1. Section 2: Types of Minerals
Minerals are classified based on their chemical properties and characteristics. K
What I Know W
What I Want to Find Out L
What I Learned

2. Essential Questions What are the major groups of minerals?
How is the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron illustrated?
How are minerals used?
Types of Minerals
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3. Vocabulary Review New chemical bond silicate tetrahedron ore gem
Types of Minerals
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4. Mineral Groups
In order to study the many minerals on Earth and understand their properties, geologists have classified them into groups.
Each group has a distinct chemical nature and specific characteristics.
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Types of Minerals

5. Mineral Groups Silicates
Minerals that contain silicon and oxygen, and usually one or more other elements, are known as silicates.
Silicates make up approximately 96 percent of the minerals present in Earth’s crust.
The basic building block of the silicates is the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron. A tetrahedron (plural, tetrahedra) is a three-dimensional shape that resembles a pyramid.
Types of Minerals
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6. Mineral Groups Silicates
Because silicon atoms have four valence electrons, they can bond with four oxygen atoms.
Types of Minerals
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7. Mineral Groups Silicates
Individual tetrahedron atoms are strong and can bond together to form sheets, chains, and complex three-dimensional structures.
The bonds between the atoms help determine several mineral properties, including cleavage or fracture.
Types of Minerals
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8. Visualizing the Silicon-Oxygen Tetrahedron
A silicon-oxygen tetrahedron contains four oxygen atoms bonded to a central silicon atom. Chains, sheets, and complex structures form when tetrahedra share oxygen atoms. These structures and the type of metal ions bonded to them determine the numerous silicate minerals that are present on Earth.
Types of Minerals
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Visualizing the Silica Tetrahedron
Concepts In Motion
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Types of Minerals
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10. Mineral Groups Carbonates Oxides
Carbonates are minerals composed of one or more metallic elements and the carbonate ion CO32–.
Magma is less dense than the surrounding solid rock, so it can rise upward into the cooler layers of Earth’s interior, where it cools and crystallizes.
Oxides
Oxides are compounds of oxygen and a metal, such as hematite (Fe2O3).
Types of Minerals
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11. Mineral Groups Other groups
Sulfides are compounds of sulfur and one or more elements, such as pyrite (FeS2).
Sulfates are compounds of elements with the sulfate ion (SO42–), such as anhydrite (CaSO4).
Types of Minerals
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12. Mineral Groups Other groups
Halides are made up of chloride or fluoride along with calcium, sodium, or potassium, such as halite (NaCl).
Native elements are made up of one element only, such as silver (Ag).
Types of Minerals
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13. Economic Minerals
Minerals are used to make computers, cars, televisions, desks, roads, buildings, jewelry, beds, paints, sports equipment, medicines, and many other things.
Types of Minerals
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14. Economic Minerals Ores
A mineral is an ore if it contains a useful substance that can be mined at a profit.
The classification of a mineral as an ore can change if the supply of or demand for that mineral changes.
Types of Minerals
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15. Economic Minerals Ores
Ores that are located deep within Earth’s crust are removed by underground mining. Those near Earth’s surface are obtained from large, open-pit mines.
The removal of unwanted rock and dirt from mining can be expensive and harmful to the environment.
Types of Minerals
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16. Add link to Animation from p. 100 here.
Major Mineral Groups
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Types of Minerals
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17. Economic Minerals Gems
Gems are valuable minerals that are prized for their rarity and beauty.
Gems such as rubies, emeralds, and diamonds are cut, polished, and used for jewelry.
Types of Minerals
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18. Add link to Animation from ConnectED here.
What’s Earth Science Got to Do With It?–A Rainbow of Gems
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Types of Minerals
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19. Review Essential Questions Vocabulary
What are the major groups of minerals?
How is the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron illustrated?
How are minerals used?
Vocabulary
silicate
tetrahedron
ore
gem
Types of Minerals
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