or cold, good or bad). Earth’s atmosphere also contains a
layer of (ozone, helium) a molecule consisting of three oxygen (atoms, molecules)
which provides protection from harmful solar (radiation, eclipse). Finally, three-
quarters of Earth's surface is covered by (water, oxygen) a necessary ingredient for
life. Earth is the only (planet, heavenly body) in the solar system that contains liquid
water.

B. Directions: Put a check ( ⁄ ) mark for statements that describes the uniqueness of
Earth. Write your answers in sheet of paper.

__________1. Presence of oxygen in the atmosphere has no effect on the Earth’s

life forms.
__________2. There is a continuous flow of energy within the Earth’s system.
__________3. Earth’s water is in the form of ice and is readily available for
organisms.
__________4. The energy of the sun drives all life processes on Earth.
__________5. Earth is positioned in the Goldilocks zone.

What I Can Do

Performance Task:

Suppose you are an astronaut and you have a trip into space riding through a
spaceship, and you are instructed to create a list of items you would need to bring with
you to survive on this extended trip.
What supplies would be necessary for life to continue on this trip? Think beyond
what humans would need, and consider the needs of other forms of life that humans
might bring along.

Enrichment Activity:

Watch a video entitled “Earth as a Planet of Life” through this YouTube link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCDVN7DCzYE`
In a short paragraph, share thoughts about the formation of the earth and
existence of life on earth.
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Subsystems of the Earth

The planet Earth is home to varied life forms which interact continuously with
the non-living components. There are four subsystems that composed the earth.
These include the atmosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere. Each of these
systems, allow earth to keep itself in balance. A change in one system will affect other
system.

Figure 7. Planet Earth Figure 8. Mountain

In this lesson, you will explain that the earth consists of four (4) subsystems,
across whose boundaries, matter and energy flow.
Earth is one of the inner planets in the solar system. According to radiometric
dating record, it is said to be 4.56 billion years old. It is the only planet in the solar
system to harbor life. Earth is a closed system. This means that if it gets what it wants,
it does not return it back. It gets energy from the Sun but returns only some back to
space. Biogeochemical cycles drive the Earth’s subsystems. It is through these cycles
that earth materials are recycled and replenish. The following are the definitions of the
subsystems.

1. Atmosphere – A set of layers of gases that blankets the planet held by the
planet’s gravity. It is consisted of 78% nitrogen, 20.95% oxygen, 0.93% argon
and 0.04% water vapor including all other gases. Different layers of the
atmosphere include the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere and
thermosphere.

2. Hydrosphere - It is the liquid component of the Earth including oceans, glacial

waters, and freshwater bodies that covers 70% of the earth’s surface; 98% of
the water on Earth is saltwater.

3. Geosphere - It is the solid sphere of the earth. This is where geologic

processes such as volcanism and orogenesis (mountain building) take place.
The lithosphere is a part of the geosphere that is composed of the solid,
outermost part of the planet.

4. Biosphere - This is the living sphere of the earth. It is the totality of all the
ecosystems in the whole planet. It compels us to interact with other living
organisms with the influence of the abiotic factors in the system.
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Summary
Earth is the only planet in the solar system where life of plants, animals,
and even microorganisms is possible. These salient features of Earth include distance
from the sun, right atmospheric conditions, availability of liquid water and even water
vapor and solid ice, influence of the moon, continuous flow of energy and nutrients in
the system, strong magnetic field and a fitting greenhouse effect to warm the planet.

There are four main subsystems of the Earth. The atmosphere is an envelope
of gases protecting the surface of the planet from ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
The hydrosphere comprised all the bodies of water such as ocean, sea, rivers, lakes
and glaciers. The geosphere is the solid portion of earth which is consist also of the
lithosphere where the crust, mantle and core are found. The biosphere is consisting
of all life forms. These systems interact and are interconnected in sustaining life in
varied forms.

B. Concept Mapping
Directions: Complete the concept map by filling in the necessary information
pertaining on the subsystems of the Earth. Analyze the flow of concepts through the
diagram.

all To form

there are which on or near

r near

namely

consist of

consist of
consist of Is a

in of
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Week

2 Classification of Rocks

What is It

How can we classify rocks? Would it be by color, hardness, texture,

density or other physical properties? Is it by chemical composition? You
may have a little knowledge that rocks can be Igneous, Sedimentary or
Metamorphic. But how did geologists come into these three classifications?
What do you think was their basis for classification?

