What are Minerals?

MRS Roferos
 What is a mineral?
• Naturally occurring
• Solid
• Defined chemical composition
(but usually not fixed)
• Ordered atomic arrangement
• Mostly inorganic
Minerals are the
basic building
blocks of earth
materials
 Mineraloid
A naturally occurring, usually
inorganic substance that is
not considered to be a
mineral because it does not
have proper crystal structure.
They are also known as GEL What about?
MINERAL
Examples of Mineraloid
Color is the response of the eye to the visible light
spectrum

It is the interaction of visible light with specific atoms in

a crystal structure.

When light strikes a mineral, it may be scattered, or

reflected, or transmitted or absorbed. If almost all of
the light is reflected/ scattered, the mineral exhibits
metallic luster characterising sulphides and oxides.

When most of light is transmitted - non metallic luster,

characterising the silicates and carbonates.
Also known as transparency, is a function of the way
light interacts with the surface of a substance. There
are only three possible interactions.
Diaphaneity
transparent - if the light enters and exits the surface
of the substance in relatively undisturbed fashion

translucent - if the light can enter and exit the surface

of the substance, but in a disturbed and distorted
fashion

opaque - if the light can not even penetrate the surface

of the substance
Pyroelectricity
Pyroelectricity is a property of certain crystals which are naturally electrically
polarized and as a result contain large electric fields. It can be described as the
ability of certain materials to generate a temporary voltage when they are heated or
cooled. The change in temperature modifies the positions of the atoms slightly
within the crystal structure, such that the polarization of the material changes.
Piezoelectricity
Piezoelectricity is the ability of some mineral crystals and certain ceramic
materials to generate a voltage in response to applied mechanical stress.
Crystal Habit vs Crystal Form

Crystal habit is the tendency for specimens of a mineral to repeatedly grow into
characteristic shapes. These shapes are influenced by the atomic structure of
the mineral, but they can also be influenced by the environment of crystal
growth. Regardless of influence, crystal habit shapes are characteristic of the
mineral and displayed by many specimens of that mineral.

Crystal form, on the other hand, is a concept similar to “crystal habit”, however,
a crystal form is expressed as a solid crystalline object that is bounded by a set
of flat faces that are related to one another by symmetry. Euhedral crystals are
the best representations of a crystal form.
Crystal Habits
Crystal Habits

Platy is flat, tablet-shaped, prominent pinnacoid

Reticulated crystals forming net-like intergrowths

Crystal Habits Wheatsheaf refers to crystals that appear to be wheat sheaves. This habit
is seen in some truly spectacular minerals, like wheatsheaf Rhodochrosite.

Capillary or filiform, when the mineral has distinctive threadlike or

hairlike crystals. Millerite can form following a filiform habit.
 Crystal Habits

Foliated minerals can be separated fairly easily into

plates - Thicker than those of the micas.  Also note
that foliated crystals will overlap to a certain extent.
Talc is a good example of a foliated mineral.

Globular minerals are similar to Botryoidal minerals (See

below) with one important difference - They aren't grouped
together to the extent that botryoidal minerals are.

Reticulated mineral specimens are easily recognizable, and

often stunning to behold. Characterized by intergrown,
usually slender crystals, these specimens are prized if in
pristine condition. One of the finest examples of this
specific habit is Cerussite from Tsumeb in Namibia - Large,
reticulated specimens in wonderful condition were recovered
from the mine.
State of Aggregation
State of aggregation is the tendency of mass of
fine grained minerals that do not form crystal
faces to aggregate with each other.

Reniform or colloform is similar to botryoidal/mamillary:

intersecting kidney-shaped masses
State of Aggregation
Stalactitic is forming as stalactites
or stalagmites; cylindrical or cone-
shaped
Crystal Cleavage
Cleavage is a property that is a
manifestation of breaking of
mineral along crystallographic
planes.

Planar

Prismatic

Cubic

Rhombohedral
Fracturing
Fracture is the tendency of a mineral to break along curved surfaces without a
definite shape. These minerals do not have planes of weakness and break
irregularly.
! Conchoidal

Splintery
Fracturing
Fracture is the tendency of a mineral to break along curved surfaces without a
definite shape. These minerals do not have planes of weakness and break
irregularly.
Hackly
! Earthy

Uneven
Hardness
Hardness is the
resistance of the smooth
surface to the scratching
by a sharp point or edge
or by another mineral,
without rapture of the
mineral.

Hardness plays an
important role in selecting
abrasive — diamond,
corundum, garnet and
! quartz.
Moh’s Scale of Hardness
Specific Gravity Specific Gravity of Common Minerals

Specific gravity (symbolized as G) CHEMICAL SPECIFIC

MINERAL
FORMULA GRAVITY, G
is the comparative weigh of a
Rutile TiO2 4.2
mineral, defined as the ratio of the
weight of a volume of a mineral to Pyrolusite MnO2 4.8
the weight of the same volume of Cassiterite SnO2 6.9
water. Calcite CaCO3 2.71

It is a function of the atomic

weights of chemical elements
present in its crystal structure.

Hence, G = 4 means that the

mineral weighs 4 times as much as
the same volume of water @ 4

!
What is the difference between density
and specific gravity?
• Density is defined as mass per unit volume. It has the SI unit kg
m-3 or Kg/m-3 and is an absolute quantity.

• Specific gravity is the ratio of a material's density with that of

water at 4 °C (where it is most dense and is taken to have the
value 999.974 kg·m-3). It is therefore a relative quantity with no
units.
 Methods
Useful in
Determining
Minerals
References
• mindat.org
• https://www.autodesk.com/products/eagle/blog/piezoelectricity/
• https://geology.com/minerals/crystal-habit/
• https://www.capeminerals.co.za/crystal-habits