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Note: know the formulas for those listed in your lab, marked $. If you cannot memorize a
long formula, try to characterize it. Examples marked with an asterisk, *.
Secondary sedimentary occurrences are not mentioned for the silicates.
OCC: Partial melting of mantle => Peridotites, Basaltic melt, Ol first to xtalz,
Basalts:1. MOR, Rift decompression melting of mantle; 2. Subduction Zone ~ 150 km, dewatering of
subducted Ocean Lithosphere; 3. Partial melting of deep mantle at mantle – core boundary => Basaltic
Plume
USE: 90% of Forsterite is used as a slag conditioner, 10% as a refractory.
Common Appearance: Tiny olive grains, weathers rusty.
$ Garnets: Y3Al2Si3O12
OCC: Metamorphism of Mudstones
Uses: abrasives
Common Appearance: rhombic dodecahedra or cubic, H ~7+ , no consistent cleavages.
$ Zircon ZrSiO4
OCC: Common as tiny xtals in Granite, large in Alkaline Pegmatites
USE: ceramics; metamict: radiometric dating; source U, Th
Common Appearance: Tetragonal H 7.5, rarely metamict (black from radiation)
Aluminum Silicate Polymorphs
$ Sillimanite Al2SiO5 Yellow-brown needles
$ Kyanite Al2SiO5 Blue or white long Blades
$ Andalusite Al2SiO5 Dark, often cross in xsec
Cpx
$ Diopside CaMgSi2O6
OCC: In peridotite xenoliths from the Earth's mantle; contact metamorphism of
Dolomites
Use: Ceramics, Geothermometer
Common Appearance: Usually medium green, two prominent cleavages, meeting at
angles near 90 degrees, H 5-6
Amphiboles (double chains) X2Y5Si8O22 (OH)2. Two cleavages at about 120 and 60 degrees.
Miscellaneous Phyllosilicates
$ Talc Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
OCC: Metamorphism of ultramafic (mantle) rocks, and in blueschist provinces (metam. wet ophilites
from subduction zones.)
Use: Paper, Paint, Electric Cable.
Common Appearance: White, greasy slippery feel, soft
FRAMEWORK SILICATES (TECTOSILICATES)
A. Feldspars
$ Anorthite CaAl2Si2O8 Note the coupled solid solution, Ca++ and Al+3
$ Albite NaAlSi3O8 or Na+ and Si+4
2. K-spars
$ Microcline KAlSi3O8 Low T
OCC: Granitic Rocks and Pegmatites
Use: glassmaking, ceramics
Common Appearance: Hardness ~6, 2 good cleavages at 90o , Microcline is pink to tan with light often
with streaks that are exsolved Albite.
B. SiO2 Group
$ Quartz SiO2
OCC: In Granitic Rocks
Use: glassmaking, ceramics, abrasives, semiconductor chips
Common Appearance: Hardness 7, NO CLEAVAGE just Conchoidal fractures, Many colors
Plagioclase is often Striated
$Sodalite Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2
OCC: Veins in Nepheline Syenites
Use: Carvings
Common Appearance: Royal Blue color is distinctive
OXIDES
$ Corundum Al2O3
OCC: Metamorphosed mudstones.
Use: abrasive
Common Appearance: Scratches Quartz, Center of crystals appear swollen
$ Hematite Fe2O3
OCC: most is weathered Magnetite
Use: Ore of Iron
Common Appearance: Black to red, RED STREAK
$ Magnetite Fe3O4
OCC: Common Acc Min in Igneous Rx
Use: Ore of Iron
Common Appearance: Black, MAGNETIC i.e. it diverts the needle of a cheap compass.
HYDROXIDES
$ Gibbsite Al(OH)3
OCC: usually as a component of the mixture ore “Bauxite”
an ore of Aluminum, from secondary enrichment of Al from laterites
Use: Aluminum is a light structural metal: aircraft, etc.
Common Appearance: Wavy opaque white, looks like white agate.