Rock is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals sometime

with nonmineral solid particles

Classification of Rocks
Igneous rocks or magmatic rocks are formed through the cooling and
solidification of magma or lava. Igneous rock can be classified into:
Intrusive igneous rocks. This type of igneous
rock is formed from solidification of magma below
the surface They have large crystals of minerals that
formed overtime through slow process of
crystallization in a magma. Granite, diorite, gabbro,
pegmatite, and peridotite are example of this type of
rock.
Granite rock
Extrusive igneous rocks. This type of igneous rock
is formed through faster rate of solidification of lava on
the surface of Earth. They can become glassy in
appearance due to less crystallization or vesicular like
Scoria, due to the air that was trapped inside when they
solidified and formed on the surface of the earth. Other
examples of this type of rock are andesite, basalt,
dacite, obsidian, pumice, rhyolite and tuff.
Scoria

Sedimentary rock is formed by the deposition and cementation of mineral or

organic particles on the floor of oceans and other bodies of water at the Earth
surface. Sedimentary rocks can be classified into clastic, chemical and organic.
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Clastic sedimentary rock. It is formed from the

mechanical weathering debris of rocks. Examples
are breccia, conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone, and
shale.
Chemical sedimentary rock. It is formed when
dissolved materials precipitate from solution.
Examples of these are rock salt, iron ore, chert, flint,
some dolomites.
Sandstone Organic sedimentary rock. Formed from the
build-up of plant or animal debris.
Metamorphic rock forms from existing rock types called “parent rock” in the
process called metamorphism, which means change in form. The original rock
which can be an igneous, sedimentary or another metamorphic rock is subjected
to heat and pressure, causing a profound chemical or physical change.
Metamorphic rocks can be further classified into:

Foliated metamorphic rocks. Formed

through pressure due to compression of rocks
that create bands called foliation. Examples are
gneiss, phyllite, schist, and slate.
Nonfoliated metamorphic rocks. It has
no foliation or bands. Examples of this type are
hornfels, marble, quartzite, and novaculite.

Marble

Activity 1

Fill me In

What have I Learned

1. _______________ is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals
and sometime with nonmineral solid particles.
2. Rocks can be classified based on _______________.
3. _______________are formed through solidification or crystallization of
molten materials such as magma and lava.
4. _______________ are formed through compaction and cementation of
sediments and other materials usually under the ocean or other bodies
of water.
5. _______________ are formed either by heat such those near a magma chamber or
by pressure such those in the area with compression of rock layers.
6. Granite is an example of _______________ with visible large crystals because
it solidified underneath the Earth surface.
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7. Sandstone is an example of _______________ rock from compaction

and cementation of sand under the ocean.
8. Marble is an example of _______________that has been formed due to heat and
appears physically different from its parent-rock called _______________.
9. Igneous rock can be classified into ______________ and ____________________.
10. __________________ metamorphic rock contains bands and ________________
metamorphic rocks do not have bands.
11. Sedimentary rocks can be grouped according to _______________,
___________________ and ____________________.
12. ___________________ formed from the mechanical weathering debris of rocks.
13. Chemical sedimentary rocks are formed when
______________________________.
14. ___________________ are formed from the debris of plants and animals.
15. ____________________ are metamorphic rocks that has no foliation.

Minerals Important to
Society

What is It
Minerals are important to society. In small scale, let’s think of some ways that
will help you to realize that you are actually using them every day.
In households, we use toothpaste that contains fluoride from fluorite mineral.
Face powder contains talc – the softest mineral. In the kitchen, salts are commonly
used to enhance the flavor of our food. Kitchen utensils like casserole are made of
aluminum – a light and durable metal, and stainless wares that contains mostly of
iron, chromium and carbon. Moreover, minerals such as silicon, silver and gold
are used as components of gadgets like cellphones and computers. Copper is the
mostly used electrical wiring because it is less expensive.
In construction, skyscrapers that tower
up to 50 stories high, use durable minerals like
iron steel – a combination of iron and carbon
and concrete that contains limestone, lime
and chalk that make them strong and stand
still against strong wind and earthquake. They
also use glass made mainly of quartz and
silica. Floors are made up of granite and
marbles. Aluminum are used in window and
door panels.
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In taking care of our dental health,

Dentists use many tools appropriate for a
purpose. Titanium is a strong but very light
metal that is used for teeth transplant. There
are also lots of other minerals that they use for
cleaning and surgery. Examples are gypsum in
plaster cast, and alloys like stainless steel that
primarily composed of iron, chromium and
carbon in their tools.

