Matter and Minerals

Minerals: Building blocks of

rocks

Naturally occurring
Solid
Inorganic
Definite chemical
composition
Crystal structure due
to internal
arrangement of atoms
http://www.minerals.net/gemstone/index.htm

General Facts about Minerals

Between 2 - 3,000 have been identified
A few are native elements -- made of only
one element, such as sulfur, gold. copper, and
graphite (carbon)
Most are compounds, especially the silicate
group (Si, O).
Other important groups are oxides,
carbonates, and sulfides.

Less than a dozen are common in

most rocks
Quartz
Feldspar (group)
Muscovite (white
mica)
Biotite (black mica)
Calcite
Pyroxene

Olivine
Amphibole (group)
Magnetite, limonite,
and other iron oxides
Pyrite

How do we identify minerals?

Physical properties:

Color
Luster
Hardness
Crystal shape
Cleavage
Specific gravity
Other

Physical Properties of Minerals

Color:
Most obvious, but often misleading
Different colors may result from impurities

Example:
Quartz

A mineral can be many different

colors. Below is Mica.

Many minerals can be the same color. Below

are gold colored minerals. Which one is
gold?

Physical Properties of Minerals

Color:
Streak color of a mineral in powdered form
(used for metallic minerals)

Obtained by scratching
a mineral on a piece of
unglazed porcelain.

Example:
Hematite

Gold
When gold is
run across a
streak plate it
makes a
yellowish-gold
color.

Pyrite or Fools Gold

When pyrite is run
across a streak plate,
it has a black or dark
green streak.
Pyrite is not worth
much money, while
gold is worth a lot.
They look alike, so
miners call it fools
gold.

Hematite
Hematites color is
grey, but its streak
is red.
Hema means blood.
The mineral was
named hematite
because it looked
like it was bleeding
when it was taken
across a streak
plate.

Physical Properties of Minerals

Luster:
How a mineral surface reflects light
Two major types:
Metallic luster
Non-metallic luster

Metallic
example:
Galena

Non-metallic
example:
Orthoclase

Pyrite has metallic luster

Quartz has vitreous luster

Physical Properties of Minerals

Hardness:
How easy it is to scratch a mineral
Mohs Scale of Hardness
relative scale
consists of 10 minerals, ranked 1 (softest)
to 10 (hardest)

Mohs Scale of Hardness

Hardest (10) Diamond
Softest (1) Talc
Common objects:
- Fingernail (2.5)
- Copper coin (3.5)
- Wire nail (4.5)
- Glass (5.5)
- Streak plate (6.5)

Gypsum is soft, it can be scratched by

a fingernail.

Calcite is soft, but a little harder

because it cannot be scratched by a
fingernail, but it can be scratched by a
coin

Fluorite is harder. It can be scratched

by a nail, but not a coin or fingernail.

Diamond is the hardest mineral, so

it scratches every mineral.

Physical Properties of Minerals

Crystal shape (or form):

external expression of a minerals internal
atomic structure
planar surfaces are called crystal faces
angles between crystal faces are constant for
any particular mineral

Quartz

Pyrite

Physical Properties of Minerals

Cleavage vs. Fracture:

The way a mineral breaks
Cleavage: tendency of a mineral to break
along planes of weakness
Minerals that do not exhibit cleavage are said
to fracture

Do not confuse cleavage planes with crystal faces!

Crystal faces are just on the surface and may not
repeat when the mineral is broken.

Physical Properties of Minerals

Cleavage is described by:

Number of planes
Angles between adjacent planes
These are constant for a particular mineral

Physical Properties of Minerals

Cleavage (1 direction):

Example: mica

Physical Properties of Minerals

Cleavage (2 directions):

orthoclase

amphibole

Physical Properties of Minerals

Cleavage (3 directions):

halite

calcite

Physical Properties of Minerals

Cleavage (4 directions):

fluorite

Physical Properties of Minerals

Fracture:
minerals that do not exhibit cleavage are said to
fracture
smooth, curved
surfaces when
minerals break in a
glass-like manner:
conchoidal fracture
Quartz

Physical Properties of Minerals

Specific gravity:
weight of a mineral divided by weight of an
equal volume of water
metallic minerals tend to have higher specific
gravity than non-metallic minerals
Galena
SG=7.5

Quartz
SG=2.67

Mineral properties

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Specific Gravity S.G. is an easily measured physical property that can be readily estimated. In general,
sulphides and oxides have much higher specific gravities than silicates.
MINERAL GROUP
Framework Silicate
Framework Silicate
Sheet Silicate
Chain Silicate
Chain Silicate
Isolated Silicate
Isolated Silicate
Sulphide
Sulphide
Sulphide
Oxide
Oxide
Sulphide
Oxide
Element

