1. Types of Minerals
Chapter 4.2

2. Mineral Groups Silicates Minerals that contain oxygen and silicon
Make up 96% of the minerals present on the Earth’s crust
Basic building block is silica tetrahedron
Geometric solid having four sides that are equilateral triangles
Combines in different ways to form different minerals

3. Silicates have strong bonds
Bonds determine the mineral’s cleavage or fracture
Create complex 3 dimensional figures or sheets
mica

4. Carbonates
Minerals composed of one or more metallic elements and the carbonate ion CO32-
Primary minerals found in rocks like limestone and marble

5. Other groups Oxides Sulfides Native element
Compounds of oxygen and a metal
Magnetite and Hematite
Sulfides
Combination of Sulfur and one or more elements
Pyrite
Native element
Made up of one element only
Silver, gold, copper, etc.

6. Mineral Economics Ores
Mineral that contains a valuable substance that can be mined at a profit
Hematite contains iron
Bauxite contains aluminum

7. Gems Valuable minerals that are prized for their rarity and beauty
Hard and scratch resistant
Rubies and emeralds are more valuable than diamonds because of their rareness

8. Trace elements can make one mineral more valuable than others
Amethyst is the gem form of quartz
Has the trace element of iron, giving it a purple hue