MINERALS

= ARE THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF ROCKS

 CHARACTERISTICS OF MINERALS
1. Naturally occurring
2. Inorganic
3. Solid
4. Definite chemical composition
5. Ordered internal structure
Composition of Minerals
1. Silicates
2.Oxides
3.Sulfides
4.Sulfates
5.Halides
6.Carbonates
7.Native Metals
 Crystal Structure of Minerals
= dependent on the chemical composition of the
minerals.
= minerals that have chemical compositions often
share the same crystal structure and generally belong
to the same crystal system.
 Physical Properties of Minerals
1. Crystal formation 7. Streak
2. Habit 8. Hardness
3. Cleavage 9. Density
4. Fracture 10. Magnetism
5. Luster 11. Taste
6. Color 12. Feel
13. reaction to acid
Crystal formation
In order for a mineral crystal to grow, the elements needed
to make it must be present in the appropriate proportions,
the physical and chemical conditions must be favourable
(Physical and chemical conditions include factors such as
temperature, pressure, presence of water, pH, and amount
of oxygen available), and there must be sufficient time for
the atoms to become arranged.
Habit
• Is the outward appearance of the mineral’s crystal form
• Crystal habit is the tendency for specimens of a mineral to repeatedly grow into
characteristic shapes. These shapes are influenced by the atomic structure of the mineral, but
they can also be influenced by the environment of crystal growth. Regardless of influence,
crystal habit shapes are characteristic of the mineral and displayed by many specimens of
that mineral.
Described as:
Granular (resembling or consisting of small grains or particles) Tabular
Dendritic Acicular
Massive Reniform
Drusy Encrusting
 Cleavage
• Cleavage is the
tendency of a mineral to
break along smooth
planes parallel to zones
of weak bonding.
 Fracture
• Fracture is the tendency of a
mineral to break along curved
surfaces without a definite shape.
These minerals do not have planes
of weakness and break irregularly.
See the picture below:
 • Metallic, having the look of a polished metal;

Luster • Submetallic, having the look of a metal that is dulled

by weathering or corrosion; and
• Resinous, having the look of amber – not quite glassy
• Glassy/Vitreous, having the look of glass
• This describes
• Pearly, having the iridescent look of mother-of-pearl
the appearance (though usually just barely); often found on the

of light reflected cleavage face of a mineral having perfect cleavage

• Greasy/Oily, having the look of an oil-coated
from a mineral substance;
surface . • Dull, having a plain looking surface that is not
submetallic;
• Earthy, having the look of soil or clay.
Color
• Color is the most obvious mineral property, it is
not a reliable feature for identifying minerals
because it can be altered by chemical impurities
within its structure.
 Streak
• Is the color of a mineral in its
powdered form
• The streak test is done by scraping a
specimen of the mineral across a piece
of unglazed porcelain known as a
"streak plate." This can produce a small
amount of powdered mineral on the
surface of the plate. The powder color
of that mineral known as its "streak."
Hardness
• Hardness of a mineral is a measurement of the
strength of the chemical bonds in its structure.

Mohs scale of hardness (refer to page 30, Table 2-1)

 Mineral Density

Apatite 3.1–3.2

Biotite Mica 2.8–3.4

Calcite 2.71

Density Chlorite

Copper

Feldspar
2.6–3.3

8.9

2.55–2.76

Fluorite 3.18

Garnet 3.5–4.3
• Specific gravity is a measure of the density Gold 19.32

of a mineral. Graphite 2.23

Gypsum 2.3–2.4
• Density is a measure of the mass of a Halite 2.16

substance per unit measure. For example, Hematite 5.26

the density of a one-inch cube of iron is Hornblende 2.9–3.4

Iridium 22.42
much greater than the density of a one-inch
Kaolinite 2.6
cube of cotton. In most cases, denser objects Magnetite 5.18

are also heavier. Olivine 3.27–4.27

Pyrite 5.02

Quartz 2.65

Sphalerite 3.9–4.1

Talc 2.7–2.8

Tourmaline 3.02–3.2
Other properties:
•Magnetism ( magnetite)
•Taste (halite is salty)
•Reaction to acid (calcite and other
carbonates will react with weak acid.)
•Feel (talc is greasy)
HOW TO
IDENTIFY
MINERALS?