Rocks And Minerals

Lithosphere
 Solid Portion of
Earths Crust
 This unit examines
 Origin of rocks
 Physical properties
of rocks
 Chemical properties
of rocks
 Rock Type
 Major factor in
determining the
landscape of an
area
 Helps
understanding the
geologic history of
an area
 Rocks And Minerals
 Rocks and minerals are a non-
renewable resource
 When energy resources are used faster
than they can be replaced
 Minerals
 Naturally occurring, solid, inorganic
substance that has a definite
chemical composition and molecular
structure.

 Classified based on their physical and

chemical properties, their chemical
composition, and their structure.
 Chemical Composition
 All Minerals are made up of elements.
 Some minerals can be identified by their
special chemical properties
 Calcite: Fizzes in acids
 Graphite: soft (carbon atoms), weak bonds
 Diamond: hard (carbon atoms), strong bonds
 Some minerals are made up of 1 element,
most are made up of compounds (two or
more elements that are chemically
bonded).
MINERALS

NATIVE ELEMENTS
These minerals
are made up of
Gold
only one element

Gold (Au)
Silver (Ag)
Platinum (Pt)
Diamond (C)
Graphite (C) Copper
Sulfur (S)
Copper (Cu)
Silver
 Mineral Criteria
 1. Crystalline solid – atoms have
specific arrangement or crystal
structure

 2. Naturally occurring – not

manufactured

 3. Have a definite chemical

composition – may be a single element
or combination

 4. Inorganic – minerals not made by

living things (organic)
Minerals are identified by
their Physical Properties
Crystal Form – determines physical
properties

 1. Color
 2. Streak
 3. Hardness – Mohs Hardness Scale (1-10)
 4. Luster – metallic or non-metallic
 5. Cleavage
 6. Fracture
 7. Acid Test for carbonate minerals
 A mineral’s physical
properties are controlled
by its internal arrangement
of atoms
regularly repeating, orderly
pattern
 The most common
crystalline structure

 Silica-oxygen tetrahedron –
basic building block for silicate
minerals
 Minerals can have the same chemical
composition (Carbon) but different physical
properties because of their crystal structure

Diamond Graphite
 1. COLOR
 Color is not usually a definitive
property of a mineral.
 Most minerals come in a variety of
colors.
Some Colors of Quartz
 2. STREAK
 For many minerals, if you rub the
sample across a streak plate, it will
leave a colored powder. This streak
is distinctive for minerals and is used
to identify minerals.
Varieties of Hematite – all same color streak
3. HARDNESS – Mineral’s resistance to
scratching or abrasion. Minerals with
higher numbers are harder & will
scratch minerals below
 4. LUSTER
Categories: Metallic or Non-metallic

 First ask yourself: Does this look like it

could be made from a hard metal (gold or
silver)?

• Metallic – luster of metal – shines like a

hard metal

• Non-metallic: vitreous or glassy; silky;

pearly; greasy; waxy, dull; earthy
Examples of metallic luster
More Examples of Metallic Luster

Pyrite (FeS2)
Galena (PbS) PYRITE

GALENA
 Example of non-metallic
luster
 Vitreous--quartz
 Example of non-metallic
luster
 Silky--example plagioclase feldspar
5. Cleavage and 6. Fracture

 Some minerals split along flat

surfaces, in a pattern (called
cleavage planes) when struck hard--
this is called cleavage

 Other minerals break unevenly along

rough or curved surfaces--this is
called fracture
 Cleavage – due to weak bonds
in the crystal structure

Halite (NaCl)
Fluorite (CaF2)

HALITE

FLUORITE
Cleavage

MUSCOVITE
BIOTITE
Rose Quartz – Conchoidal
Fracture
 7. Acid Test for Carbonates
 Special Characteristics:
Carbonates react with HCl and other
acids by fizzing or bubbling
(releasing CO2 gas)
 MINERAL FORMATION
 CRYSTALLIZE FROM MAGMA or LAVA
solidification of liquid magma/lava to
solid with a definite internal
arrangement of atoms into a regular
repeating pattern

 PRECIPITATE FROM SOLUTION

dissolved minerals come out of
solution (water) to form solids
Crystallization from magma
 Minerals also form
due to the cooling
and solidification of
magma or in the
rearrangement of
atoms existing
minerals subjected
to high
temperatures and
pressure.
 Precipitation
 As water evaporates, the molecules
of minerals collect together and
precipitate out.
 Speed of evaporation determines size of
crystals
 Slower evaporation = larger crystals
 Minerals will form in……..

 Loose cavities
 Attached to a wall of rock
surrounding cavity
 Embedded in Rock
Chemical Composition