you must &st und-d

what m i d are as well as the characmistics

of some of the most common mine&.
En tfii chaprcr, you are introduced ro some bask principles of chemistry
(this is for those d you who have not had a chemistry course), This will help
you understand marerial covered in the chapters on rocks, weathering, and the
composition of the earthb crust and its interior. You wiU d i a v e r that each
m i n d is composed of specific chemical elements. the atoms of which are in a
remarkably orderly arrangement. A mineral's chemistry and the architecture of
its internal strumre determine the physical properries used to distinguish it
m&,

from other minerals. You should learn how to readily determine physical properties and use h e m to idenci* common minerals. (Appendix A is a Further
guide to identifying minerals.)
To launrb you into the chapters on rucks that falaw, we close this cbaprer
by introducing you m a conceptual device dled the rock cycle. We show one
way in which pIate trmnics relates to the rock cycle.

s.n
W

l of the crystal etwture 01 WHs (or table sait).

aoms. B&m

SUkronaMo#y()enaomrr
t n ~ ~ ~ u r

of cacb typc ofacorn arc n

lclguw m.1
Speclm of gmRs s h d n g the relatlonstrlp among todt,
m h m h , and crywl strLtcturea of atoms. The diagramma&
repmentallon as btrehdrons b explained Iamr In the chapter,

RscQr iu f l l ~ w d yhmd wmLidad mrial corn+

of p i m i af one or more mined (thii &tian
hoar a few

Atom and E k m w
is n &ce

-%,Firm h m1 h o r n
It

a rpMimm of rho common rwk pmipr.

magma solidifying within the
mrst.

Graxlire is made up mwdy of the f n j n d & i @ a t a d qwm

What, &en, i s a ~ ? A ~ i a d e f i n a d a s a m t r l ~
oerauritsg, itrczrgmic m p d i n e s u b s m a
&anid cornpition. We will nnutMto the h t
th*drfinirian h e r in &e chaptar aftrr
cornpaition & m i n d . Qamk
gp snd d h n atoms, Mom p d y , quartz wnraias miceas
many q p n a t o w au silicon atoms. Thrdbre, &r &emid
hmuh for qumz ia SiO,.
h c k M& is anorher m& quite da#w b r n gmnit~It
f b r z n s w h 8 a t ~ L e v ao m w c ( . U * ~ , i t & &
of
of only one minedRack rtlr is r consolidatedrggre-

drat =not bF b m h down hro o

rhe volume of the en&

aturn* p r d d y d the qstas of rht

amla is conculrmdin the nudcu* Theam&
nwbr

is thc tpd a*
of mrrong &d protons In an atam. Thc
W c r n a h u r a b t r 0 f & ~ a ~ 1 h in
lm
ggurr9.9Bie 16 (3,
pmms us S mu-).
Havim 4-b
h e more d u ttma
prmona than $0 IWar ones; Pur m p k , thr heavy
c b m i r gold has art mink m t w nmbw of 197,
hdium hu 1.
The pumbcr af pmmw con& ttYc " ~ e 0f.m
f &
m a m o r e &an c k the W
r oforbcfdwudc
The am& a t d m of an $uacnt,h the nttmber d pmtoxlp

I-".

(8are praaent)

-ElecmW

B
~lgurs
mma
(A) Model of an oxygen atom. The ndaus, composed of neutrons
and protone, Is actually much smaller than indicated relathe to the
volume of the atorn.The hollow s @ m repressnt the two
dectmn-bearing shells. (8)Schematic represantatbn of the
oxygen atom. The two circles containing electrons repremnt the
electron-bearing shetls.

h~~~
- t ~
-18-

W
~

~
~

QM

~ ~ o f a n
W D d c ' ~ ~ f 7 8 ~

hag

~
h

~
b

p - p F ~ q g @ m d ~ p h ' $ p t o n K ~
hu 174 a d d a m has 11.
-hs
3 ption:

[ ~ * ~ & f t & r n W h ~ @ G m d & h

Appe~~~p~cde~ektneocs..)
*nmkd~l~u*fPIsd&&&~,sfpa*
mmtlc*n#rydthtah&.

~~aumsd*r?t*aska&~~nvnbsr@
p
w
m Pore=mple, diemosteo-on isa-of aygu,brs

alone in a
b -sly
ao tbt s d u m amm n o d y dua wiohout k. In
um atom, diq the 11 p ~ t a n s(]I+) and 10 dcc-

Flgum $.$
( A ) W i u m ( k + j I0n.Tm stWrons Ill tmr shells. The nwleus
containo W n porn&.(8)C
h
M [CP)
E h h n ahawn
in red corn@- t
h wter ahell of the ohlodmatom, making it
an Ion.

gcngasindr,oxygeninmindiasrmn~yWboo&er
chcnts.Bywie;trt,
n~tsfar~~sfMchecrusr
but t r p l r e s u p 9 3 % o ~ v o t u m e o f ~ a ~ d T h i i i s
boxygen's d m n && take up a large amount of space
relative to ixs might It b nut ~ t-tion
l
EO re$erd the

