MINERALS

Rocks
What is a rock?
A rock is a naturally formed
aggregate composed of one
or more minerals

rock, an aggregate of more than one minerals

What is a Mineral?
A mineral is a naturally formed inorganic crystalline solid
with a definite chemical composition and identifying
physical properties
naturally formed
formed by geologic processes in nature, not by humans

inorganic
was never alive

crystalline solid
a solid composed of atoms arranged in a repeating orderly
framework

definite chemical composition

a homogeneous chemical compound with a chemical formula

distinctive, identifying physical properties

The stuff that makes up all

matter
The make-up of solid matter on Earth:
Atoms Elements Compounds Minerals Rocks
(smallest)

Elements:
fundamental building blocks
smallest matter that cant be broken down

(largest)

Physical Properties of Minerals

1. Crystal form
Is a set of crystalline faces having a definite
geometric relationship to one another
Garnet

Quartz

Physical Properties of Minerals

2. Color
Is due to visible wavelengths of light not absorbed
Is the most obvious but least reliable property to use
for identification
Milky quartz
Citrine

Colors of ruby and sapphire,

varieties of corundum (Al2O3)

Amethyst

Smoky quartz

Colors of Varieties of Quartz

Physical Properties of Minerals

3. Streak
The color of a mineral in powder form

Figure 1.8

Physical Properties of Minerals

4. Luster
Is the intensity of light reflected from a surface

Pyrite

Potassium feldspar
Galena
Have a metallic luster

Has a nonmetallic luster

Physical Properties of Minerals

5. Cleavage
Is breakage along planes of weakness
Is due to weak bonding between those planes

Various Types of Cleavage

Pyramidal, Cubic, and Rhombohedral Cleavage Displayed

by Fluorite, Halite, and Calcite

Fluorite

Halite
Figure 1.11

Calcite

Distinguishing between Cleavage Planes and Crystal Faces

Physical Properties of Minerals

6. Fracture
Is breakage in random directions
Is due to the absence of weak bonding between planes
Conchoidal fracture yields scalloped edges like in broken glass

Physical Properties of Minerals

7. Hardness
Is the resistance to scratching
Is based on the Mohs Scale
1 talc
2 gypsum
3 calcite
4 fluorite
5 apatite
6 potassium feldspar (orthoclase)
7 quartz
8 topaz
9 corundum
10 diamond

Mohs
Hardness
Scale

Physical Properties of Minerals

8. Tenacity
resistance to breaking or bending
9. Specific gravity: an expression of heaviness
density of a substance
SG = ----------------------------------density of water

10. Taste
Halite (rock salt) tastes salty
11. Magnetism
magnetite attracts a magnet

X g/cm3
= -------------1 g/cm3

= X

Physical Properties of Minerals

12. Reaction with acid
minerals containing a CO3 ion fizz (release CO2) when
in contact with hydrochloric acid
2HCl + CaCO3 Ca2+ + 2Cl- + H2O + CO2
13. Striations
Are saw-tooth lines present on crystal planes due to
lamellar twinning (repetition) of crystals on that plane
Striations are characteristic of plagioclase feldspar,
calcite, dolomite, galena, and sphalerite

Elemental Abundances in Continental Crust

Mineral Classes
Silicate Minerals
Non-silicate Minerals

Silicate Minerals
Silicate minerals (silicates) are composed of
silica tetrahedra (SiO4 4-)
All the common rock-forming minerals are
silicate minerals
For silica tetrahedra to be stable, they must
either:
be balanced by positive ions,
share oxygens with adjacent silica tetrahedra,
or
substitute one or more Al 3+ for Si 4+

Silicate Minerals

Compositions of the silicates

Mafic composition
Is rich in magnesium, iron, and/or
calcium
Intermediate composition
Is compositionally between mafic and
felsic
Felsic composition
Is rich in feldspar and/or silica (quartz)

The Silica Tetrahedron

(composed of 4 oxygen atoms surrounding 1 silicon atom)

Two
Illustrations
of the
SiO4
Tetrahedron

Single Island Silicates

(ex.: olivine)

Single Chain Silicates

(ex.: augite pyroxene)

Single Chain Silicates: The Pyroxenes

Double Chain Silicates: The Amphiboles

(e.g., hornblende)

Sheet Silicates: The Micas

(biotite, muscovite, and the clays)

Framework Silicates:

(potassium feldspar, sodium and calcium plagioclase feldspar, quartz)

The Common Rock-Forming Silicate Minerals

NON-SILICATE MINERAL CLASSES

Native Elements: consist of only one element.
Au (gold), Ag (silver), Cu (copper), S (sulfur), C
(graphite, diamond)

Oxides: contain O 2 Fe2O3 (hematite), Fe3O4 (magnetite), Al2O3 (corundum)

Carbonates: contain CO3 2 CaCO3 (calcite), CaMg(CO3)2 (dolomite)

NON-SILICATE MINERAL CLASSES

Sulfides: contain S 2 FeS2 (pyrite), PbS (galena), CuFeS2
(chalcopyrite)

Sulfates: contain SO4 2 CaSO4.2H2O (gypsum), BaSO4 (barite)

Halides: contain F 1-, Cl 1-, Br 1-, or I 1 NaCl (halite), KCl (sylvite), CaF2 (fluorite)

Non-silicate Mineral Groups

Native Copper

How do minerals form?

By crystallization from magma (molten rock material)
a saturation response

By crystallization (precipitation) from aqueous fluids

a saturation response

By chemical reaction with

magmatic fluids
hydrothermal fluids
water during weathering

By solid state transformations (metamorphism)

changes crystal form
moves ions to new locations
promotes growth along the edges of mineral grains (crystals) at
the expense of their neighboring mineral grains

Crystallization of Minerals in Cavities:

Geodes

The Effect of Crowding on Crystal Growth

Polymorphs
Polymorphs are minerals that have the same chemical
composition but a different crystal form
Graphite and diamond polymorphs of carbon
Graphite forms at low temperature and pressure
Diamond forms at high temperature and pressure

Quartz, stishovite, and coesite are polymorphs of SiO 2

Quartz forms at low to medium temperature and pressure
stishovite and coesite form at high pressure, such as that
associated with meteor impacts

Andelusite, kyanite, and sillimanite are polymorphs of

Al2SiO5

Andelusite is the low temperature low pressure polymorph

Kyanite is the low temperature high pressure polymorph
Sillimanite is the high temperature high pressure polymorph

Pseudomorphs
Pseudomorphs are minerals that have
the same crystal form but a different
chemical composition
Limonite forms cubic pseudomorphs
after pyrite
Quartz forms pseudomorphs after
fluorite

MINERAL GROUPS
Non-ferromagnesian
Silicates (K, Na, Ca,
Al)

Ferromagnesian
Silicates (Fe, Mg)
Oxides
Carbonates
Sulfides/sulfates
Native elements