MINERAL
Quartz
Feldspar
Mica
Amphibole
Pyroxene
Olivine
Garnet
Sphalerite
Chalcopyrite
Pyrite
Magnetite
Hematite
Galena
Pitchblende
Native Gold

SPECIFIC GRAVITY
2.6-2.7
2.6-2.7
2.8-3.0
2.9-3.2
3.2-3.6
3.3-4.4
3.5-4.4
4.0
4.2
5.0
5.2
5.3
7.2
9.5
12.4

Physical Properties of Minerals

Other properties:
reaction with hydrochloric acid (calcite fizzes)
taste (halite tastes salty)
feel (talc feels soapy, graphite feels greasy)
magnetism (magnetite attracts a magnet)

Mineral Groups

Rock-forming minerals
~30 common minerals make up most rocks in
Earths crust
Composed mainly of the 8 elements that
make up over 98% of the crust

Mineral Groups
Element Abundances

SILICATES

Silica
(SiO4)4-

Common cations that

bond with silica anions

All others:

1.5%

Common Silicate mineral groups

mineral
Olivine

formula
(MgFe)2SiO4

cleavage
none

Pyroxene

(Mg, Fe) SiO3

Amphiboles:
Eg. hornblende
Mica
Muscovit
e
Biotite

(Ca2Mg5)Si8O22(OH)2

two cleavage
planes at 900
Two planes at
600and 1200
One plane

Feldspars:K-feldspar
Orthoclase,
microcline
Plagioclase
Quartz

KAl3Si3O10(OH)2

Silicate structure
Single
tetrahedron
chains
Double chains
sheets

K(MgFe)3Si3O10(OH)
2

KAlSi3O8

Two planes at 900

Three dimensional
networks

none

Three dimensional
network

(Ca,Na)AlSi3O8
SiO2

Common Non Silicate mineral groups

group
Oxides

member
Magnetite
Haematite
Corundum

Sulphides

Galena
Sphalerite
Pyrite

Sulfates

Gypsum
Anhydrite

Native elements

Gold
Silver
Copper
Sulfur
Graphite

Halides

Halite
Flourite

Carbonates

Calcite

formula
Fe3O4
Fe2O3
Al2O3
PbS
ZnS
FeS2
CaSO4.H2O
CaSO4
Au
Ag
Cu
S
C
NaCl
CaF2
CaCO3

uses
Ore of iron
Ore of iron
Abrasive
Ore of lead
Ore of zinc
Fools gold
Used for plaster

Precious metal
Precious metal
Used for Wires
Used in chemicals
pencils
Common salt
Used in chemicals
Used in cement

Mineral Groups

Silicates (most abundant)

Non-silicates (~8% of Earths crust):
Oxides
Carbonates

O2(CO3)2-

Sulfides
Sulfates

S2(SO4)2-

Halides
Native elements

Cl-, F-, Br(single elements; e.g., Au)

Mineral Groups Silicates

Silicates
Tetrahedron
fundamental
building block
4 oxygen ions
surrounding a
much smaller
silicon ion

Silicon-oxygen
tetrahedron
(SiO4)4-

Mineral Groups Silicates

Joining Silicate Structures

How tetrahedra may be linked:
independent tetrahedra
single chains
double chains
sheets
3-D framework

Mineral Groups
Silicates

Mineral Groups Silicates

Olivine Group
dark silicates (Fe-Mg)

ferromagnesian

No cleavage

Composition
Magnesium iron silicate. The series ranges from
the magnesium end member, Forsterite, through
the intermediate member, Olivine (also known as
Chrysolite), to the iron end member, Fayalite
The Olivine group is composed of three minerals, with the
following formulas:
Forsterite = Mg2SiO4
Olivine (Chrysolite) = (Mg,Fe)2SiO4
Fayalite = Fe2SiO4
The intermediate variety, Olivine, is not scientifically
recognized as a separate mineral, but is nevertheless
mentioned.

Color

Streak
Hardness
Crystal Forms
and Aggregates

Transparency
Specific Gravity
Luster
Cleavage
Fracture
Tenacity

Olive-green, yellow-green, light

green, yellow, yellow-brown,
brown, gray, white
Colorless
6 - 7
Usually occurs as rounded
grains, in dense aggregates of
grainy crystals, and as fractured
masses.
Transparent to translucent
3.2 - 4.2
Vitreous
none
Conchoidal
Brittle

Uses

Striking Features
Complex Tests

The variety Peridote is a famous

gem. It creates a distinctive,
yellow-green to olive-green gem
that is well known. It is the
birthstone for August.
Olivine is also used as a flux for
making steel, and is an ore of
magnesium.
Color, localities, and hardness
Soluble in hydrochloric acid

Mineral Groups Silicates

Pyroxene Group
Ferromagnesian / dark silicates (Fe-Mg)

Augite
2-directions
of cleavage
(at nearly 90 degrees)

Minerals
The typical pyroxene structure
contains chains of SiO3
tetrahedrons

The slope of the tetrahedral

pyramids helps to determine
the cleavage angle of the
pyroxenes at nearly 90o
degrees (actually 93o and
87o).