~ ~ d l t s a o m a i ~ a o f o x p w i K h & d ~ ~

d Cumpo~itionofthe
dyseedbmb@m&
(Madeb for the mnpdtion of the iacetier of
core and thc tanntle-arc beceod on more indiTabtc 9,l b the gmeraily am&
~8dmam
f cicments in rhe
emmi AT b
m

tim In crystdint 8 t m t a m bmwu~

atoms.
S l h k a m for~co~bi~edw'3Pflrcmr.
Bocauc
s i b n b tfrc =and m m a h d m t h a t in the cruet, mar
mine& cofirainsilm. The ewamon mined
(SiOJ ia
pure &GI &ath;rs a y d k d QW i~OM O? many m j n d
rhtlr are
d m m a hat contain silica (as indimd by
thrir &mid hmulaa), Most silicate ttrinerals ah contain
one or mre o t k elemfntrs,
Notl: that Ebk &idmost &M&P d m t : is a h h u m ,
whidthlrtoremmmoa m d t h n n i E O & W o g t h i s ~
m i & t ~ d u t P l ~ ~ w o u l d b u h ~ t h
imn, but of cmmc tihi b not thc we. COXaRm
i & are not
m i d Eor aluminum b w ir ia m strongly h n d d KO pxyn and otha k t % . The mount of enrequired to
Prwk rhea. bonb and rcpsrnr. the dumiaum &a rbo
pmcw too wcly hr wmmaid production, Almimum h
mind htllt b w
~ m m o n +itswhere d u r n i n u d m h g
& haw bken wearhem& prodraring ctrmpunds in which
the crysrPtllinc:bowhi are flat rn m n s *

a"

Collectivefy, cke ei t elements listed in table 9.1 aauunt

formore than 911% o f t e weight ofthecrust. Alf the orhci elemenrs total only about 13%. k
t Emm the mp eight el*
menm are such viral elements h y d q m (tenth by weight)
and carbon (mcntmnth by wight),
Thc element wpper i s ody wenyewnth in abundsrntr,
but out i n d u s ~ mcicty
d
is highly depdalr on tbh meral.
Most of the wiring in demonicaquipmcnt is c
o
w
,na am mmy
of thc dcphone and power cables thar
rhr: cantinat,
H m I the d s m
s
r ia nor hmogenmus, and geological
p
m baw cmted mmntratium dekmenm mch rur copper

in a h
v dams. lbplnmim

ate: employed by miniq

c o ~ ~ ~topdkwwwherc,(w*~
rh
why) ow dqdtsr ofcop+
p r and ohcr metab w (see chapter 211,

- - -

Ebmm

WWQM

M.8

&t

27.7

Mmlnwn

Al

Imn
CaWm
s@d"m

8.1
5.0

Ga

3.8

'9&8
'0.0
0,8
03
1.0

Ha

2.8

1.4

2.8
2.1

$3

Ww
'SMcOfl

1;
I

Vblllnrr

=rn

m s a l ~ m

bn other slmmts

aa

OfAtomC
60,58
a.5
1.9
f .B

2.6
1.8
1.4
3.3

usc the atoms in glass are as n n d e d y urmgcd its

"frozen" into place, The structure of
hat: would happen if fish iikc tho= in
re 9.6) were swimming W y uld ranthe wpm suddenly froze.
t crygral srmccurtls &rived
on efcmcntri in thr arch's crust-

s&comOrygen Tetrahedron

twu most pbundmt elements of thc cnrst, silicon and oxycombine to form the basic building block for masr corn. In each "buildingb W " bus a y p atoms are
cr amund a sin e, much srnallcr, silicon atom,
gure 9.7A, The our-sidcd, pyramidal, gtomctric
ad a tewhdrnn b d to r e p m t the tbsrr u x y p
sumundhg a silicon acorn. &ch mrnm of thc d e m m t a the cmwr of an oxygen atom (figure 9.78).
uilding block of a qsd is called a silkon( a h known as the sifia ~
~
)

atomsoFthe~odn,nnrrsttomgtybdd~~~~

9.8

~ ~ ~ o d r o n t h e ~ ~ e a r osplh,
w e print
a by
d M. C. Emher,
OM, C, EscharlCwdonArt-BaafnMtand.
d q a k c +m 9.7A and 9,&4), A
ttmhdmn i s a c o m p l a r ~ w i ~ h a f i o r ~ O f S i 0 ~ ~
siIlconhas1~&~6*4dtheEorPr~iomb8

ah-

All rlghts m w o d .

pltoasr 0.7
(A)The smcbn-oxygeom h e d m n . (B)The a r ~ n - ~
Wdwdmn s h o w i n g t h e ~ o ~Wh3m
f ~ ~
the centers of oxygen h a .

For the s i i i c e n q n d c d
uysd smctum, it rnust ihcr (I) be
itivcly charged ions or (2) share o
w atoms
W e d r o n s (a6 hin fiiZurr 9 . K and Dl
r&cc the nead for ems, positively dharged
mrcs ofsilicate mine& q h m an b&ed
flgun-

l
hsihgIe Mmhadrons ( A and 8 )mqulm more ptd$vdy charged
ktis to maintain slectrW n e w Warl twa tehhedmns Eiharifq
atom (Cand 0).8 and D are the WwmtFc
an
~
~of Aand C rmpkdwty.
i
o
~

which depends m*

teerahedram @er,

on

**

char@

ro*d&.Tm

pk),inwhichdqpawmsaresharad
h
n
s
.T ~ v;uious
G
r y p of dkm smmm are s h w d
diagrammaticallyin Ggue9.9 and are dkmsxirica.

htWdS&at2? Stmcmm
Silicate minerals that are structured so that: none of the oxyatom arc s h a d by tctnhedmna have an i.o*lod
d b t c smadmm Thc individual siIicon~xygcntetrahe
drons are bonded together by positively charged ions (figure
9.1 0). The common m i n d ohins for example, cjanmins
pva ions of e i h r magnesium (Mg+l)or iron (Fci2) for each
idiconsxygea tcdedron. The formula for olivine is

gen

{I%, Mg),SiO,.
B

B two oxygen atoms of d tetrahedron are sbarcd with adjacent mmhedmm, the result may be a chain of tatrshodmns, a