SULFIDES
$ Pyrite FeS2
OCC:
Use: Manufacture of Sulfuric Acid
Common Appearance: Shiny gold, NO CLEAVAGES
$ Chalcopyrite CuFeS2
OCC: Sulfide deposits from Hydrothermal cells, e.g. MORs
Use: Ore of Copper
Common Appearance: Like tarnished Pyrite, tarnish is rusty colored.
$ Sphalerite ZnS
OCC: Sulfide deposits from Hydrothermal cells, e.g. MORs
Use: Ore of Zinc
Common Appearance: Dark Brown YELLOW STREAK
$ Galena PbS
OCC: Sulfide deposits from Hydrothermal cells, e.g. MORs
Use: Ore of Lead, sometimes Silver and Gold.
Common Appearance: 3 good cleavages at 90o, metallic luster.
$ Cinnabar HgS
OCC: a vein-filling mineral associated with recent volcanic activity and alkaline hot
springs.
Use: Ore of Mercury. Mercury is used to make, for example, modern light bulbs
Common Appearance: Cinnabar is usually a bluish pink
$ Bornite Cu5FeS4
OCC: Sulfide deposits from Hydrothermal cells, e.g. MORs
Use: Minor ore of copper
Common Appearance: Dark, with a iridescent purple tarnish
$ Pyrrhotite Fe(1-x)S
OCC: a common trace constituent of mafic igneous rocks, and as sulfide “intrusions” with
pentlandite, chalcopyrite and other sulfides
Use: Pyrrhotite does not have specific applications. It is mined primarily because it is associated
with pentlandite, a sulfide mineral that can contain significant amounts of nickel and cobalt
Common Appearance: Looks like Chalcopyrite, but crystals are pseudo-hexagonal.
$ Orpiment As2S3
OCC: Hot Springs above magma.
Use: Ore of Arsenic
Common Appearance: amorphous yellow, with red Realgar
SULFATES
$ Gypsum CaSO4
OCC: Evaporites
Use: Drywall = sheet rock; plaster of Paris
Common Appearance: two good cleavages at 90o , soft, hardness 2 so scratched by fingernail.
Sometimes makes a “desert rose”
$ Anhydrite CaSO4
$ Barite BaSO4
OCC: Hot Springs for example in our own Rift Valley.
Use: Ore of Barium, used as drilling mud.
Common Appearance: Heavy, usually white. Sometimes makes a “desert rose”
CARBONATES
$ Calcite Low Pressure CaCO3
OCC: Limestone from fossil shells, also hot springs: seawater saturated in Ca++ and CO2
Use: Concrete, optics.
Common Appearance:
$ Azurite Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
OCC: From weathered Copper sulfides, due oxidation of Copper ions in the zone of aeration
Use: Pigment
Common Appearance: Dark Blue. Weathers to green Malachite, with which it is usually associated.
2 Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 + H2O → 3 Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 + CO2
$ Malachite Cu2CO3(OH)2
OCC: From weathered Copper sulfides, due oxidation of Copper ions in the zone of aeration
Use: Pigment
Common Appearance: Green. Often from weathered Azurite.
$ Dolomite CaMg(CO3)2
OCC: Flooding of limestone islands, seawater infiltrates Calcite, some Ca++ replaced by Mg++
Use: concrete; source of magnesium ( the Pidgeon process).
Common Appearance: Crystal masses look like pink rice or like maggots
PHOSPHATES
$ Apatite Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH)
OCC: Metamorphosed limestones (i.e. Marble)
Use: Fertilizer, source of Phosphorous; Ore of Rare Earth Minerals; Phosphorus is used to dope
quartz to make semiconductor chips.
Common Appearance: Hardness 5,~ hex xsec, colors vary
HALIDES
$ Fluorite CaF2
OCC: In gangue of weathered sulfides.
Use: Made into Cryolite, a flux for Aluminum smelting. Also made into HF hydrofluoric Acid.
Common Appearance: 4 cleavages, hardness 4 so scratches copper in penny, many colors
$ Halite NaCl
OCC: Evaporites
Use: Food, preservative
Common Appearance: Clear to white, 3 good cleavages at 90 o
$ Sylvite KCl
OCC: Evaporites
Use: Potassium Fertilizer
Common Appearance: Colorless to White to Red, Cubic, 3 good cleavages at 90 o