Power plants use minerals to provide

us electricity and energy.
In nuclear power plant, radioactive
minerals like Uranium is used as source of
heat energy to run a nuclear reactor.
Likewise, coal power plants also use mineral
coal to generate electricity. On the hand
batteries for electric cars need minerals like
nickel, copper, and lithium.

In agriculture, NPK Fertilizers

contain vital minerals for the plant to grow
healthy. These minerals include Nitrogen,
phosphorous and potassium.
Moreover, minerals like lime are
also used to lower the acidity of the soil.

For our health, the pharmaceutical

industry manufactures supplements that
contain many essential minerals that keep
us strong and healthy like Calcium,
Magnesium and Zinc.

On the other hand, minerals can also cause harm among humans. Talc might
contain asbestos that can cause certain cancer which is why some cosmetic
companies discontinue using it. Nuclear power plant that uses radioactive minerals
produces radioactive waste. Burning of coals releases high amount of carbon dioxide
and other gases that contributes to the global warming. Over using of synthetic
fertilizer causes eutrophication of bodies of water.
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Activity 2

Directions: Find 10 minerals hidden in the puzzle that are used in the following
objects shown in the pictures. Write your answer on your answer sheet.
Picture 1.

Picture 2.
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Composition and Structure of

Minerals

Question?
Are the minerals present in dietary supplements and the minerals we are talking
about here the same?

No. From geologic perspective, a mineral must be naturally occurring

crystalline solid. Minerals found in dietary supplements are human-made inorganic
compounds that contain elements needed to sustain life. These dietary minerals
typically contain elements that are metals- calcium, potassium, phosphorus
magnesium, and iron. Although these two types of “minerals” are different, they are
related. The sources of the elements used to make dietary supplements are in fact the
naturally occurring minerals on Earth’s crust. It should also be noted that vitamins are
organic compounds produced by living organisms, not inorganic compounds, like
minerals.

What Is It

Learning Concept

Minerals are the building blocks of rocks. Geologists define minerals as any
present inorganic solids that possess an orderly crystalline structure and a well-
defined chemical composition. A mineral must exhibit the following characteristics:

orderly
crystalline
naturally structure
occurring inorganic
substance substance
(was never
alive)

a solid chemical
composition
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Minerals exhibit the following characteristics:

1. Naturally occurring: Minerals form through natural processes, including volcanic

eruptions, precipitation of a solid out of a liquid, and weathering of pre-existing
minerals. Synthetic diamonds and rubies, and other substances with a specific
chemical composition and structure produced by chemists, engineers, and
manufacturers are not considered true minerals.
2. Solid: A true mineral must be solid at temperatures encountered at the earth’s
surface. Liquids and gases are not considered minerals, they do not have a
characteristic crystal structure. Ice for example ceases to exist as a mineral upon
melting into liquid water.
3. Inorganic processes: Any material produced through organic activity – such as
leaves, bones, peat, shell, or soft animal tissue – is not considered a mineral. Most
fossils, although they were once living, have generally had their living tissues
completely replaced by inorganic processes after burial; thus, they are considered to
be composed of minerals as well.
4. Chemical composition: Most minerals exist as chemical compounds composed of
two or more elements. The chemical formula of salt, or halite, is NaCl. A few minerals,
consist of only one type of atom such as graphite (carbon, in this case), therefore, the
chemical formula for graphite is written simply as C. All minerals are defined by their
chemical composition. Quartz, for example, has the chemical formula SiO2 .The
gemstone amethyst is a form of quartz that is colored pale to deep purple by the
presence of the impurity Iron (Fe).

Figure 1: An example of rose quartz Figure 2: Quartz (amethyst)

5. Orderly crystalline structure: Minerals are crystalline substance which means

the chemical composition of a mineral is reflected internally in a regular, repeating
arrangement of atoms, called the crystal structure of the mineral. The crystal
structure of halite is shown in Figure 2a and Figure 2b is cubic shape. The cubic
shape of salt crystals very clearly reflects the right-angle bonds between the Sodium
(Na) and Chlorine (Cl) atoms in its atomic structure.

Figure 2a: structure of sodium Figure 2b: The cubic shape of salt
chloride crystal crystals results from the regular
the crystal

Through organic and inorganic processes, minerals are formed. A few

naturally occurring substances called mineraloids have characteristic chemical
compositions but are amorphous (having no definite shape). Opal is an example.
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Activity 3
Bubble Chart
Instruction: Fill in the circles in the bubble chart with the characteristics of minerals
that you have just learned.

