8.E.5C.1 Obtain and communicate information regarding the physical and chemical properties of minerals, ores, and fossil fuels to describe their importance as Earth resources.
Essential Knowledge
Earth’s resources (minerals, ores, and fossil fuels) have properties that make them important and useful. Properties that determine the usefulness of an ore or mineral may be identified using a chart, diagram, or dichotomous key. Two types of properties used to determine the usefulness and value of a resource include: Physical properties: characteristics that can be observed of measured without changing the matter’s identity Chemical properties: characteristics that describe matter based on its ability to change into new materials that have different properties. Three common Earth resources that have importance based on their properties are: Minerals: natural, solid materials found on Earth that are the building blocks of rock. > Each mineral has a certain chemical makeup and set of properties that determine their use and value such as hardness, luster, color, texture, cleavage/fracture (the way it breaks), flammability, reactivity to acids, and density. >One such valuable mineral is gypsum. It is used in the production of cement. Ores: minerals that are mined because they contain useful metals or nonmetals. One such valuable ore is bauxite. It is a primary source of aluminum. Fossil fuels: natural fuels that come from the remains of living things. Fuels give off energy when they are burned. > One such valuable fossil fuel is natural gas. It is a cleaner-burning fuel source. |