;dmia dim atmctum Each M a , which extends iaddpidp has a n b acw on&ve charges. T h e ratio of silicon
k
(as
9.1 1 shows} is 13; t h d b r e , each m i d
$I this group (the #mm group) inarpotatw SiOJ4 in its
~ r m u l a ,and it must be dectridy balmcad by the positive
ions that hold rhc padel duim togaher.
One pyroxene mineral, for vie, has a formub of
This pyroxene may form in a coaling magma wfrcn
rmd q d s of olivine, M & S i 4 , react with s 8 k a
remaining mdt (as discwed in tbe chap- on
origin of ignmus rocks). To acmrnmodPw tht &+apt
&a, oiivine's isolated siliarc smcnue is mmmgcd inm the
&+hain
siliate
of pyroxene. In rhis
Mg+'
'bo c a y dLe positive ion positions bmrmtxl
as
&own in ,&m9.1UP
'
I
The snapbikk p u p is cham ,d by tm +oS.
,&aim (double-chain silicare srrucnuc) in && m
e y oher

%I1
~ d t h & b ~ . ( A ) M o d e l d a ~ n d W
~.(8)The~chalnsl~showndltrgrammatioEdly~
bns b t m m the chains are not shown.
linfted WaMdms;

ion with th;c adja~aah4drondong a fhain shares an

cent &ah (see figme 9.9). Ln e v ~ na s m d amphihh crpad,
millionsof p d d double & a h are bunckd m g c h by pos-

itivdy c h g d ions.
M i n d wi& chain siricatc strucnu~rend to be shaped
lib C Q ~ needles,
,
or even fibers. The long structure of
tbe w e d farm m m p o d s to the hear dimension of the
chin smcam. Fhmw aggrcpw of m i n d ate d l c d
mbesttw (a
Box 9.3).

n sham thmoqgm ions, the result k a

smteum c h m c m k i c of the mica p u p and

When d~
d
&bet

yv'??!y
s

:. ,N-

a
s
v

3 b ~ isi a gciicric namc

for fihrtrus aggrcgares of

mW~mbto&tb,itmay~,mdm~

SUi~~~mitpaPisDbedran~hrsulntbop fbr h o r n snd ort8trbuiIdhpd has d

yb
~in~fbr~Fiffeof~girrcommffcialvari& o f ~ h ~ ~ e ~ , l m r a w R ~ s t r ~
"bm"
aad "h
aehws,
n The six& Mt.iecy is chgs&,
whkb is n0c.a chain sihmae and M o w to rhc qm&
woridaE asTh&d M h a , Quebcr= A study ofbqgim
far+ of naiads, and is more commonly k ; n m as 'white
Th&d Mines & n ~ , W ~ E bE o r n ME$
the m a
p k b m the &ma dm,i n d i d &at heir i n c i h c t 1 I
Wt abm is, by Ear+ dat mait 9ornmonly
'
~ i i ! ~ t s h ~ ~ 1 ~ u t 9 5 % d r h a r U p E d i n of~raasnahighmthanrharofCa&&amd.Nut
tht
U@hBB
b ~ v e ~ i t k & e U n i d ~ b e c n d dtei nt oon W E $ h > d o s k m sin k
k Wtd $tmahas m&ed in
pabad aptwe to data a d ~ C M One
.
&c
sf
hkihg'
=Mbhhr-Bmwmon~ce~

~ a ~ d f ~ & o m a m a x & c t o ~ s w c

OfbiHioasof

d y s t b e t ~ ~ p e r l M 1 ~ ~ w , ( ~ p- t

havtbceaavM--

~ ) r n ~ a r g e P l d F h ~ h m ~ a n d o robf dad a h l i g h
d4pulOO~M)~esorau
public b*.
awbk &dl ,600 .th& per 1W,OQO
).-il
! I

""Zi,

A s k d b d ~ ~ d m ~ f t o m t h r M & A P a t h ~ eh ~ a ~ - d m n ~ f & a s ; I k
dudprad for Em4mlmmd hwcrion Agmq 5yxF
a b m s workers +,
widmet pmwcive a&,
m~dyhi&lwaIsof&ms&.Swned~
Wdeslwpha&ort~frOmwhmwbemsis
w c r ~ , w h o s e W i ~ ~ w ~ d w i & ~ w q c a U ~
Q l~
d
~

