Lecture 17 (11/27/2006)

Systematic Description of Minerals

Part 1: Native Elements and
Sulfides
Mineral Classifications
Principally by dominant anion or anionic group
Secondarily by internal mineral structure
Native Element
Sulfides (S)
Sulfosalts (AsS)
Oxides (O)
Hydroxides (OH)
Halides (Cl, F, Br, I)
Carbonates (CO
3
)
Sulfates (SO
4
)
Phosphates (PO
4
)
Nitrates, Borates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Arsenates, Vanadates...
Silicates
Nesosilicates
Sorosilicates
Cyclosilicates
Inosilicates
Phyllosilicates
Tectosilicates
Native Elements
Metals Gold, Silver, Copper,
Platinum, Palladium, Osmium,
Iridium, Iron, Fe-nickel

Semi-metals Arsenic, Bismuth,
Antimony

Non-metals Sulfur, Diamond,
Graphite
Native Metals
metallic bonding
dense, cubic close packing
properties: soft, malleable, ductile, sectile, good heat
and electrical conductors
variable melting points: low-Au, Ag, Cu; high-PGEs
Au
Ag Cu Pt
Native Non-metals
Sulfur Diamond Graphite
S
8
ring molecules
bonded by weak
van der Waals
forces
C
6
ring molecules
bonded by weak
van der Waals
forces; good
electrical
conductivity
Strong
Covalent
Bonds
Synthetic (industrial) Diamonds
Native Element Occurrences
Gold Hydrothermal fluids related to magmatism; commonly occurs
in veins quartz and pyrite; may form detrital grains to produce placer
deposits; Rarely occurs alloyed with other elements.

Silver Hydrothermal ore deposits rich in sulfide, arsenides, and
bismithides; also commonly associated native copper.

Copper Sulfide-poor hydrothermal ore deposits or secondary
oxidation of Cu-sulfide minerals; most abundant occurrence is the
native copper deposits of the Keweenawan Peninsula of Upper
Michigan where it occurs in lava flows and interflow conglomerates.

Platinum Occurs as primary deposits in mafic intrusions and as
secondary placer deposits.

Diamond Occurs in mantle-derived kimberlite pipes with other high
temperature/high pressure minerals

Sulfur Precipitates near volcanic vents from volcanic gasses and
secondarily by oxidation of sulfide minerals.
Sulfides and Sulfosalts
Most common ore source of metals
X
m
S
n

As may substitute for S giving rise to
sulfarsenides, and arsenides

X= Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Co, Hg, Mo
Magmatic and hydrothermal origin
Sulfosalts, As, Sb, and Bi take the
place of metals (X)

Sulfide Stability
Reducing, Acidic
Environment
Cu-H
2
O-O
2
-S-CO
2
phase diagram
at 25C and 1 atm pressure
Cu-Fe Sulfide Minerals
Py
Po
Cp
Bn
Cc
Dg
Cv
Other Common Sulfide Minerals
Galena PbS - dense, cubic cleavage

Sphalerite (Zn,Fe)S submetallic
black to resinous yellow, brown luster

Pentlandite (Fe,Ni)
9
S
8
yellow-
bronze; w/ Cp and Po in magmatic
ores



Cinnabar HgS vermilion-red color,
dense

Molybdenite MoS
2
silver metallic
sheets
Pt
Galena
Zn>>Fe
Zn>Fe
Zn
Arsenosulfides, Arsenides and Sulfosalts
Cobaltite (Co,Fe)AsS silver white metallic

Arsenopyrite FeAsS silver white metallic

Realgar AsS (red) - Orpiment As
2
S
3
(yellow)
Stibnite Sb
2
S
3
silver-gray prisms
Enargite Cu
3
AsS
4
striated metallic columns
and blades a sulfosalt
Skutterudite (Co,Ni)As
3
silver-gray cubes
Next Lecture 11/29/06

Systematic Description of Minerals

Part 2: Oxides, Hydroxides Halides,
Carbonates, Sulfates, and Phosphates

Read: Klein Parts of Chaps. 9 & 10