PERTEMUAN KE II:

SIFAT FISIK MINERAL

MODUL 2

IDENTIFIKASI MINERAL

Warna
Bentuk Kristal
Cerat
Kilap
Kekerasan
Belahan dan Pecahan
Sifat lain

Warna

Streak (Cerat)

Black - Graphite
Black - Pryite
Black - Magnetite
Black - Chalcopyrite
Gray - Galena
Limonite - Yellowbrown
Hematite - Red-brown

LUSTER (KILAP):
refleksi mineral dalam menangkap sinar:
ada dua yaitu metalik dan non-metalik

Non metalik: kilap kaca, tanah (earthy) dan tidak memantulkan sinar (du

Cleavage (Belahan)

Mengikuti
bentuk
kristal

Fracture (Pecahan)

Yaitu bentuk permukaan

antar atom penyusun
mineral saat mineral
pecah atau hancur
Pecahan:

beraturan (regular)
tidak beraturan
(irregular)

Permukaan pecahan:

Kasar (splinterry)
Halus (smooth)
berbentuk kurva
(conchoidal): seperti
gelas saat pecah.

Kekerasan

Crystal Shape
(Bentuk Kristal)

Kubik
Prismatik
Tabular
(berlembar)
Menjarum
Hexagonal
Piritohedron

TABLE OF CONTENTS
This is the second part of Mineral
Identification Program
Crystals.4
Isometric...6
Hexagonal.10
Tetragonal.14
Orthorhombic...18
Monoclinic...23
Triclinic26
Resources.29

Mineral Identification Basics

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES CRYSTALS

A CRYSTAL is the outward form of the

internal structure of the mineral.
The 6 basic crystal systems are:
ISOMETRIC
TETRAGONAL

Drusy Quartz on Barite

MONOCLINIC

HEXAGONAL

ORTHORHOMBIC
TRICLINIC

Mineral Identification Basics

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES CRYSTALS

CRYSTAL SYSTEMS are divided into 6 main groups.

The first group is the ISOMETRIC.

This literally means equal
measure and refers to the equal
size of the crystal axes.

ISOMETRIC - Fluorite Crystals

Mineral Identification Basics

ISOMETRIC CRYSTALS

a3

ISOMETRIC
a2

In this crystal system there are 3 axes.

Each has the same length (as indicated by
the same letter a).
They all meet at mutual 90o angles in the
center of the crystal.

a1
ISOMETRIC
Basic Cube

Crystals in this system are typically

blocky or ball-like.

Mineral Identification Basics

ISOMETRIC CRYSTALS

Within this ISOMETRIC crystal model is

the OCTAHEDRAL crystal form (yellow)
and the TETRAHEDRAL crystal form
(shown by the black lines).

ISOMETRIC Crystal Model

Mineral Identification Basics

ISOMETRIC CRYSTALS

a3
a3

a2

a1
a2

a1

ISOMETRIC - Basic Cube

Fluorite cube with

crystal axes.

Mineral Identification Basics

ISOMETRIC BASIC CRYSTAL SHAPES

Spinel
Octahedron

Garnet
Trapezohedron

Fluorite
Cube

Garnet - Dodecahedron

Pyrite
Cube with
Pyritohedron
Striations

Mineral Identification Basics

HEXAGONAL CRYSTALS

a3
a2

a1

HEXAGONAL - Three horizontal

axes meeting at angles of 120o and one
perpendicular axis.

HEXAGONAL Crystal
Axes

Mineral Identification Basics

HEXAGONAL CRYSTALS

HEXAGONAL
This model represents a hexagonal PRISM (the
outside hexagon - six sided shape). The top and
bottom faces are called PINACOIDS and are
perpendicular to the vertical c axis.
Within this model is the SCALENOHEDRAL
form. Each face is a scalenohedron. Calcite
often crystallizes with this form.

