TNS 3 - MIDTERM
SMCTI | BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
CHAPTER 2
MINERALOGY
DEFINITION OF MINERAL
- a mineral may be defined as a natural, inorganic,
homogeneous, solid substance having a definite chemical
composition and regular atomic structure. This means all
materials around us cannot be described as minerals. To call
any substance a mineral, the requirements to be fulfilled are:
1. It must have been formed by natural processes. Artificial or
synthetic or man-made substances are not eligible to be
called minerals.
2. It must be an inorganic substance, i.e., substances of
wood or any other organic material cannot be called minerals.
3. It must be homogeneous, i.e., all parts of the minerals
should possess the same physical and chemical characters.
4. It must be solid, i.e.., gaseous, liquid or semisolid
substances are not minerals.
5. It must have a definite chemical composition, i.e., a
particular kind of mineral always has the same chemical
composition irrespective of its size, shape, origin, occurrence,
association, etc.
6. It must be crystalline, i.e., it should possess an orderly
atomic structure.
No two minerals can possess the same chemical composition
and atomic structure.
DEFINITION OF CRYSTAL
- a crystal may be defined as a natural solid body bounded by
smooth and plain surfaces, arranged in an orderly (i.e.,
geometrical) pattern which is an outward expression of a
regular, internal atomic structure.
- occurrence of complete and independent crystals is rare in
nature. Good crystals develop only under favorable
conditions such as:
1. Slow cooling (i.e., slow crystallization)
2. Free surroundings to facilitate the crystal growth in different
directions.
3. Inherent capacity of certain minerals to develop into good
crystals (as in the case of garnets, pyrite, magnetic, etc.)
4. Non-interference by the adjacent growing minerals during
solidification.
CHARACTERISTIC OF CRYSTALS
1. Faces:
- the crystals are bounded by flat surfaces which are known
as faces.
2. Edge:
- the line of intersection formed by any two adjacent faces in
a crystal is called an edge.
3. Solid Angle:
- the points of intersection formed by three or more adjacent
faces in a crystal are called solid angles.
4. Distortion:
- In spite of perfect internal atomic arrangement, sometimes
crystals develop faces of different sizes and shapes.
Distortion may be due to some restraint on the growth of the
crystal in certain directions or to a greater supply of material
being available in one direction as compared with another.
5. Interfacial Angle:
- it is the angle formed in between the normal of adjacent
crystal faces. Both in distorted and proper crystals of the
same type, adjacent crystal faces show the same interfacial
angles irrespective of the size or shape of the concerned
faces.
6. Simple form and combination:
- if a crystal is bounded by all similar or like faces it is called a
simple form. If a crystal is bounded by dissimilar or unlike
faces it is called a combination (i.e., combination of different
simple form)
7. Crystallographic axes:
- these are the imaginary lines (or directions) which intersect
at the centre (or origin) of the crystal. The growth or
development of the crystal is considered to take place along
these axes.
8. Crystal systems:
- the six possible crystal systems are cubic system,
tetragonal system, hexagonal system, orthorhombic system,
monoclinic system and triclinic system.
9. Symmetry:
- the faces, edges and solid angles in crystals occur with
some regularity or orderliness. This is expressed in terms of
planes of symmetry, axes of symmetry and centre of
symmetry.
Mode of formation of minerals
Basically, there are three kinds of formation of minerals in
nature. They are formed from magma or out of secondary
processes or under metamorphism.
Most of the minerals are formed directly or indirectly out of
magma during different stages of its solidification. Important
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and bulk of rock-forming minerals such as feldspar, quartz,
pyroxenes, amphiboles, micas, feldspathoids and olivine are There are many mineral species (approx. 1600)
formed in this way. Some precious minerals and ore minerals
occurring in nature.
like gemstones, garnets, topaz, magnetite, native metals,
beryl, apatite, muscovite, fluorspar, lead-zinc ores and - Give different types of Rock
tourmaline also are formed from magmatic sources
In nature, some minerals are formed from secondary
CLASSIFICATION OF ROCKS
processes like weathering, precipitation (due to reaction or
evaporation) and deposition. Minerals like calcite, dolomite,
bauxite, limonite, wad, serpentine, salts, coal, petroleum, 1. IGNEOUS ROCKS (IGNUM = Fire; very hot)
chlorite, phosphates, bog-iron ore, clays, agate, opal and
- first formed rocks (primary rocks)
zeolites are examples of this group.
- most abundant rock in the earth’s crust
Another important mode of formation of minerals is out of
metamorphism. There minerals are formed under the - formed in very high temperature
influence of high temperatures and pressures with or without
the active involvement of chemically active solutions.
CLASSIFICATION OF IGNEOUS ROCK
Andalusite, sillimanite, kyanite, staurolite, garnets, chlorine,
graphite, talc, cordierite, etc., are examples of this group. A. Based on Silica Percentage
 Acidic Igneous Rocks
DIAGNOSTIC OR DISTINGUISHING PHYSICAL  Intermediate Igneous Rocks
PROPERTIES  Basic Igneous Rocks
 Ultrabasic Igneous Rocks

These properties refer to a set of physical properties which

are B. Based on Silica Saturation
consistently observed in a particular mineral. All these  Doliomorphic Rocks
properties will be observed in every quartz specimen, but
never in any other mineral.
C. Based on Depth of Formation
The significance of this statement is that:
 Plutonic Rocks
 Volcanic Rocks
1. There are many minerals which possess a pale color like  Hypabyssal Rocks
that of quartz. So, by color we cannot make out the mineral
as quartz.
2. Similarly, vitreous lustre is observed not only in quartz but 2. SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
in many minerals. So, occurrence of vitreous lustre alone is - products of weathering
not indicative as quartz. - secondary materials (pre-existing rocks)
3. Likewise, characters like hardness7, medium density, not
opaque are observed in many minerals when each of these
CLASSIFICATION OF SEDIMANTARY ROCKS
properties is considered one by one.
A. Residual Deposits
- insoluble products of rock weathering
CHAPTER 3
 Terra Rossa – reddish clayey soil
 Laterite
Biology – Substitute for brick
- study of rocks - very soft, wet & can be cut with knife
 Soil – loose porous material made up of sediments
- Petro = rocks; logos = study

B. Detrital Rocks
Lithology
- clastic sedimentary rocks
- synonymous term
 Rudaceous Rocks – made up of gravel
- Litho = rock
 Are Nacceous Rocks – made up of sand
 Argillaceous Rocks – made up of silt & clay
Petrogeny
- deals with mode or formation of rocks C. Chemically Formed Rocks (Chemical Deposits)
- geny = genesis = origin  Concretions
 Secretions
 Colloids
Definition of Rocks  Silicons Deposits
- an aggregate of minerals  Carbonate Deposits
- unit of the earth’s crust  Bog Iron Ore

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  Salts

D. Organically Formed Rocks (Organic Deposits)

 Calcareous Type
 Phosphatic Type
 Ferruginous Type
 Siliceous Type
 Carbonaceous Type

3. Metamorphic Rocks
- third major group of rocks occurring in nature.
- formed from any pre-existing rocks under the influence of
temperature, pressure and chemically active solution.

CLASSIFICATION OF METAMORPHIC ROCKS

A. Massive or Non-foliated Rocks

 Quartzite
 Marble
 Hornfels

B. Foliated Rocks
- develops under the influence of pressure
 Slate
 Phyllite
 Schist
 Gneiss

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