r In ~Mas*,
~ . b
~ jcrq,

the

chddm dG d I
a h x w dust d d &om the asham

(&tc

~& d

~~~~toJapam.lt~rrnrkIl$gdin&U
, n
S w , l a a p e th U.S. Is die only i n d t d a h d nation 4 '
~

b A yt p 6 a n a8 " .

m h arc n ~ b m e d
w
and l u q am.
pc'~rhc~0f
k k t o s i s k d& to sslieois a n m d by minab, asenwhy & y W k is b
s h x & d ~ u athan strnphibok
A
tidy the -1
b m e clogged with a k t w dust &er
L&*&
W
w
U
l ~ I V inCl u n ~ a n d
p t h g e d h e # y a p ~ r c . T h e i a d b o f ~ Z h aphibde d
l m.Rewot aperimats byhmtiirrs nt Wr- '
h ~ h i & a m o ~ ~ o s ~ ~ w k m m ughiia
m &lydmicInmitute
&
in&nhat ha h sibout a par
a

hw

~
.
~
s
~
*
~
t
~
~
t
o
W h
b r El h r
f ps
e 0~
~ 6 bsm t a d i s s s l v e i n b g ~I ~
d G a m e t g m ~ l n g n ~ a s b r m & ~ h -& m s d & s a m c ~ w i U d I s s o h n : u n l y ~ d h a u r ~~~lknarrd&t~k)A&bs,&asla

drd-

~far~~mm(evmiffbrastrorztma).
W h a t a m t % l e ~ e f ~ t o a n ~ u a l i h a
budding where 4 ar dings can& a s h ? -kwst
audits fhm a wide
of scientific Wphm i a b
h d w r i & a r e m i n i r m d m n o ~ t , ~ 1 ~ $ r ~
in the

sure to whim a h aThe hqmc sbtstos &a

Ya&kr&mis-hiagpd iacwsiqlyas *sub-

~ stitute
W f&t drt b t Bo S .

Dehite Chemical Composition

The fbttrth aimion, rleaniw chernicd

mmpdtion, m k
~ t ~ b e c a w o f r h e i n h e r * n r o ~ d
wets. W d d p thh mthat chemical anal* of anysam~ l ofs
e 3vctlmbeml ddwaya p d u m rhcame d m of
W h c n a l l f b w w y p i o n . u a r e ~ $ d j o ~ ~ rdements
~ ~ (in quartzl fbk mmpft, ma atom uf
anymineral.
~ ~ & ~ ~ i s b d ~ i s a E r arornafsilicon).hoburcr&~~mjwition
a m e can be m p d sa a c h s n i brmrrla Quartz aad halite have
d siliate mind, A &Idspar i s P fcmwotk dimre as wdL
Sam 6rmuks art
However, im ~ t r u a c ~iseslightly more complar -b
du-. impkc form&, $0,and NaCl,
m r , aompfm
~
bmw mmx uf anc:dement may ~~bgti.CLttC
for
m i n m rwbtidhi~cshr some of the silimn mms hsome of the
&ow of another efment in a pgtriwlar mind. This ie knomr as
tar&c&ns, The m m kind crfaubtzitution dm ralscs p b tn
~hfbpI1cCfolRFar t 3 8 C B n ~ , w c ~ t t P C I b r s n t J 9 f b t h c
anrphibolcs and mi- which helps account ht the wide miolivine u (Fe, M&SiO,. &muse mapalurn and imn iow arc
eqWfsrliauM.
about tht m m stzc, &cyan w b t e fmiy fbr d o h withwc disroniq the qd muctm and

TbC

Thm ape other meanings fur b e word m i d that canwith the gcob@t78 dednlciun. T h c *tninc?tslfsM l h d on
do with what polb r a , for hsrolnce,have no-m
or chemism m a n when they d abut minerdti. Not,
mattar, dow the g c o l a ~ddnitim
'~
a p e with the
W t i o n of P mineral. To P miner, a *&mI" is
of m r n m ~ dvalue that is e x t m d from rhc:

p m p r h of the xnind Somc

~ ~ ~ ~ m m p I c ! t r h a t L d l e c r y s r a l ~
q r d ~ u a h s w b s r i ~ r n ~ ~ ~
Ordcrly &ations in c h d c a l cornpsidons cm mist
within dt@e ctptalr. TtrL propmy is knuwn as anin& Zcning is very w m m n in
fcldsp (the cnrstas most
abundant mind, described later in rkis chapter). In &ok &urn (Cn)and sodium (Na)can subsrinta r one
another within &c upid mumme (figure 9.12). Cornrnartly,
phgioche ia igitcom & k mud w i h xhe miter d h e

c~tbcingh@hCu;mardthe+,rbectyawlkp
p i v c l y richer in Na (and poomr In Ca). This iy9 intcrpmed
u indicath~rhat the crystal s
d growing &en cryacaHbtion ofmagma h q p at a high tapcmtupc. Wgh r e m p

book the rm m i d iti u d micdy in the gm-

i
m n*l
thcussd cryscwy. In parti&,
w ha*
m i b d the wrious orderly arranspmrntaf of atam fox rhc silE&ds.
Nature h not a l w w acmmmodadw to
dlim bur othcwisc mter the crimFi61 for a m i n d . T h a
quit*minerata arc died #'&i&
An ,
14nde OF r
d o i d i s o p b whida docs not k c a my ode+ m m p
ne of ib atsms.

i
dpad Inorganic sab8mla
emdaadMcrlwrianoodli&

ba&a,,HwW&

k ~ ~ e s o m p g u n d s a r e n o t ~ d s ~ ~ m
m w i c r b c c s , which axe compounds o f d r t ,
med+ by f i n g o*.
~~enqaeiwrr
U &Us or other b d parts that ate co~8iW
m
. qd

S f a ~ ~ o f r h t m i n c r a l ~ ~ ~ ~ i i s ~

w*.

~~tC01mdIowamp~hwPkin
A
B
~
~
~
t
b
~ , ~ t h E s e w h ~ o f p h # & i n ~ x p o d ~
dhly
Na md les$ Ca.
Chumid
mi aid the h h S w i o n af ah*

kforavaricryof~rls,bd~theecsst~d'~d
~ a n a l y s i e , p ~ p r o ~ { w h i i c h d t e r ~
c 0 ~ p i a n , ~ w e l l ~ b o ~ a n d d r p s E a l l i ~ ~ ~ u c
nwrc
usd in identifyingmincraIs. T h a ppm&
aaEdescribcd~~thi&pm.

The Impoannt M i n d
It b

u d u t m be able to associare thc name%of important