Minerals

Properties of Minerals

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MINERALS

Minerals differ from each other in chemical composition and architecture, and
these factors produce distinctive physical properties that enable minerals to be
identified

Minerals are solids formed primarily by inorganic processes. Each mineral has
an orderly arrangement of atoms (crystalline structure) and a particular chemical
composition, which provides it a singular set of physical properties. Minerals can be
identified by their color, luster, streak, cleavage, hardness, and even by their chemical
composition. Using these properties is one way a Geologist defines and identifies what
kind of mineral a specimen is.
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1. Crystal form – The external expression of a mineral that reflects the orderly internal
arrangement of atoms. A crystal may be a solid, homogeneous, displaying an orderly
array of atoms and should be in any size. The shape of a mineral’s crystal is
determined by the arrangement of atoms within it. Some crystals have smooth, planar
and regular geometric shapes. These are what most people think of as crystals. These
crystals rarely occur in nature, however, to develop those beautifully-shaped crystals,
the mineral must have unlimited space for growing.
When minerals start to form solid structure, microscopic crystals form and grow.
This results from the cooling of molten material or through precipitation from a solution.
These tiny crystals will continue to grow until they run out of space. Their shape will
simply reflect the form of the void which they grew. A nicely shaped crystal such as a
geode will be formed if the growing crystal runs out of material before it runs out of
space. Examples of which will include pyrite and quartz.

A. Pyrite B. Quartz (variety: amethyst) C. Quartz (variety: white)

2. Luster – This property describes the appearance of a mineral when light is reflected
from its surface. Is it shiny or dull: does it appear as like a metal or like glass?
Generally, the first thing you notice when identifying an unknown sample is the
mineral’s luster. Minerals that have the appearance of metals, regardless of color, are
said to have a metallic luster, like pyrite crystals. Minerals with a
nonmetallic luster is described by various adjectives. They may be described as
vitreous (glassy -like crystals), pearly, silky, resinous, and earthy (dull). Some minerals
appear somewhat metallic in luster and are said to be sub-metallic.

Minerals with a metallic luster look like metals such as steel or Copper. They
possess characteristics of being shiny and opaque, even when watching through a
skinny edge. Many metallic minerals become dull or earthy when they are exposed to
the elements for a long time (like Silver, they tarnish). To determine whether or not a
mineral exhibits a metallic luster, you may want to check out a recently broken part of
the mineral and exposed it to light. Minerals with an earthy luster exhibits earth or dirt
like features. Like metallic minerals, these are completely opaque, but dull. One
example is rust on Iron or tarnish that forms on metals. Vitreous luster is like that of
a shiny glass which may vary from translucent to transparent. Remember that glass
can be almost any color, including black, so don't be fooled by the color. Also, a dark
piece of glass may appear to be opaque if its thick enough. If you hold a thin edge up
to the light you should be able to see light bleeding through. Minerals with a waxy
luster look like paraffin, typically translucent but dull. Moreover, minerals with pearly
luster have an appearance almost like a pearl or that of an abalone shell – translucent
and glossy. When exposed to sunlight, a rainbow effect is displayed on the surface
(similar to an oil slick).
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A. Pyrite B. This rock contain gold & copper

3. Color – This is the most obvious feature of a mineral but often an unreliable
diagnostic property. Many minerals are found in several colors. This is may be
attributed to the impurities added to the minerals. Some may have extra chemicals in
them that give them an unexpected color. One good example is quartz. Due to
impurities, quartz may have variety of colors including pink, purple (amethyst), milky
white, and even black.

Quartz (white & amethyst)

4. Streak – This color of the mineral in its powdered form, which may or may not be
the same color as the outward color of the mineral. Streak is useful for identifying
minerals with metallic or earthy luster. Streak is obtained by scratching the mineral on
an unpolished piece of white porcelain called a streak plate. When the mineral is
rubbed across the plate, it produces a powder of that mineral, the reason that the
streak plate is harder than most minerals. When the excess powder is blown away,
what remains is the true color of the mineral. Streaking reveals the internal color of the
mineral thus it is more reliable than color in identifying minerals.
5. Hardness – This refers to a measure of the resistance of a mineral to abrasion or
scratching. Geologists use a standard hardness scale, called the Mohs scale. It
consists of 10 minerals arranged in order from 10 (hardest) to 1 (softest).

