MINERAL: THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF ROCKS Mineral is a

naturally occurring homogeneous solid; formed as a result of inorganic nature; with internal arrangement of atoms and; usually have definite chemical composition and crystalline structure.

*naturally occurring - formed under favorable conditions of geological processes *homogeneous solid - uniform composition, same kind *inorganic nature - never been a part of living organism *internal arrangement of atoms - atoms and molecules arranged in definite pattern (unique) *chemical composition - can be made of elements or compounds *crystalline structure atoms and molecules combine to form definite pattern

CLASSIFICATIONS OF MINERALS 1. NATIVE ELEMENTS

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minerals are those elements that occur in nature in uncombined form with a distinct mineral structure Examples: gold, copper (diamond and graphite)

2. SILICATES
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Minerals consisting of metals, silicon and oxygen

o Most abundant and usually present in rocks Examples: Olivine (Mg, Fe, Si, O) and Pyroxene (Al, Si, O, F, Mg, Ca, Na) 3. CARBONATES o Minerals consisting of metals, carbon and Oxygen Examples: Calcite (Ca, (Co3)), and Dolomite (Ca, (Co3), Mg) 4. OXIDES

o Minerals consisting of metals and oxygen Example: Hematite (Fe, O) 5. SULFIDES o Minerals consisting of sulfur and oxygen Examples: Pyrite (Fe, S2) and Galena (Pb, S) 6. SULFATES o Minerals consisting of metals, sulfur and oxygen Example: Gypsum (Ca, (So4), H2O) 7. HALIDES o Minerals consisting of metals and Halogen Example: Rock salt (NaCl)

PROPERTIES TO IDENTIFY THE MINERALS 1. COLOR o Not a great identifying property o Fresh surface is required since reaction with air, soil and water may change the color of the outermost part of the mineral
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Exceptions are Olivine and Sulfur which are always olive green and yellow respectively

2. STREAK o Powdered form of mineral o Minerals are scraped across the surface of unglazed porcelain (streak plate) o True color of the mineral is the color of its powder 3. HARDNESS o Resistance to being scratch o Mohs Scale (Friedrich Mohs) - Scratch a number of items against a mineral and take your mineral against a number of items to get number of 1 to 10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Talc Gypsum Calcite Flourite Apatite Orthoclase Quartz Topaz Corundum Diamond

o Other comparison: fingernails 2.5; penny - 3.5; butter knife 5.5; glass 6 4. LUSTER o way light reflects on the surface of the mineral Types: Metallic looks like polished metal (shiny like a metal, usually black or dark colored streak) Ex. Pyrite has metallic luster and Galena Non-metallic does not look like polished metal

- can be glassy, dull, earthy, silky, greasy, pearly and shiny Example: Quartz and Feldspar 5. CLEAVAGE AND FRACTURE o How a mineral breaks
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Cleavage brakes along flat surface while fracture breaks uneven surface

o In cleavage, the number of lines that are created when mineral is split will be the number cleavage lines 6. REACTION WITH ACID
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Especially occur with carbonates which forms bubbles because of carbon dioxides presence

7. FLAME TEST o Minerals gave specific color of the flame when burned o Supplied by the metals in the mineral to determine the metals unknown
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Example: The mineral Borax, which produces green flame.

8. SPECIFIC GRAVITY o Equals the value of density of a mineral 9. SPECIAL PROPERTIES o Magnetism, electrical property, optical property, radioactivity, fluorescence, phosphorescence, odor USES OF MINERALS Minerals have many uses that pave way to innovations. Especially in our course as civil engineers, minerals are one of the main resources we have to deal with at fieldwork. Minerals are use to its fullest when combined with other minerals. You might think first that the examples below are not minerals at all, but elements or rocks with their uses. What comprise them are minerals. 1. Construction materials for building industries

Glass, ceramics, enamels, and fiberglass (Borax, Feldspar, Quatz) Building blocks of construction (Mineral Dolomite, Limestone this rock is made up of minerals calcite and aragonite) Concrete building materials (Cement composed of lime, clay and very fine minerals) Cement, building plaster (Gypsum) Cement Pipes and sheets, roofing and flooring products (Asbestos) Steel production (Tungsten, Chromite, Columbium (Niobium) and Manganese from minerals braunite, pyrolusite, and psilomelane)

2. Transportation

Automobiles and airplanes metal sheets (Aluminum from mineral bauxite) Auto parts (Iron Ore, Mineral Niccolite from Nickel)

3. Electrical and Magnetism

Magnets (Iron Ore Electric cables, wires, switches Chrysocolla(Copper) Electronic insulators (Mica) Use in generation of electricity (Uranium) . uraninite, pitchblende, brannerite, coffinite

4. Jewelries and accessories Quartz, Gold,

5. Foods in the human and animal diet, primarily as food seasoning and as a food preservation (Halite) bottling and canning (Aluminum)

6. Soaps and cosmetics Lubricants (MIca) Boron