@nerds with the ~ h y s k d

p p e r r i a that idend6 them, Of
9,
whx ansdxuws an 'imPant*'snjntd depends on
pour ptsptctb. To a miner or prospacror, an impartant
miaet.1 is one that iQ w m m d y valuable [and b, by

hpliatioh, relatidy uncommon). A "rack hound' is larerin c W n any mineral b t is pmtty or u n d , A

gerno~ogisrs p w
in rrnthose varietiw of m i n e d &at are
of p n quality (diamonds, erzl~dds,
etc,), A minedogist is
a scientist who m d i e thc chemistry aad crystallographic
s t r u m of mitlwaS. In r4h book tbe &uaS m regard as
important arc hose that help us u&seaad thc nature of
rhc &. We are parcicuiar4y interned in the m&-#r*rriwg
mbmIr because they make up most ef the r& of the

+L

eatEd

c a d & wt.

Ofthc dt h o d identifiable &EFals on ad,

most are * z ~ eand nor impomt m p1oU (many occur ;rt
aia on the dobe).Only a h hundred are c h i hO dd as
ya$3
-f$rming r n i d ~ Even
. mosc ofhcs~
arc rdatiwly
mammon inmmprhm wi&,thtbe fmminer& that makP up
~

'

&

&

oftable 9..2 m w t fbr welI ova 90% of &e

h the u p p
d ' s mustcrWr art h e r n b r d Whose
~
nama r e u most

~itl&bools,Au~sili~
Qmttz may be the d y k d k r n n m ~among the most
-on
m i n e d , u&
p u bye ahead? had some expoitwe to plow. Hmmec, Kkc people, each m i n d has its
own character or phpical pro*.
As you b
e more
h m i h with &a,
thy will h m c more than just s m q c
name.
As shown in table 9.2, mint& with similar c r y d armcmm md cmhpddzioar are group& d n a common name.
The mogt a b b t p u p ofmirreda in h e d s d u ~ tia:
the
growaLike q u a , the feldspars are h m m r k
dlicatesr However, alumin- has subsdruttd for some ofthe
silicon in thr linked t e d d m m (dtuniaum ions a d &con
ioas are Asc to the same h)fn
. addition to silium, dumiam, and oxypm, M&pm contain d u r n , dcium, ot
potmitun. Those that antah potassium are d c d
riartr M 4 p . (Two powium M
qnallogfaphic &renm
tplimc k~and
thatobed w h ) If
sodium or calcium (or both) are incopparad into the

?r

s m k of m i n d . A&
H iErenrwt c o m r r u r p . d
, hdkd b dae m
r common a r n p W k

mcn.wyra& but me&: up onfy awbex

~asawhcrtc.

whi& OCT
Ndicaae &m&
Indridc d w
afonIyam~r,~I$lsanativech+
m&t~~aam
phiPe, b d d 8 w Mam oomp d wMy d
r n d h m chdfied
ro the +icIant
ncptiwly &a&
ION in d d r
~ ~ . F w ~ ~ k d i i 3 1 0 a c h l o ~ b e
+yduf$diominthcct),dmQ:Ifrhed=d
tondCO i o w , k i s a ~ . S ~ ~ h w S - ~ E o
m b soit 4 axi&r ~l (but dthout si S. c
rcsl the oxygen atoms),
Nonsilia mirr& rn h mom abundant on the
earrh'smrfirccbnin tbsausrpsawh&Coldta[&um
A r e , or CaCQJ)h t h ~
most m m o n noosiiime mink s s l t l ~ n d i s u d i y b d ~ r unatrdwspstbas&,
r
Limemneand &lc ate rodcs cornpod W y d d d t c

~~

&.

murialdwmmtam~t~Amoag~ommk&as~
j
&
n
~
(
~
*
~
a
a
d
~
and a q p i r o n sul6dr: Gtfre rained cWq+u) ehrar is dw
mainswr#ofmpp.hdcomcshm~~~~md
Z i t K i B ~ h m s ~ ( a k ~ ~ ,

The Physical PI
of Minerals

des

The besr approach to undtrstarrding

propercia of
m i d is to ohmin a sample of each of the most common
wk-hnniag miner& named h table 9.2. Tbe pmpmics
M WI rhcn be identikid in h e ampla.
To idcatifv an &own mind, you should h t deterh e its physid pmprtics, tben match the propcmes with
appropriate mineral, using a miaaal, idendhtion key or
duwt such as the ones indudEd in A P p & A of this b
1
W& a bit of esprimcc, p u m;ry get to irnow the fkw dhgnostic t a t s for each common m i n d and no longer need to
&r to an i M f i a r i o n tabft.

Thc b
t thing mbst p p k notice abut a mineral is its color.

For sorae.miae&, color is a &

M d t e mim
is
ar eolodm. M s t of the hmiqn&n m i n d
(irod@um-bearing),
such as augire, hornblende3
olivine, and biotite, are either green or black
Etause mlor % so obvious, begking mdeats rmd to
rdy too heady on it 9a key to mined identifiation. U&rnmady, color is a h apt to be the most ambiguous ofphysid
properties. If you look at a number of q m qm&, for
i n s m e , you may find specimens that m w h i pi&
~ black,
y&w, or purpIe. C o h is mmmdy d b l e in quartz stnd
many other mine& beaw wen minute &emid impuriae
can stmnglF h c c it. Obviously, it is poor p d m to
attempt to identify quam s d y on rhe basis of color.

A pdverized m i n d giva a color, called a & shat us*

is mare rdiable than the d o t of rhe s p h m i d . Suaping
the
ofa m i n d sample aaoss an m g h d porceIah plarc
-1
a
fbac may bc diagaostic of h e m i n d . Fot
instance, hcmatitc always lava a roddish b m d rhough
