CHAP 3.

1 Rocks versus minerals

Minerals naturally occurring inorganic solids, which posses a definite internal structure and specific chemical composition. Rocks consist of one or more minerals. - e.g . mineral : calcite; rock : limestone.

> 3500 element identified, 8 most common elements forming mineral:

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Table1: Composition of element in earths crust

Element Symbol Oxygen O Silicon Si Aluminium Al Iron Fe Calcium Ca Sodium Na Potassium K Magnesium Mg Total % % of other elements

% of earths crust 49.52 25.75 7.51 4.70 3.39 2.64 2.40 1.94 97.85 2.15

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pink chalcedony

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sulphur

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Azurite

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Flourite

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Minerals

Minerals naturally occurring inorganic solids, which posses a definite internal structure and specific chemical composition. Gold is mineral. Syntactic diamonds are minerals. Petroleum is mineral. Animal bone is mineral. Steel is mineral.
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CHAP 3.1 Mineral group

Silicon + oxygen = silica (Quartz SiO2 is pure silica)

Minerals containing silica = silicates minerals (Olivine Mg2Fe2SiO4 & Orthoclase KAlSi3O8).
2 subgroups of silicate mineral: Ferromagnesian silicates: (dark color, > dense). Nonferromagnesian silicates : (light color, < dense) Carbonate mineral , (CO3)-2 : - minerals calcite (CaCO3) : limestone. - mineral dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2) SAB 2712

Silicate minerals

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Carbonate minerals

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CHAP 3.1 How are minerals identified

1.

Color .

2.

Cleavage.
Luster. Hardness (Mohs hardness scale).

3.

4.

5.

Specific gravity.
Other useful minerals properties.
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6.

CHAP 3.1 Color

Unreliable diagnostic properties.

E.g. impurities of quartz give variety color (pink, purple, milky white).

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Table 3: Dark-coloured mineral silicates & their typical physical properties

Mineral Olivine Pyroxene (augite) Hornblende Biotite Garnet Colour Green/dark green Black/brown Black Brown Red (variable) SG 3.5+ 3.3 3.3 3 3.5+ Hardness 6.5 5.5 5.5 2.5 7 Cleavages None (poor fracture) 2 2 1 (perfect) None

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Table 4: Light-coloured mineral silicates & their typical physical properties

Mineral Feldspars Clays Quartz Muscovite

Colour White, pink, variable White Colourless, white, red, variable Colourless

SG 2.7 2.6 2.65 2.7

Hardness 6 2 2.5 7 2.5

Cleavages 2 1 perfect None 1 perfect

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CHAP 3.1 Cleavage

In crystal structure of mineral, some bonds are weaker than others. Cleavage tendency of mineral to cleave or break along weak bonding (when stressed) . Cleavage can be identified by distinctive smooth surface that are produced when the mineral is broken. Fracture mineral not exhibit cleavage.
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Figure 1: Cleavage in minerals

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Cleavage in mineral biotite (mica): 1 direction

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Cleavage in mineral calcite : 3 direction

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Serpentine (Asbestos) : fibrous fracture

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Quartz: choncoidal fracture

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Bornite : irregular fracture

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CHAP 3.1 Luster

Luster - appearance in reflected light. Metallic luster minerals that have appearance in metals. Nonmetallic luster glassy, dull, silky.

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Figure 2: Luster appearance.

Fig 2.15a - 44

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CHAP 3.1 Hardness

Measure of the resistance of a mineral to abrasion or stretching. Determine by rubbing the mineral to identified against another mineral of known hardness.

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Table 2: Mohs Hardness Scale

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CHAP 3.1 Specific gravity

Compares the weight of a mineral to the weight of an equal volume of water. E.g. 1cm3 of a mineral weights 3 times as much as 1cm3 of water; S.G. = 3 S.G. of pure 24 karat gold = 20.

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Figure 3: Various minerals properties.

Fig 2.19a - 47

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