Table: Mohs scale of mineral hardness

Relative Scale Mineral Hardness of Some Common Objects
Hardest 10 Diamond
9 Corundum
8 Topaz 8.5 Masonry Drill bit
7 Quartz
6 Potassium
Feldspar 5.5 Glass, Pocketknife
5 Apatite
4 Fluorite
3 Calcite 3.5 Copper Penny
2 Gypsum 2.5 Fingernail
Softest 1 Talc
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6. Cleavage – A mineral that exhibits cleavage consistently breaks, or cleaves,

along parallel flat surfaces called cleavage planes. Some examples are exhibited by
the following: halite, calcite, and fluorite as shown in the table.

Figure 2.15 Common

cleavage directions
exhibited by minerals.
(Photos courtesy of E. J.
Tarbuck)

7. Fracture – Minerals that don't exhibit cleavage when broken have exhibits fracture
like quartz. Minerals that break into smooth curved surfaces like those seen in broken
glass have a conchoidal fracture. Others break into splinters or fibers, like asbestos,
but most minerals fracture irregularly. Fractures are generally rough or irregular,
instead of flat, and thus appear duller than cleavage surfaces. Some minerals fracture
in a way that helps spot them. There are other kinds of fracture that exist in nature
such as fibrous, splintery, or irregular.

8. Specific gravity –The specific gravity of a mineral is the weight of that mineral
divided by the weight of an equal volume of water. The specific gravity of water equals
1.0, by definition. Most silicate, or rock-forming, minerals have specific gravities of two
.6 to 3.4; the ore minerals are usually heavier, with specific gravities of 5 to eight. If
you compare similar-sized samples of two different minerals, the one with the higher
specific gravity will feel the heaviest; it has a greater heft. For most minerals, relative
density isn't a very noteworthy feature, except for some, high relative density is
distinctive (examples are barite and galena). The average specific gravity for mineral
is around 2.7.

9. Other properties
a. Taste – The salty taste if halite makes it easy to identify
b. Smell – Sulfur smells like rotten-egg.
c. Elasticity –A thin sheet of mica will bend and elastically snapback
d. Malleability- Gold for example is widely use because of its ability to be
hammered and turn into sheets.
e. Feel – Minerals like talc and graphite are easily identified due to the distinct
feeling they give to the observer; talc feels soapy while graphite feels greasy
f. Magnetism – Some minerals with high Iron content like hematite can easily be
identified using a magnetite.
 18

g. Double refraction – Some mineral like the transparent calcite exhibits double
refraction when light passes through them. When a printed material is placed
under it, the text will appear double.
h. Reaction to hydrochloric acid – Like calcite and other carbonates, some
minerals react rapidly to weak acids. When exposed to acids, these minerals
will effervesce (fizz) indicating the release of Carbon dioxide (CO2) gas.

MINERAL CLASSES

Approximately 4000 minerals have been named and new ones are identified
each year, but only a few dozen are common. Eight elements make up the bulk of
these minerals, and represent more than 98 percent (by weight) of continental crust.
The eight elements that compose most rock forming minerals, are: Oxygen (O),
Silicon (Si), Aluminum (Al), Iron (Fe), Calcium (Ca), Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), and
Magnesium (Mg). Oxygen (46.6% by weight) and Silicon (27.7% by weight) are the
most abundant elements in the crust of the earth.
All silicate minerals have the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron as their fundamental
building block. In some silicate minerals the tetrahedra are joined in chains; in others,
the tetrahedra are arranged into sheets, or three-dimensional networks.
The term ore is employed to denote useful metallic minerals, like hematite
(mined for iron) and galena (mined for lead) which will be mined for a profit also as
some nonmetallic minerals, like fluor¬ite and sulfur, that contain useful substances.
There are different kinds of minerals. They are classified according to their
properties, chemical composition or uses. Table 2.1 lists the common groups of
minerals with corresponding examples and uses.

Activity 4
What I Have Learned

Self-Test
True-False:

_______ 1. All minerals exhibit cleavage.

_______ 2. Rocks are aggregates of one or more minerals.
_______ 3. Most minerals are economically important.
_______ 4. Most minerals have a higher specific gravity than water.
_______ 5. The micas exhibit sheet-type cleavage.
_______ 6. A mineral can be composed entirely of one element.
_______ 7. Nearly 4,000 minerals have been named
_______ 8. The hardest naturally occurring mineral is corundum.
_______ 9. Mohs scale is used to describe mineral property of diamond.
_______ 10. Solid ice is a mineral.