1. Minerals Review

2. Every mineral… Inorganic Naturally occurring Crystal structure
Consistent chemical composition

3. 2 Kinds of Minerals Silicates: contain silicon (Si) and oxygen (O)
Nonsilicates: do not contain Si and O together

4. Silicates Examples: Quartz (SiO2) Serpentine (Mg3Si2O5(OH)4)
Muscovite (KAl2(AlSi3O10)(F,OH)2)
Make up over 90% of Earth’s crust
Arranged as silicon-oxygen tetrahedron

5. Types of Quartz (not the complete list)
Quartz (milky)
Quartz (rose)
Quartz (smokey)
Quartz, agate
Quartz, amethyst
Quartz, jasper

6. Classes of Nonsilicates
Iron ores
Contain iron (Fe)
Example: magnetite (Fe3O4)

7. Classes of Nonsilicates…
Oxides
Contain oxygen (O)
Example: corundum (Al2O3)

8. Classes of Nonsilicates…
Sulfides
Contain sulfur (S)
Example: Pyrite (FeS2)

9. Classes of Nonsilicates…
Carbonates
Contain carbonate (CO3)
Example: Calcite (CaCO3)

10. Classes of Nonsilicates…
Micas
“sheet silicates” that exhibit basal cleavage
Examples: Muscovite and Biotite

11. Classes of Nonsilicates…
Mafic/Ultramafic
Minerals or rocks containing a large amount of iron (Fe) and/or magnesium (Mg)
Examples:
Olivine ((Mg, Fe)2SiO4)
Serpentine (Mg3Si2O5(OH)4)

12. Classes of Nonsilicates…
Phosphates
Contain phosphate (PO4)
Example: apatite (Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH))

13. Classes of Nonsilicates…
Sulfates
Contain sulfate (SO4)
Example: Gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O)

14. Classes of Nonsilicates…
Native elements
Minerals that are a single element
Examples:
Sulfur (S)
Graphite and diamond (C)
Gold (Au)

15. Classes of Nonsilicates…
Halides
Contain one or more halogens, such as fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), and bromine (Br)
Examples:
Halite (NaCl)
Fluorite (CaF2)

16. Mineral Properties
Color
Streak
Fracture
Cleavage
Hardness
Luster

17. Color
Not a good identifier
One exception is sulfur

18. Streak Powdered form of the mineral
Can be used to distinguish gold and pyrite

19. Fracture
When the mineral breaks unevenly
Quartz has fracture

20. Cleavage
When the mineral breaks into smooth, flat planes
Types:

21. Hardness
Scratch test

22. Luster
The way a mineral reflects light
Types:

23. Specific Gravity

24. Specific Gravity…
The higher the specific gravity, the higher the density of the mineral

25. Fluorite
Fluorescence – glows under a UV light

26. Quartz Hardness of 7 Used to make glass Many varieties Amethyst
Rose Quartz

27. Muscovite
Basal cleavage
Used to make computer chips

28. Biotite
Basal cleavage
Used in tiles
Found in granite

29. Olivine Also called peridot, August’s birthstone
A mafic mineral (melts at very high temperatures)

30. Serpentine A mafic mineral Releases water under high heat and pressure
Can cause rock to melt at lower temperatures in subduction zones

31. Pyrite
“fool’s gold”
Used for explosives and fertilizer

32. Corundum
Hardness of 9

33. Magnetite
Naturally magnetic
An iron ore

34. Sulfur
Characteristic bright yellow color
Rotten egg or match smell

35. Halite
Salt rock

36. Gypsum
Used for drywall

37. Galena
High density
Metallic luster

38. Graphite
Used in pencils
Greasy feel
Elemental carbon (C)

39. Hematite
An iron ore
Red streak

40. Chalcopyrite
Softer and darker in color than pyrite
Dark green streak

41. Talc
Hardness of 1
Used in make-up

42. Calcite Main mineral in limestone Effervescent – bubbles in acid
Caves form in calcite

43. Malachite
Found in association with calcite
A carbonate
Green color

44. Dolomite Found in association with calcite A carbonate
Less effervescent than calcite