REVIEW FOR GEOLOGY 141

CHEMISTRY WHIZ SHEET

(Follow along on p. 61)

If one knows the chemical formula for a particular

mineral, with a little help from this sheet, one could
determine which mineral group it belongs to without
a lot of rote memorization, as follows:

Colby Geology
 OXIDES

If a mineral formula ends with Ox, CORUNDUM

like Specular Hematite and Oolitic Hematite (Fe2O3),
Magnetite (Fe3O4) or Corundum (Al2O3),
then that mineral belongs to the OXIDE group.

MAGNETITE

SPECULAR
OOLITIC HEMATITE
HEMATITE
 HYDROXIDES

If a mineral formula ends with OH,

like Limonite (FeOOH) or Bauxite,
then that mineral belongs to the HYDROXIDE group.

BAUXITE

LIMONITE
 SULFIDES
If a mineral formula ends with Sx,
like Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), Galena (PbS), SPHALERITE
Pyrite (FeS2) or Sphalerite (Zn,FeS),
then that mineral belongs to the SULFIDE group.

GALENA PYRITE
CHALCOPYRITE
 CARBONATES

If a mineral formula ends with CO3,

like Calcite (CaCO3), or Dolomite (Ca,Mg(CO3)2)
then that mineral belongs to the CARBONATE group.

DOLOMITE CALCITE
 HALIDES

If a mineral formula ends with F, Cl, Br, I,

like Fluorite (CaF2) or Halite (NaCl),
then that mineral belongs to the HALIDE group.

FLUORITE HALITE
 SULFATES

If a mineral formula ends with or includes SO4,

like gypsum CaSO4•2H2O,
then that mineral belongs to the SULFATE group.

GYPSUM
 NATIVE ELEMENTS

If a mineral formula is a single element,

like Native Copper (Cu),
then that mineral belongs to the NATIVE ELEMENTS.

GOLD

COPPER

SILVER
 SILICATE MINERALS

The remainder of the minerals belong to the

SILICATE Group, and the respective subgroup
depends on how the silica tetrahedra (SiO4) are
attached within the mineral.
 FRAMEWORK SILICATES

FRAMEWORK SILICATES include

Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8),
Oligoclase and Labradorite (Ca,Na) (Al,Si)4O8
and Quartz (SiO2).
Si:O ratio = 1:2
FELDSPAR
QUARTZ (SiO2)
 SHEET SILICATES
SHEET SILICATES include
Biotite, Chlorite and Muscovite.

MUSCOVITE

BIOTITE
 CHAIN SILICATES
SINGLE CHAIN SILICATES include Augite.
Si:O ratio = 1:3

AUGITE
 CHAIN SILICATES
DOUBLE CHAIN SILICATES include
Actinolite and Hornblende.
Si:O ratio = 1:2.75

ACTINOLITE
HORNBLENDE
 ISLAND SILICATES

ISLAND SILICATES include

Garnet, Olivine (Fe,Mg)2SiO4 and Staurolite.
Si:O ratio = 1:4
OLIVINE

STAUROLITE
GARNET