Minerals: Building blocks of rocks

Definition of a mineral:
Naturally occurring inorganic solid Result of crystallization Ordered internal molecular structure Definite chemical composition

Definition of a rock:
Aggregate of crystals composed of one or multiple mineral types Composed also of mineraloid and glass (other building blocks)

Other building blocks of rocks

Mineraloid:
Substance that come close but do not meet completely the criteria to be a mineral;typically less orderly arrangement (e.g. Opal)

Glass:
Amorphous substance (opposite: crystalline), same elements but limited orderly arrangement

Composition of minerals
Chemically:
Elements Ions (charged elements) Molecules (group of elements)

Physically:
Atoms Composed themselves of particles

Structure of Atoms
(Atomic Structure)

Central region called the nucleus

Consists of protons (positive charges) and neutrons (neutral charges)

Outer area called electron shells

Electrons are negatively charged particles Electrons are located in discrete energy levels called shells

Idealized structure of an atom

Bonding among mineral components

Chemical bonding Ionic bonding
Attraction due to oppositely charged components (single ions or charge molecule)

Covalent bonding
Atoms share electrons to achieve electrical neutrality

Metallic bonding
Outermost electrons are free to migrate among atoms

Ionic bonding - attraction of opposite charges

Halite (NaCl) - salt

Covalent bonding sharing of valence electrons

For example: Diamond (C)

Structure of minerals
Minerals consist of an orderly array of atoms chemically bonded to form a particular crystalline structure For ionic compounds, the internal atomic arrangement is primarily determined by the size of ions involved

Classification of Minerals
Nearly 4000 minerals have been identified on Earth Rock-forming minerals
Common minerals that make up most of the rocks of Earths crust Only a few dozen members Composed mainly of the 8 elements that make up over 98% of the continental crust

Ore-forming minerals Gemstones

Classification of Minerals
Several major groups exist including
Non-silicates
Native Elements Sulfides Oxides Halides Carbonates Sulfates Phosphates

Silicates

Physical properties of minerals

Hardness - Resistance of a mineral to abrasion or scratching Luster - Shine in reflected light Cleavage - Tendency to break along planes of weak bonding Fractures - Absence of cleavage when a mineral is broken Color Streak: Color of a mineral in its powdered form

Mineral group: Native Elements

Composed of single elements
Gold, Copper, Diamond, Graphite, Sulfur
formula: Cu

Mineral Group: Sulfides

Composed of sulfur (S) + metal
Main Ore minerals Pyrite, Iron sulfide (Fools Gold), FeS2 Galena, Lead sulfide, PbS Lead ore, metallic luster

Galena is a lead sulfide that displays metallic luster

Mineral Group: Oxides

Composed of oxygen (O) + metal
Hematite, Iron Oxide (rost), Fe2O3 Magnetite, Iron Oxide, Fe3O4 Magnetic, black, first magnet Corundum, Aluminum Oxide, Al2O3 Gemstone varieties: Ruby, Sapphire

Mineral Group: Carbonates

Composed of carbonate molecule (CO3) + metal
Calcite, Calcium Carbonate, CaCO3
Make limestone, shells, cave deposits Fizzes with HCl

Dolomite, Calcium Magnesium Carbonate, (Mg, Ca)CO3

Barely fizzes

Mineral Group: Sulfates

Composed of sulfate molecule (SO4) + metal
Gypsum, Calcium Sulfate, CaSO4
Plaster of Paris Gem = Alabaster

Barite, Barium Sulfate, BaSO4

Heavy Desert roses

Mineral Group: Phosphates

Composed of phosphate molecule (PO4) + metal + Cl, F, or OH
Apatite, Calcium phosphate, Ca5(PO4)3(Cl,F,OH)
Human skeleton, bones, teeth

Mineral Group: Halides

Composed of halogen element (Cl, F, Br, I) + metal
Halite, Sodium Chlorite, NaCl
Table salt