Pyroxene minerals are common in in meteorites and the

extrusive igneous rock called basalt. There are many
different types of pyroxene including augite, wollastonite,
diopside, enstatite, and hypersthene. All of the types contain
Si2O6 but some have sodium (Na) while others have iron
(Fe), magnesium (Mg), or a combination of these three
elements . The general properties of the more common
pyroxene minerals, such as augite, are listed below.
Shape:Orthrorhombic or Monoclinic
Luster: Glassy or metallic
Color: Black
Streak: White, light green or light brown
Hardness: 5-6.5 on Mohs hardness scale
Cleavage: Two planes that meet at nearly a 90-degree angle
Fracture: Most have uneven and brittle fractures.

Mineral Groups Silicates

Amphibole Group
Ferromagnesian / dark silicates (Ca, Fe-Mg)

Hornblende
2-directions
of cleavage
(not at 90 degrees)

There are several different minerals within the amphibole

group, but the most common type is hornblende. You can
find small crystals of hornblende in many types of igneous
rocks. They often look like little dark specks.
Hornblende (Ca2Mg5)Si3O22(OH)2
Shape: Monoclinic (crystals look like short, six-sided
columns)
Luster: Glassy or milky
Color: Black or dark green, translucent to opaque
Streak: Grey-green or grey-brown
Hardness: 5-6
Cleavage: Two planes that meet at a 124-degree angle
Fracture: Uneven brittle fracture

Mineral Groups Silicates

Mica Group and Clay Minerals
light silicates (K, Al)

non-ferromagnesian

Muscovite
1-direction
of cleavage

Minerals

Micas and Clay Minerals

Sheets of tetrahedra are the
building blocks. Aluminum
is also involved in thesesheet
structures which are chargebalanced by the cations Mg,
Na and K.
most common mica
minerals:muscovite , biotite

Mica minerals make some rocks sparkle! They are often found in
igneous rocks such as granite and metamorphic rocks such as schist.
They sparkle because light is reflected on their flat surfaces, which are
where the mineral breaks along its plane of cleavage. These minerals
break so easily along their cleavage that some crystals have broken into
many thin layers that look like the pages of a little book.

Biotite
K(MgFe)3Si3O10(OH)2
Shape: Monoclinic.
Forms flat plates.
Luster: Pearly, metallic
Color: Dark brown, dark
green or black
Streak: White
Hardness: 2.5-3
Cleavage: Yes,
one plane of cleavage
Fracture: The mineral is
rather flexible and so it
doesnt fracture very
easily. In fact you can
bend it very far before it
breaks.

Muscovite
KAl3Si3O10 (OH)2
Shape: Monoclinic. Forms flat
plates.
Luster: Pearly, metallic
Color: Colorless or lightly
tinted
Streak: White
Hardness: 2-3 on Mohs
Hardness Scale
Cleavage: Yes, one plane of
cleavage
Fracture: This mineral is also
flexible and doesnt fracture
very easily.

Mineral Groups Silicates

Feldspar Group

K-feldspar

light silicates (K-Na-Ca, Al)

Most common mineral group

Orthoclase
Plagioclase

2-directions
of cleavage
(at 90 degrees)

Ca/Na-feldspar

Minerals

Feldspar group
A second group of aluminosilicates, tetrahedra form
three-dimensional
frameworks with Ca, Na and
K as the balancing cations.
The very abundant
feldspar are K-Na bearing
alkali

The K-feldspars or alkali felspars:

Microcline, (Potassium aluminum
silicate)
Orthoclase, (Potassium aluminum
silicate)

Feldspar is the most common mineral in the Earths crust, so you

are very likely to find it in the rocks you collect! It is found it all
of the three rock types, but is most common in intrusive igneous
rocks like granite where the crystals look white or pink.
There are several types of feldspar. The characteristics of the two
most common types are listed below. These two common types of
feldspar are difficult to tell apart besides their color. Color can be
helpful, but beware because the same mineral can often have
different colors. The sure way to tell these two apart is by looking
at the crystal surfaces for thin parallel groves called striations.
Plagioclase feldspar has striations but orthoclase feldspar does
not.

