Definition of “Mineral” pg. 32 Minerals are the building blocks of rocks. Must exhibit specific characteristics: 1.Must occur naturally. 2.Must be inorganic ( not from living organisms) 3.Must be solid. 4.Must have a crystal structure 5.Must have a definite chemical composition ( chemical formula)

What Is A Mineral? A naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and molecular structure. The latter two is what gives a mineral a set of unique properties. Minerals can consist of elements (i.e. native elements) or compounds. The majority of minerals are compounds. Examples include galena (PbS) and pyrite (FeS2). Native Minerals consist of only one type of element. Examples include Gold (Au), Silver (Ag), Sulfur (S), Diamond (C), Copper (Cu). To be a mineral, a substance must satisfy the following: 1) Occur in nature 2) Inorganic 3) Solid 4) Definite chemical composition 5) Definite molecular structure

Explain why or why not synthetic diamonds could be classified as a mineral. Explain why or why not gas, oil, and coal could be classified as a mineral.

Mineral Groups Reference: Tarbuck and Lutgens Pages Minerals that form the rocks within Earth’s crust belong to seven (7) main mineral groups, which include: 1) Silicates 2) Carbonates 3) Sulfates 4) Oxides 5) Halides 6) Sulfides 7) Native Elements Nearly 4000 minerals have been discovered and named; however, no more than a few dozen are abundant. These few dozen makes up most of the rocks that comprise Earth’s crust. This is why we call them the rock-forming minerals.

Do You Remember? Do you remember the eight elements that make up more than 98 % of Earth’s crust (i.e. continental crust)? List them. Which two elements are most abundant in Earth’s crust? Oxygen and Silicon. Both comprise nearly three-fourths of Earth’s continental crust. Both elements combine to form the framework of the most common mineral group (i.e. the silicates). The framework is called the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron.

Mineral groups Hints!

Hints To Classify Mineral Groups Olivine(Mg,Fe) 2 SiO 4 BariteBaSO 4 CalciteCaCO 3 Mineral groups that end with “ate” and have an oxygen group in its chemical formula are one of the following; Silicates = Si + Oxygen Sulfates = S + Oxygen Carbonates = C + Oxygen

Hints to Classify Mineral Groups Hematite Fe 2 O 3 PyriteFeS 2 Fluorite CaF 2 Mineral groups that end with “ide” and have a metal (e.g., Na, K) in its chemical formula are one of the following; Oxides = Metal + O Sulfides = Metal + S Halides = Metal + Cl, Br, F

Mineral Groups Silicates1)  A mineral group that has silicon and oxygen as part. of their atomic structure. (SiO x )  Comprise more than 96% of the crust (most common mineral group). Rock forming silicates are divided into two groups: Sialic Silicates (Aluminosilicates)  Rich in silicon and aluminum.  Comprise about 85% of the silicates in the crust.  Mineral are light in color. Examples include: Quartz Mica (Muscovite) Feldspar

Mineral Groups Silicates (Continued)1) Simatic Silicates  Rich in silicon and magnesium.  Comprise less than 15% of the silicates in the crust.  Minerals are dark in colour. Examples include: Olivine Pyroxene Amphibole

Mineral Groups Carbonates2)  compounds consisting of an atomic structure of one carbon and three oxygen (CO 3 ).  most common carbonate mineral is calcite (Ca CO 3 ), which makes up the chemcial sedimentary rock called limestone as well as the metamorphic rock called marble. Sulfates3)  compounds consisting of an atomic structure of one sulfur and four oxygen (SO 4 ).  the rock gypsum is an example of a sulfate and it also takes on the mineral name. (CaSO 4 2H 2 O)  The mineral barite (BaSO 4 ) is mined and used in drilling mud.

Mineral Groups Oxides4)  compounds consisting of an atomic structure of oxygen combined with one or more metals.  most common oxides are those of iron (Fe 2 O 3 ) and aluminum (Al 2 O 3 ); referred to as the Ore Minerals. As an example, the mineral hematite is Fe 2 O 3 Halides5)  compounds consisting of an atomic structure of chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br) or fluorine (F) with sodium, potassium, or calcium.  Halite (NaCl) is the most common halide. It is often referred to as table salt.

Mineral Groups Sulfides6)  compounds consisting of an atomic structure of one or more metals combined with sulfur.  examples of minerals include: pyrite (FeS 2 ), galena (PbS), and sphalerite (ZnS). Native Minerals7)  elements that occur uncombined in nature.  commonly called native elements.  examples include: gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), and sulfur (S).

NOTE Note that an ore mineral is any mineral that has enough of a particular element in it to be mined at a profit.

Sample Problem Which is an example of a halide? (A)barite (BaSO 4 ) (B)calcite (CaCO 3 ) (C)fluorite (CaF 2 ) (D)hematite (Fe 2 O 3 )