the sample may be b m or red or silver.
U-y,
few of the &ate min&&c
m
common minmls-leave an ihtifying s d b u 8 c most
are harder than the podaka streak plate.

Luster
The qualirp and intensity ofli@t that is d d ftorn the rmrficc of a m i n d is t~smed
-1
(A photograph wnnac,&ow
&is quality,)T h e Iuster ofa mineralis d k b c d by corn&
it to hiliar s y b ~ m m .

The p m p q of
fairly &lp,
For

s o b s r a n c e m ~ k & ~ c m ~ & ~ ~ o
s o l o a t b , ~ & Q f ~ e ~ d . ~
match d c i w or Mchpat, Subsq w g n si3
(f~ble
9.31, on
&
mqwd

mhd~&gffate;d=mn~of-.Tbfi~w
m i n d talc E
d br dctm +bd i m safrne#
isMpda 1; D i a m Q o d , & e * d s u b ~ e *
Earth, k10anthe&

Rath~~barryni+esdthcmmW~g
d
y dies on wmQn&jam rqil

pt+t ddng fieM+c

mtk~css(&e9,3).Ah@ur~bPsahydnaf
of about 2'/9, M ~ CW3
u -dl & WOO& S l U b sf a &

dwi&yout~rbc~tssoftk&dmwtt>ii
1- &an Z41z Jzfigm9.13).A
& or a penny ha 4

~
f
c
~

tg~bEfPHeEn3and4;~,theb~mid
a o e a f ~ ~ i s r n ~ m f i u ,
h e ~ i n . A k n i k ~ ~ ~ a ~ l r a i X ~ e c
d y ~ f # : ~ 5 , b w i r ~ & o n
doy 4 A
ukea a
blade to &gui&
berw#tl wfwr m i n d mr& as caleik, rrnd stma& appw

h g w ~ ~ , s w d z u ~ O * ~ & w
wuaIIyslightly harder than a& b U c I&ou& wmeg&
sach asthatcmminingld is8mu&soW,c a n h e u d h b

wneqas.akui&bladebrhardnessmts,A&[onema&
ofrempedsted f u r f h g d , n o t a h g m d f l e ) an&

mum 9.1 3
;'(h&dm:
wy'aerM%!kgy$~M~@ku'dWm
*
. .*!JJ
..

..

Quadz ctyelate a h d n g hw ~ W OIntomcia! angle6 rmdn the

same h prfecny ptopomnrtd crystals (A) and mkhapen (B),

lace
b.

"buiIding bl&" its usual crysd

am ar 90' mglm ra d ocher.

h is a & with

Cltaraga is onc of the most u d d d h p & rods bBEPlsa~

arc srmd grain* in rodrs,

a (figure 9,191. If we could look

at the

atarns in rhe c r y d n c struccurc of micas, we

tbar the individual silica tetrahedrons are strongly
o one another wirhin each of the siliearc sheets. The

m i dh m ma
tca another.
for idcntEEji miwda when rhty

The wide variety of rombinadons d y w d m

clfdavage dm incttl3des the diagnostic d u e o this pmpmq
Mia has single U o n of Jaw, and its quality iy perk.
O t k mined m ch&d
by one, m, or ~ D N
dea~ee~ t h e q u P l i y c s l n ~ f i o m ~ r o p w r
(pmt dmwp ir wry I d hr myum but a d t r a i n e d minemlo* to k ~ ) .
T h e of dw most common m 4 d p u p &
Mdspars, dw " p h i u s , and the p m n h t
w
d i d o n s of dmt C g w 9.203 and C). In Mhpars, the
two dIre&nar arc at angln of &tit 90' to mch &, a d
bth dicedons tm ofvety pprrd qualfty. In p-,
the two
dirmioas rn nLo at h t ri@r zn~kr,but the galicy h Daly
f k i t , I n a r n p h ~ ~ ~ 9 , 2 1 $ , t b e ~eda-ia
tgd
vcrgpudand & e x m & r & m s a r c a t a n wgIeofSBo [or
124" hi the obcw a+).

Clga.19
( A ) Mica pulld etpart along cleavage planes. (B)Wtlonshlp of
mlca to cleavage. Mm crystal structure O aknplffid in this
diagram.

1:

F
t
ma20
PosdMe typw ol mineral c.-

(A) One direction of cleavage. (5)Two directions of cleavdge that in&& at 90' angles
an example. ( C )Twa di&ns
of dewage that du not intersect at 90 angle$. Amphibole Is an example. (0)Three d l r d n
that i n t m l at 90 angles, Halite is an examplk (4
Three diredons of cleavage that do not immd at 9 O Q ~ l eCalcite
s.
m m p t ~( .F ) Four directions of deavage. Dlamond is an example. (0)Slx directlws of cleavage. Sphalerfte Is an e x ~ l e .
Reprlnred by petmisslmtram R. D. Dallmeyw, Physical G m h y Labwaiwy Manual, Dubrrque, Iowa: KenddMlunt Wblishlng Cwnpany, 1978.

234

c4@*g

9.23
Conchoidal fracture in glass.

Recoghizin~dewage and determining angular &donships betwaendmvagc dimions cakes some practice, Studwe
new to m i n d identihion e n d to ignorrdmvage bmuse k
is nor as imrndately apparent to the eye as color. But dammining d
v is ft.9u~tld.ythe key ro identifjiq a m i n d ,
so rhe s d amounr ofp&
o ~ d to
d hdop
&ill b
worrhwbifc.

~isrhewaya~cebreaicswhcrenotmn
M k d s that have no citamge mmmody have aa

"T
m 9-*

Some m i n d s break dong c u d fractwc &h

IEgurE 9.23). T h e Imk EIrc thc inside
o f a h pr conch shell.This tppedFiffaurriswmm&
o b m d in quam and m e t (bur Fitat miner& ah,
&uw
imgular 1
-.
CunchoM Craetrule h p m i d d y commna in glass, i n U w obsidian (volcdc glass).

as m-2-

SpecifUc Gravity
WmiaanrxPrrapleufamincEal.wirhhnrrrelleatck-

It is c q to tell hat a brick is havier than a loaf ofb d just

by hefting each of thcm. The brick has a higher G q ,
wzighr p given volume, than thc bttad. Densiry is carnmody
expmsed as a@c
