CHAPTER 2 : MINERAL

formed in various ways and different conditions They occur naturally as inorganic solids have a specific internal structure have a chemical composition have definite set of physical properties

Physical Properties of Minerals

Crystal form and shape (external appearance) 1. The crystal faces reflect the internal symmetry of the crystal structure 2. there can be any number of unit cells repeating in any direction 3. Minerals with a crystal lattice are called crystalline Six crystal systems Isometric Tetragonal Hexagonal Orthorhombic Monoclinic Triclinic

Colour 1. seen by eye. 2. color is the easiest physical property to determine 3. is a general rather than specific indicator Streak 1. colour of finely powdered mineral particles produced by scraping the specimen along a roughened surface 2. The limitation of a streak plate is that it can only be used on minerals with a hardness less than seven. 3. The combination of luster, color, and streak may be enough to permit identification of the mineral Cleavage and fracture 1. when broken are observed to split along particular planes. These features are called cleavage planes. 2. Some minerals do not have a cleavage (quartz) and the surface of rupture is more irregular known as fracture.

Luster 1. light is reflected from a mineral. 2. shine of a mineral 3. terms of the degree of brightness.

Metallic Submetallic Dull Vitreous

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like polished metal e.g. galena less brilliant e.g. chalk like broken glass e.g. quartz

Type of Luster: Vitreous Luster a mineral having a glassy shine. E.g. Quartz and Calcite. Pearly Lustre a mineral having a pearly shine. E.g. Muscovite. Metallic lustre a mineral with a metallic shine. E.g. Magnetite (Iron Ore). Silky lustre a mineral with a silky shine. E.g. Asbestos. Resinious lustre a mineral with a greasy shine like resin. E.g. Talc. Admantine lustre The mineral having a diamond like shine.E.g. Diamond Transparency degree to which a medium allows light to pass through it. Opaque A mineral which does not pass any light, and nothing can be seen through it. Transparent - Mineral which allows the light pass through full Semi Transparent Mineral which allows light pass partially Translucent A mineral which allows only some diffused light to pass through it. Hardness 1. a measure of a mineral's resistance to abrasion. 2. using an arbitrary scale of ten standard minerals. The scale is called the MOH's scale of hardness. Reaction with acid

Classification of Mineral
Silicate Mineral 1. A group of minerals contains SiO44- as the dominant polyanion 2. Si and O are the most abundant elements in the Earth 3. contains a basic structural unit called the silica tetrahedron with crystal structure.

Silicate classification 1. Single chains pyroxene 2. Double chains amphiboles 3. Two dimensional sheets minerals - micas, chlorites, and clay minerals. 4. Three dimensional frameworks - feldspar and quartz Non Silicate Minerals 1. Do not contain silica tetrahedrons Oxides and Hydroxides 1. These are minerals that are form by combination of various cations with oxygen. 2. Example : hematite, ilmenite, magnetite, Bauxite, Limonite and Cassiterite. Carbonates and Sulfates 1. Consist of framework similar to the silica tetrahedral 2. An important mineral in this group is gypsum, the main ingredient in building materials Halides 1. chemical deposited sediments formed by evaporation

Rock Forming Minerals

Quartz = Most common of silica group minerals Feldspar group= abundant a nd constitute the most of rock forming minerals. Mica = a group of monoclinic minerals and are characterized by perfect cleavage Pyroxene = High temperature minerals found in many igneous and metamorphic ro Olivine = Occurs chiefly in basic and ultrabasic rocks with (MgFe)2 SiO4 present Amphiboles = much in common with pyroxenes and consist of complex silicates Calcite = Composed of calcium carbonate and principal mineral of limestone Dolomite = Composed of magnesium and carbonate (CO2). Clay minerals = Form when air and water interact with the various silicate mineral Halite and Gypsum = formed by the evaporation of seawater or saline lake water Chlorite = A green flaky minerals formed by hydrous silicates of magnesium and aluminum.