HEXAGONAL Crystal
Model

Mineral Identification Basics

HEXAGONAL CRYSTALS

These hexagonal
CALCITE crystals
nicely show the six
sided prisms as well as
the basal pinacoid.

Mineral Identification Basics

Prism
Faces

HEXAGONAL CRYSTALS
Pyramid
Faces

Pyramid
Face
Prism
Faces

Dolomite
Rhodochrosite
RHOMBOHEDRON

Vanadinite
Hanksite

SCALENOHEDRON

Quartz

Mineral Identification Basics

TETRAGONAL CRYSTALS

TETRAGONAL
Two equal, horizontal, mutually
perpendicular axes (a1, a2)

a1

a2

Vertical axis (c) is perpendicular to the

horizontal axes and is of a different length.

TETRAGONAL Crystal
Axes

a2

a1
This is an Alternative
Crystal Axes

Mineral Identification Basics

TETRAGONAL CRYSTALS

TETRAGONAL
This model shows a tetragonal
PRISM enclosing a DIPYRAMID.

TETRAGONAL Crystal
Model

Mineral Identification Basics

TETRAGONAL CRYSTALS

WULFENITE
Same crystal seen edge on.

Mineral Identification Basics

TETRAGONAL CRYSTALS

This is the same

Apophyllite crystal
looking down the
c axis.

APOPHYLLITE on Stilbite

The red square shows

the position of the
pinacoid
(perpendicular to the
c axis).

Mineral Identification Basics

ORTHORHOMBIC CRYSTALS
ORTHORHOMBIC
Three mutually perpendicular axes of different lengths.

c
b
a

ORTHORHMOBIC
Crystal Axes

b
a

An Alternative Crystal
Axes Orientation

Mineral Identification Basics

ORTHORHOMBIC CRYSTALS

ORTHORHOMBIC
This model shows the alternative axes
where the vertical c axis is not the
longest axis.

ORTHORHMOBIC
Crystal Model

The model shows the outside brick

shape of the PRISM and the inner shape is
a DIPYRAMID. The top and bottom faces
are called PINACOIDS and are
perpendicular to the c axis.

Mineral Identification Basics

ORTHORHOMBIC CRYSTALS

Topaz from Topaz Mountain,

Utah.

Mineral Identification Basics

ORTHORHOMBIC CRYSTALS

BARITE is also orthorhombic.

The view above is looking down
the c axis of the crystal.

Mineral Identification Basics

ORTHORHOMBIC CRYSTALS

Pinacoid View

Prism View
STAUROLITE

Mineral Identification Basics

ORTHORHOMBIC CRYSTALS

This is a Staurolite TWIN with

garnets attached.

Mineral Identification Basics

MONOCLINIC CRYSTALS

MONOCLINIC
b

In this crystal form the axes are of

unequal length.
Axes a and b are perpendicular.
Axes b and c are perpendicular.

MONOCLINIC Crystal
Axes

But a and c make some oblique

angle and with each other.

Mineral Identification Basics

MONOCLINIC CRYSTALS

MONOCLINIC
In this model the outside shape is the
PRISM. It looks like a distorted brick flattened out of shape.
Inside is the DIPYRAMID.

MONOCLINIC Crystal
Model

Mineral Identification Basics

MONOCLINIC CRYSTALS

Top View

Gypsum

Orthoclase

Mica

Mineral Identification Basics

TRICLINIC CRYSTALS

c
TRICLINIC
a

TRICLINIC Crystal
Axes

In this system, all of the axes are of

different lengths and none are
perpendicular to any of the others.

Mineral Identification Basics

TRICLINIC CRYSTALS

TRICLINIC
Again in this model the outside
shape is the PRISM.
Located within the prism is the
DIPYRAMID.

TRICLINIC Crystal
Model

Mineral Identification Basics

TRICLINIC CRYSTALS

Microcline, variety Amazonite

Mineral Identification
RESOURCES
For lots of useful images of minerals and more facts about minerals,
check out this web site:

http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/earthsci/imagearchive/index.htm

THE

END