rhe ratio ofa mass ofa substaaoe

to the mass ofan equal volume ofwater.

did~~all.~wto~~.mis*~~~klll~

m 9 ~ ~ . ~ b & y g % r & w ~ ~ ~ p Liquid

r r water
~ d has a specific gravity of 1. (Ice, b c i n ~lighter,
kas a specik p i t y of about 0.9,) Most of the common d i t i e p k p i i d M m d i e c u b e & c a s h~
~ +R'I&
a&d$ob4tSb~d~&'&t.
cate b r a I s w a g h &our rwu anda halftima as much as
~ q wluma
d
of watw q u m has a s p i f i c gravity of 2.65;
!dX&m.bartdsrrl
not*t*Gdbdmgeiskamas
@gu&s9 . 2 ~ the fekpars
from 2.55 to 2,76. Special d c s are needed
to detamiae s p d c gmvity precisely, However*a p m n a n
k9J2).
s ~ m e ~ ~ h p V C m o n ~ . r h n r & O ~df
d ~discinpiah by band m y d e w m i n e d such as galena (a
lead &c
with a spccik p v i t y of 7.5)h r n the much Iess
we 9*20pand %andhas
h&tir

*
T

a.

s ~ r * , *
ht
h u a d into mall cia- -4.
k, & pdfis'pd ore of z i h b
~ six d h d b n s .

Sphd-

~dense
d &ate mherals.
Gold, with a @c
gravity of 19.3, is much heavier dxtn
plena. &cause of its high density, gold can be collected by

*pmh~."W t &e lighter day and silt pPrdclt8 in the p

aie s b k d but with the warn, the gdd dust
M i n d in the
bottom ofthe pan.

hupmieg that are ustful in

ody a few Znstatlm indude mw

and d.
Halite o b x i d y tastes salrlp; few other mincrsls
hsm any taste at d,An "dsmell
f is b t e c i s e i c ofsome
clay n i h e d whan t h q ~ J Cmoimmd.
Plagiadase &Idspar commody &bim mi&straight, p d e l Iinss on the flat surfaces of one of the two
dmmgc directions {figure 4.24). The tin@ appear ta be
utcbtd by a deliscribm, In phgioelabc, they aff u c d
by a systematic &an& within the pattern of ugsralline
Suucnue.

The m i n d mapedtt (an iron oxide) b ~ d ia

s name to
its c h c t d d c physical property d bcEag a
d to a magn a Where law bodies of magnetite are h d m the d f
cnast,cornpaas n d e s p i n t toward the magnetite b d y nxher
than to magnetic north. AirpIsna navipring hycompass have
become lost b w of h e influence ofl q e map& M e s .
Some other mine& are weakly m g a i c i their mgnctism
a n o+ bcl d e t d by spacia2im-lmjpemme~rs,similar to
med daccmn in dtpom.
A dear crystal of Eacite exhibits an nnufuaI pmpwy. If
p u place mmparmt dcite mr an image on p a p , you will
set rwo i n u p (&re
9.25). This phmomenon is known 8s
&b& +n
and is =usad by light splittinginro two amp e n o when it en- some crydhnt a
&.
Highly specialized equipment is n d c d ro derect some
prdperdes. Perhaps mosc imporrant rn the chac;&tic

cfkcrs of minerals on X raysI which we can explain 04

briefly here. X rays entering a erpsralline subscancc s&
ddi~ctedby plan= of atoms w i t h the crysd. The X
1-e
the eqstal at pmcise and m d l e angles conmlied
by the orientation of tht planes of atoms h a t make up rbc
internal crystdine s~~
(figure 9.26). The pdmm d
X raps cxiting can be recorded on phow~raphicfilm ar
various d n g hitrumen&. Each minerd has its own
partern of A d X rays, which S~PYESas ari identifying
*fingerptht.*

Simple Chemical Tests

~ n e & ~ d ~ o n i s m ~ + d f o t i d c n ~
The m i n d d&, as d as aotrre odacr dmnatc m i t u d

CO;'), rror. with a 4d m prodtlDc Th,

d i ~ x i d e p . I n ~ m t , a d r O p o f ~ u m ~
~ m ~ - P ~ o f ~ ~ r e b u bw &
b f n~v a ~r a p~d oyn a ,~m d- r s m m a d c o f ~ , Y o u w i l l s a
C U , g a ~ i s ~ f o d N o d y t h i s h t h t o n l p haw some m i d e d s b d c hc h d d y a n d fom n w ~ ~ i u
ctpcthrtrp1~doduttrg~~
eraIsPKhenaroekfindPidfinanewpbysicaI&g,fror

~n&ng

Cycle

~ f k I d s p m ~ f f a z ~ l h & ~ P m e d n r ~ r t m ~
~ w i t h i n t h c d m n m c t w i w i t h ~ ~ ~ t o ~ e

&

&

A s m d n ~ h ~ p t c r 1 , t h e d ~ ~ o f
~ d ~ 4 k r ~~ c
~ ~l ~ ef n~ t e m a l
qgha had did (adcecmnk hrw had t k d o r c stopped
q m k i @ , the d*c
plus gnacrity waytd losg ago
haw l d e d thk &&csl
snd rhe d & h g dtllait Add
have,b-m&mbar.-dk&
h

rn

would be d l q h g *
is to my, eve*
~PndPndgcolagy~d
h , a dud @ject).
is not he we. The intcmd and dfom,mn-

m& No*

would be in @&ma

But
dnuem to*
h ~ . ~ . m ~ o f ~ b ~ , T h c r C -

EOIE,thc!emhhasahigfiEgv&dad,mr&mging&.
Mhdaa y d r o d u ~ a s ~
Ausefitlaidhvis*tb28e&-isb&
qde s b m in l i g m 957. The b majPr rodc q p @C
I WS,
t#ccamorphie, and d i t n e a w A m . h y
k,d may fbrm'sit d m exd vlorher if lr is foroed our
dqtdibriwn vPi& its p h p i d or rlimatie en-cat
by
either i a d or d d hw.
A s ~ i n c h a p r l , ~ i s m o l ~ t ~ . m & ~ & m w
