1. Minerals The Geologic Alphabet

2. Definition of a Mineral Natural Solid Inorganic Crystalline Structure Chemical Compound Source: E. R. Degginger/Bruce Coleman Inc.

3. Mineral Formation Primary 1.Crystallize out of a magma 2.Crystallize out of water Secondary 3.Chemical Weathering 4.Metamorphism Form Igneous Rocks Form Metamorphic Rocks Form Sedimentary Rocks

4. Physical Properties of Minerals A. Mineral Shape

5. Crystal Form Source: Jeffrey Scovil

6. Fracture Quartz: Conchoidal

7. Mineral Cleavage Halite - 3 planes; angle 90° Source: Ed Degginger/Bruce Coleman Inc. 1 2 3

8. Mineral Cleavage Muscovite - 1 plane; angle N/A Source: Breck P. Kent 1 Muscovite

9. Mineral Cleavage Fluorite Fluorite: 4 planes; not 90° Fluorite 1 2 3 4

10. Physical Properties of Minerals B. Mineral Appearance

11. Color

12. Quartz Color Quartz Powder

13. Streak (Powder Color) Hematite Source: Breck P. Kent

14. Luster Metallic Highly reflected and “metal colored” NonmetallicVaries Vitreous Shines like glass Pearly Whitish iridescence (like a pearl) Resinous Dull shine (like wax) Earthy (Dull) Surface doesn’t reflect light

15. Metallic Luster Source: E. R. Degginger/Earth Scenes

16. Nonmetallic Luster - Vitreous Quartz

17. Nonmetallic Luster - Earthy Source: Breck P. Kent

18. Optical Properties 1.Opaque 2.Translucent 3.Transparent

19. Petrologic Microscope Biotite in white light

20. Polarized Light OlivineQuartz Calcite

21. Physical Properties of Minerals C. Mineral Strength/Density

22. Mohs Hardness Scale

23. Specific Gravity (Density)

24. Physical Properties of Minerals D. Other Properties Reaction to HCl Magnetism TasteSmellFeel (Calcite) (Magnetite) (Halite)(Sulfur)(Talc)

25. Striations & Banding

26. Fluorescence - White light Source: Breck P. Kent

27. Fluorescence - UV light Source: Breck P. Kent

28. Piezoelectricity

29. Silicate Minerals (90% of the Earth’s Crust) Contain Silica - Silicon and Oxygen

30. Silicates: Silicon- Oxygen Tetrahedron

31. Important Silicates Feldspars Quartz Micas Orthoclase Muscovite Olivine

32. Color Dark Colored (including black & green) Light Colored (including white, tan, orange) Density Heavy weight Light weight Mafic Minerals Low Silica (Mg, Fe) vs. Felsic Minerals High Silica (Al, K) Color Dark colored (including black & green) Light colored (including white, tan, orange) Density Heavy weight Light weight Silicates can be: