Minerals

Mineral a natural, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and a particular crystalline structure.

WHEN DO WE SAY A MATTER/A SUBSTANCE IS A MINERAL? _________________

Requirements to be a mineral
It must be formed in nature a mineral must come from the Earths crust and not be man-made (artificial). It must be inorganic not made of living matter (organic matter) or produced by living things. (never has lived) It is a solid must be solid for atoms to form characteristic patterns.

 It has a definite chemical composition - always contains the same elements in the same proportions. (halite: NaCl) It has a particular crystalline structure The atoms of a mineral
are arranged in a way that forms a particular geometric shape (cubic, hexagonal, monoclinic, etc.).

Mineral Formation
Two natural minerals: processes form
1. cooling of magma 2. precipitation process

Cooling of Magma (1)

Hot liquid material called magma from the asthenosphere moves upward through the earths crust. As the magma moves upward it cools and the atoms in the magma lock into place forming crystals. The rate at which magma cools determines the size of the crystals Slow cooling magma = large crystals Fast cooling magma = small crystals

Examples: olivine, feldspar plagioclase, quartz

Precipitation (2)
Minerals dissolved in liquids to form mixtures called solutions. When the liquid part of the solution evaporates the minerals are left behind.
Definition of evaporates phase change when liquid water turns to water vapor by the heat energy of the Sun. Examples of minerals formed by precipitation: Halite (NaCl) ; Gypsum (CaSO4)

Mineral Composition
Most minerals share chemical similarities and can be grouped into six major groups.

Mineral Group
Silicates Carbonates Oxides Sulfates Sulfides Halides

Composition
Si + O + metals CO3 + metals O + metals SO4 + metals S + metal Cl + metal

Examples
Quartz Calcite Magnetite Gypsum Galena Halite

Crystal Structure (Minerals)

The crystal shape of minerals is determined by the arrangement of atoms that make up the mineral. We will study six main crystal shape based on 3 or 4 lines that run through the mineral called axes.

Cubic - three axes of equal length intersect at

90-degree angles.

Examples: halite, galena, pyrite

Tetragonal - same as cubic, but vertical

axis is longer or shorter than the others.

Examples: chalcopyrite, wulfenite

Orthorhombic - three axes of different

lengths intersect at 90-degree angles.

Examples: olivine, topaz

Monoclinic - same as orthorhombic,

except one axis is tilted.

Examples: mica, gypsum

Triclinic - three unequal axes intersect

at titled angles to each other.

Example: plagioclase feldspar

Hexagonal

- three equal horizontal axes intersect at 60-degree angles. The vertical axis is longer or shorter than others.

Example: pyromorphite

Mineral Identification
Certain physical properties are used to identify minerals. Six main properties will help use identify minerals.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Luster 6. Color Streak Specific gravity Cleavage and fracture Hardness

Luster How does the mineral reflect light?

If the mineral is shiny like a metal it has a metallic luster. (galena) All other types of luster are grouped together, including; pearly, silky, glassy (quartz), dull (pyroxene), and greasythese are called non-metallic.

Streak What color does a mineral leave

on a porcelain tile?

The mineral is actually scratched off on the tile leaving behind the powder of the mineral. This is a very good test because the streak is always the same, even if color varies.

Specific Gravity How dense is

the mineral?

The specific gravity of a mineral is the ratio of a minerals density to the density of water.

Cleavage and Fracture How does a

mineral break?

A mineral that breaks along a flat surface of plane, has cleavage. A mineral that has uneven surfaces when it breaks, has fracture.

Hardness - How well does the

mineral resist scratching? Using Mohs Hardness Scale we will compare the relative hardness of minerals.

Color What color is the mineral?

Color may be the first property you notice but it is usually the worst to identify a mineral. Many minerals vary greatly in color due to impurities.

Watch and learn!!!

THE END