ronCYbmwbca~~dlfiea.lftbc:mgnaisbmu.&~w
~ ~ b y 8 Y d d c ~ p d o n , h ~ d ~ h ~ a n
m
i
*@cow rock. M+pa my a h solidify my slowly
bm,carb rht surf&+ The w u b g - i n i mi ~ ~ u d.
s may
be txpasrad bter a i k up% and emdon remove the d y i n g
rack-(&s b n - i n &m 1,13). The igmow pods
our of
equilibrium, may tben tmdmgouwa&&gand m&m and die
debris p d u d is tmqorred and &mat+ w
a
d(nsu-

Sea level

Irn 9 . a
xk a e with respect to a comrergmt plate bundary, Magma solidhs as Igneous rock at the volcano. Sediment from the ercdd
w ~ i n t h e ~ h t t r e ~ M o f h ~ . S e t d l m a n t ~ t o ~ ~ ~ t t i s b u r f e d b y m o m s a
l M ~ Q & ~ ~ e d . ~ d d q ~ b u r i e d ~ h i c W ~ t y W a m l t h e m r s g m a m w p

~ ~ ' t h e x b c l t ~ - L ~ o n B e w o f m ~ . ~ f f f m r h
l a n t a t y r o c k , ~ o l w h i c h S s e a n t e d d o m f W ~ z a n e . R t a ~ e d a H Hh . m
E ~~ , t o l h e

~~Ibrmsatthetgpofthe~uctionume.

r p r e # m p d d p i m (+I,

-,

mhw.Mat m i n d am dha, vritb rht

silicond & m as h e b i c
bd&g blodr.
Edhp arc the masr oarnmon mintr-

The. i n w d a n kwvcm the inrmd

md external Fotres ufth a h is itlustrated
by the rock cycle, a w n q d device rchting igneous, sedimentary1 md maamorsdgnorbalaamisan imx
a l s h l n ~ s ~ T h n w m o s r 3 u a -phi m& ro cad oh*, ro 91~ffidd
m- or atoms bond mgqhek in vctjr d a n t a r i n d a r a : q u a ~ . r z , r h e ~ ~ t hpc m s m such as wearhering and erosion,
p ~ ~ n n t m m u c s ~ t n r ampllhtep,
r :
md&miau. All arediatks,
and ta inwnal procaws such aa manic
k.
M h d an: d y idendfied by their for% changes Eake p b when m e or
L q d h c substaaw is C U n s i M a
mom pmccsses force a t b ' s material out of
P~WP--~@W~
m o p t . ~ p h ~ p r o p a t y h ~ & -aquili&riunr*
id fin plogic mms) if 3r is nnnrdy
aPd imrgmic and Itas a d&te
t i o n ~ ~ i Q p o ~ p h ~ p r a p $.eomposidoa
~ a F E d e J g Q a 3 ~ r n ~
w ( - ) d A $ i \ A t a d e m c n t h y s has
me &n
OF pmmm An atom ia
, he p i r i v e and negative d d c

~ t b r a e ~ a b u n d s e t e l ~ r s l la t
@'I a m act oxygen, silicon, and ah-

& w b I * d d *

e-

15.

~ m o s r ~ t m t y
(a) a ) ~ h
cI
bfd m Ic3 4~
h3 r ~ n

ofabut (42-3 (bl 3-4

( ~ F6
1 Cd)7 4

16. Wb&b is aor m e of a sihde dkdn-o&tmhedtd [a) thc

a t ~ m o f r h e ~ ~ m ~ ~ b o n 63th
d s d m ~ ~ ~ )
a n r r n w (c)
~ $PeIrmj,isSiO,
~
(d) irkas four
h na w n s

17'. Which b not a type dbilic4ta mmm?

(8) bW (h) M c
chain (c) &k dtain (d) sheet [c) kmemtk (F)p n q p d
.I& Thc m a t $amtrronminer4 in the d 8 drusr is (4 q m
(b] kbpr {c) m
r
m
c f4amphibole ( 1 bioda
I
C.

Ex~andi~
Your
~ g Knawledgi

, Why are nonsilimte m i n c d s more

mmmoa an the s
h of the d

3. What happens to the arom in water

whrn it b?
Is ice a mined? Is a
glacier a rock?

than within the crux?

HawdoFsa~inrheatm~~phcre
di&rfromoxypin~and~~

&um,W

H.,and W.H.

nen. 1993. Rr'nn'pk of

2d ad,Dubuque. Jm Wm. C.

~ 1%
d Q ~t l ~ W ~i x~ t d n w d c ~ w i n $ 6 w ~ ~ a

4. How would you expect dw ap-w

oFa rack high in imn and -durn
w &fir from a d t with very lide

iron and rqncsium?

http:llww.rt~~ktraun&~wrnl

Bobi Rwk Shop. Gntains a g m s

amount of idormation For minerd
collectors, Click on ' c ~ o p p h and
y
mined "psdsystemnfor a more in-depth
study of crpseaiiognphy than presented in

tb book
brrp:Ilwww.mul,ilc.uWGrologyl
MincralWeb/hlinrral+Web.hrmI
M i n d Web. Crysd struaum are dtsphyed
in 3-D. Tk strucmm rotatate and yau a n
manipdm rhc toration using a mouse You
must M
I CHIME, a program fPr viewing
the. -s
CHIME can be d d o a d c d
easily Fmm this site. Once installed, take a
look ar the cFystaI sttucmm ofdiamond,
olivine, m d t e , md other minepals, You
can also observe the various s i l i c o n s w

cctrahodron strucmm.
hrrp:l/~b.wt.rtc~l
-dab&&&'
M i n d &&&em There am dcscriprions of

dose to 4,000 mineral speck. The

dwcriptions include m i n d properties

beyoad the scope, of an introductory p l o g

c o w , however, rhtrc arc linics ro orher sitw
&ainclude p i c m a of m i n d .
http:llwww.rh-d
Thef*.
Wotm df & L d s Pnd p s .
Click an Mineral Gailcry and choasc a
minerd to v i m phocos and properties of
that mineral. The Gemstone GalIcy has
photas ofgem mine&.

hcrp:llgalq.einrr,nedi~I@
gcmicons.hrml
Websix for thc Smithdanian M
w
mineral and p n collmion.

@ @-

% p h m artlas t f r n l d . h
s

ES County Museum of
N n d Hisrory. For a review in Elob's R d
shop @, to h r p : J / w w w . ~ C Q n r l

roEkshoplphoto-ath.hml