1. Edward J. Tarbuck & Frederick K. Lutgens
Earth Science, 10e
Edward J. Tarbuck & Frederick K. Lutgens

2. Minerals: Building Blocks of Rocks Chapter 1
Earth Science, 10e
Stan Hatfield and Ken Pinzke
Southwestern Illinois College

3. Minerals: the building blocks of rocks
Definition of a mineral
Natural
Inorganic
Solid
Possess an orderly internal structure of atoms
Have a definite chemical composition
Mineraloid - lacks an orderly internal structure

4. Composition and structure of minerals
Elements
Basic building blocks of minerals
Over 100 are known
Atoms
Smallest particles of matter
Have all the characteristics of an element

5. Periodic table of the Elements

6. How atoms are constructed
Nucleus – central part of an atom that contains
Protons – positive electrical charges
Neutrons – neutral electrical charges
Energy levels, or shells
Surround nucleus
Contain electrons – negative electrical charges

7. Simplified view of the atom

8. How atoms are constructed
Atomic number is the number of protons in an atom's nucleus
Bonding of atoms
Forms a compound with two or more elements
Ions are atoms that gain or lose electrons
Isotopes
Have varying number of neutrons

9. How atoms are constructed
Isotopes
Have different mass numbers – the sum of the neutrons plus protons
Many isotopes are radioactive and emit energy and particles

10. Minerals Physical properties of minerals Crystal form Luster Color
Streak
Hardness
Cleavage

11. The mineral quartz often exhibits good crystal form

12. Pyrite (fool’s gold) displays metallic luster

14. Three examples of perfect cleavage – fluorite, halite, and calcite

15. Minerals Physical properties of minerals Fracture Specific gravity
Other properties
Taste
Smell
Elasticity
Malleability

16. Conchoidal fracture

17. Minerals Physical properties of minerals Other properties Feel
Magnetism
Double Refraction
Reaction to hydrochloric acid

18. Minerals A few dozen minerals are called the rock-forming minerals
The eight elements that compose most rock-forming minerals are oxygen (O), silicon (Si), aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg)
Most abundant atoms in Earth's crust are oxygen (46.6% by weight) and silicon (27.7% by weight)

20. Minerals Mineral groups Rock-forming silicates
Most common mineral group
Contain the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron
Four oxygen atoms surrounding a much smaller silicon atom
Combines with other atoms to form the various silicate structures

21. The silicate (SiO4)-4 molecule

22. Common silicate minerals

23. Minerals Mineral groups Rock-forming silicates
Groups based upon tetrahedral arrangement
Olivine – independent tetrahedra
Pyroxene group – tetrahedra are arranged in chains
Amphibole group – tetrahedra are arranged in double chains

24. Hornblende – a member of the amphibole group

25. Minerals Mineral groups Rock-forming silicates
Groups based upon tetrahedral arrangement
Micas – tetrahedra are arranged in sheets
Two types of mica are biotite (dark) and muscovite (light)
Feldspars - Three-dimensional network of tetrahedra

26. Minerals Mineral groups Rock-forming silicates
Groups based upon tetrahedral arrangement
Feldspars
Two types of feldspar are Orthoclase and Plagioclase
Quartz – three-dimensional network of tetrahedra

27. Potassium feldspar

28. Plagioclase feldspar

29. Minerals Mineral groups Rock-forming silicates Nonsilicate minerals
Feldspars are the most plentiful mineral group
Crystallize from molten material
Nonsilicate minerals
Major groups
Oxides
Sulfides

30. Minerals Mineral groups Nonsilicate minerals Major groups Sulfates
Carbonates
“Native” elements

31. Native Copper

32. Minerals Mineral groups Nonsilicate minerals Carbonates
A major rock-forming group
Found in the rocks limestone and marble
Halite and gypsum are found in sedimentary rocks
Many have economic value

33. Some common non-silicate minerals

34. Minerals Mineral resources Reserves are already identified deposits
Ores are useful metallic minerals that can be mined at a profit
Economic factors may change and influence a resource

35. An underground halite (salt) mine

36. The Bingham copper mine in Utah

37. End of Chapter 1