Fluorite, Calcium Fluorite, CaF2

Many colors, often purple

Mineral Group: Silicates

Most important mineral group
Comprise most of the rock-forming minerals Very abundant due to large amounts of silicon and oxygen in Earths crust

Basic building block is the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron molecule Oxygen

Four oxygen ions surrounding a much smaller silicon ion

All silicate minerals types have in common that they are composed of Si, O

Silicon

Silicate Structures
Building block: silicon-oxygen tetrahedron Single tetrahedra are linked together to form various structures including Isolated tetrahedra Ring structures Single and double chain structures Sheet or layered structures Complex 3-dimensional structures

Silicate Minerals
Isolated tetrahedra
Olivine ( Ferromagnesium mineral Elements: Fe, Mg Typical mineral in igneous(magmatic) rocks Gem: Peridot Garnet family Ferromagnesium mineral Elements: Fe, Mg, Al Typically occurs in metamorphic rocks

Silicate Minerals
Tetrahedra linked to form chain structures Single chain
Pyroxene family Ferromagnesium mineral Elements: Fe, Mg, Ca Typical mineral in igneous rocks (Augite) Gem: Jade Cleavage at 900

Double chain
Amphibole family Ferromagnesium mineral Elements: Fe, Mg, Ca, Na, H2O Typically mineral in metamorphic & igneous rocks (Hornblende)

Hornblende crystals

Silicate Minerals
Sheets or layers of linked tetrahedra
Mica family Elements: Fe, Mg, K, Al, H 2O Biotite - black color, Ferromagn. Min. Muscovite - clear

Clay family
Elements: K, Al, H2O Cant see individual crystals Typical minerals for sedimentary rocks Weathering minerals

Silicate Minerals
Complex 3-dimensional structures (frameworks)
Quartz Elements: only Si, O Transparent Varieties Rose quartz - pink Amethyst -purple Smoky quartz - gray - black

Feldspar family
Elements: K, Na, Ca 50% of all minerals Orthoclase (potassium) Plagioclase (calcium & sodium)

Quartz (SiO2) exhibits a variety of colors

Citrine

Amethyst

Smoky Quartz

Potassium feldspar

Plagioclase feldspar

Summary of silicate minerals

Physical properties of minerals

Luster
Appearance of a mineral in reflected light Two basic categories
Metallic Nonmetallic

Other terms are used to further describe luster such as vitreous, silky, or earthy

Physical properties of minerals

Color
Generally an unreliable diagnostic property to use for mineral identification Often highly variable for a given mineral due to slight changes in mineral chemistry Exotic colorations of some minerals produce gemstones

Physical properties of minerals

Streak
Color of a mineral in its powdered form Helpful in distinguishing different forms of the same mineral

Hardness
Resistance of a mineral to abrasion or scratching All minerals are compared to a standard scale called the Mohs scale of hardness

Physical properties of minerals

Cleavage
Tendency to break along planes of weak bonding Produces flat, shiny surfaces Described by resulting geometric shapes
Number of planes Angles between adjacent planes

Three examples of perfect cleavage fluorite, halite, and calcite

Halite Calcite Fluorite

Physical properties of minerals

Fracture
Absence of cleavage when a mineral is broken

Specific Gravity (Density)

Ratio of the weight of a mineral to the weight of an equal volume of water Average value is approximately 2.7

Conchoidal fracture

Physical properties of minerals

Crystal Form
External expression of the orderly internal arrangement of atoms Crystal growth is often interrupted because of competition for space and rapid loss of heat

The mineral garnet often exhibits good crystal form

Structure of minerals
Polymorphs
Two or more minerals with the same chemical composition but different crystalline structures Diamond and graphite are good examples of polymorphs
The transformation of one polymorph to another is called a phase change

Diamond and graphite polymorphs of carbon

Physical properties of minerals

Other properties
Magnetism Reaction to hydrochloric acid Malleability Double refraction Taste Smell Elasticity