Orthoclase K AlSi3O8
Shape: Monoclinic (Flat tabular or prism-shaped crystals)
Luster: Glassy or pearly
Color: Cream to pink
Streak: White
Hardness: 6 on Mohs Hardness Scale
Cleavage: perfect
Fracture: brittle
Plagioclase CaNaAlSi3O8
Shape: Triclinic (Single prism-shaped crystals are very rare. You
are much more likely to find many crystals that have grown together
in a mass.
Luster: Glassy or pearly
Color: White to gray
Streak: White
Hardness: 6-6.5
Cleavage: perfect
Fracture: brittle

Mineral Groups Silicates

Quartz
light silicates (pure SiO2)

no cleavage
(conchoidal fracture)
hard, resistant to weathering

Quartz

Quartz is one of the most common mineral in Earths crust!

Silica (Si) and Oxygen (O) are the only elements within pure quartz.
Quartz can be found in all sorts of rocks. Most sand is made of quartz
because it is hard and does not weather away easily. Some pieces of
quartz are white like milk but most are clear like glass, sometimes with a
little pink or grey tinge of color.
Quartz
Shape: Trigonal (Perfect crystals are usually 6-sided prisms with a
pyramid shape at the end. However, it is much more common to find
many crystals that have grown in a mass or broken crystals.)
Luster: vitreous
Color: Colorless or white. Some varieties are pink or smoky.
Streak: White
Hardness: 7
Cleavage: None
Fracture: Conchoidal

Minerals

Quartz
Silica tetrahedra alone can
form a neutral threedimensional framework
structure with no need for
other cations.
This arrangement forms a very
stable structure
popular as ornamental stone and as gemstones
Amethyst is the purple gemstone variety.
Citrine is a yellow to orange gemstone variety that is rare in nature but is often created by heating
Amethyst.
Milky Quartz is the cloudy white variety.
Rock crystal is the clear variety that is also used as a gemstone.
Rosey Quartz is a pink to reddish pink variety.
Smoky quartz is the brown to gray variety.

Mineral Groups
Non-ferromagnesian
Silicates (K, Na, Ca, Al)

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

Minerals
There are a few important groups of non-silicate minerals.
Only the carbonates are significant as rock-forming minerals. The
remaining mineral groups are often ore minerals and provide
economic sources for various elements.
The important non-silicate groups are:

Carbonates
Evaporites
Oxides
Sulphides
Phosphates

Minerals
Non silicates:

Carbonates Co3
The important carbonates are the minerals calcite and dolomite. Both are significant
rock-forming minerals.
The calcite group
Calcite (Calcium Carbonate)

Magnesite(Magnesium Carbonate)
Rhodochrosite (Manganese Carbonate)
Siderite(Iron Carbonate)
Smithsonite (Zinc Carbonate)

Minerals
Non silicates:
Evaporites:
including the minerals halite, and fluorite;
Sulphates including the minerals gypsum and anhydrite.

The most famous halide mineral, halite (NaCl) or rock salt

Minerals
Non silicates:
Evaporites

Fluorite: CaF2, Calcium Fluoride

Minerals
Non silicates:

Gypsum:CaSO4-2(H2O), Hydrated Calcium Sulfate

Minerals
Non silicates:

Oxides
oxides (hematite and magnetite)
Fe2O3, Iron Oxide

hydroxides (limonite and goethite)

important minor constituents in rocks.
aluminum oxide bauxite can also occur as a rock-forming mineral.
oxide minerals are exploited as economic sources of many elements including aluminum,
antimony, iron, manganese, tin, and uranium.

Minerals
Non silicates:

Sulphides
The mineral pyrite is the only sulphide that occurs commonly in rocks.
Sulphides are most important as economic minerals providing the main sources of
elements such as arsenic, copper, lead, nickel, mercury, molybdenum and zinc.
FeS2, Iron Sulfide

Minerals
Non silicates:

Sulphides
The mineral pyrite (FeS2) is the only sulphide that occurs commonly in rocks.
Sulphides are most important as economic minerals providing the main sources of
elements such as arsenic, copper, lead, nickel, mercury, molybdenum and zinc.
Galena, Chalcopyrite

Minerals
Non silicates:

Phosphates are relatively rare. The only important phosphate mineral is apatite.
Ca2Fe(PO4)2 - 4H2O, Hydrated Calcium Iron Phosphate

Common minerals
the most common minerals you'll find in rocks (rock
forming minerals)
This pile contains plagioclase feldspar, potassium feldspar,
quartz, muscovite mica, biotite mica, amphibole, olivine, and
calcite.

Acknowledged sources
1.www.specialconnections.k
u.edu/.../cs/.../caseb_rocks
_minerals.ppt
2.www.earth2class.org/er/students/Mi
nerals.ppt
3.www.lwr.kth.se/Grundutbi
ldning/AE2401/.../review
%20minerals.ppt
4.www.sci.uidaho.edu/geol1
11/Geology
%20101/minerals_II_jh