MINERALS

LESSON OBJECTIVE :

Identify common rock-forming

minerals using their physical and
chemical properties.
MINERALS
MINERALOGY
is the study of the chemistry of minerals crystal
structure and their physical and optical properties.
A mineralogist is a person who studies minerals.

Abraham Gottlob Werner 1749-1817)

is considered to be the founder of
minerology because he was the first to
systematically classify minerals during 1771-
1800 by their external or physical character.
MINERALS
A mineral is defined as a naturally occurring, usually inorganic solid with distinct
chemical composition and an orderly crystalline structure.

Are composed of elements such as those found in the periodic table.

Rock are different than minerals since rock doesn’t have a specific chemical composition
and can be aggregate of both minerals or non-minerals. However, many of the rocks are
primarily made up of minerals after the decomposition and consolidation along with other
organic or inorganic substances.
 A mineral is unique but they generally exhibit the
following characteristics:
▪ They are naturally-occurring chemical compounds.
▪ They are inorganic

▪ They are homogeneous solids.

▪ Although not fixed, each mineral has a definite chemical composition which can be
described by a chemical formula.

▪ Each mineral’s structure arranges atoms in a crystalline pattern.

Some minerals are made up of only one element. (such as gold, graphite, diamond, and
copper)
 
DID YOU KNOW?
Graphite is used in pencils.
PROPERTIES OF MINERALS
 COLOR
The property of mineral that can easily
be observed is its color.
In our previous science lessons, we
learned that color is the result of the
reflection of visible light. Corundum, a colorless mineral is composed of
Color is a useful property of minerals. aluminum and oxygen atoms. Corundum that
contains traces of chromium, forms a red gem
However, color alone may not be called ruby.
sufficient enough in identifying minerals
since some minerals may have almost the
same color though they differ in their
chemical structures.
LUSTER
The ability of a mineral to reflect light from its
surface is called luster.
Metallic minerals have metallic luster. This type
of luster is manifested by the way polished metals
reflect light.
While Nonmetallic minerals have nonmetallic
luster. Nonmetallic luster is classified into four types
of luster which are glassy luster (like quartz), waxy
luster, pearly luster (like mica), and brilliant luster
(like diamond).
 METALLIC MINERALS

Bornite Hermite
Gold Nugget

Native Copper Nugget

Galena
 NONMETALLIC MINERALS
Nonmetallic luster is classified into 4 types of luster:

Brilliant Luster like Diamond

Glassy Luster like Quartz

Pearly Luster like Mica

Waxy Luster like Gypsum

 STREAK
Streak refers to the color of mineral in
powdered form. The color of mineral’s
powdered form may differ from its color in
solid form. A mineral is rubbed against an
unglazed ceramic tile to observe its streak. Metallic minerals have streaks that are dark in
color. For example, the streak of a gold-colored pyrite
is black in color.

On the other hand, the streak of nonmetallic

minerals is generally light in color.
 CLEAVAGE AND FRACTURE

Cleavage refers to the ability of a mineral to split along a weak

plane forming flat surface. Calcite is an example of mineral that has
cleavage in three directions.

CALCITE

On the other hand, Fracture refers to the capacity

of a certain mineral to break along curved surfaces.
Quartz is an example of mineral that has fracture.

QUARTZ
DENSITY
Density is defined as the
compactness of a sample of matter. It
is calculated as mass divided by
volume. Different samples of mineral
of the same size differ in mass
because of the different elements that
make up such minerals. Minerals
containing heavy metals like uranium,
lead, silver and gold have densities
that range from 7 to 20 g/cm3.
The periodic table of elements
shows that each element has a unique
density.
 
 HARDNESS
The tendency of a mineral to resist abrasion
(scratching) is termed as hardness.
The Mohs scale of hardness shows the
arrangement of minerals from the softest (talc) to
the hardest (diamond). Hardness is the result of
intermolecular bonding.
The Mohs scale of mineral hardness arranges
minerals according to their scratch resistance.
From the softest to the hardest mineral, the
sequence of the Mohs scale is as follows:
Talc, Gypsum, Calcite, Fluorite, Apatite, Feldspar,
Quartz, Topaz, Corundum, and Diamond.
Talc is the softest mineral while diamond is the
hardest
REACTION WITH ACIDS
Minerals that contain carbonate (CO 2-)
react with acid. For example, a sample of
calcite reacts with dilute hydrochloric
acid (HCl).
FLOURESCENCE BEFORE AFTER

The ability of minerals to glow when

bombarded with ultraviolet light is called
fluorescence. In this condition, minerals
may not glow under ordinary light. This is
because such minerals are selective of the
wavelength of light that causes it to glow.
Calcite possesses this property.
 Phosphorescence
Some minerals would continue to
glow even after a source of ultraviolet
light has been turned off. This ability is
called phosphorescence.
The ore of lithium possesses this
characteristic.
COMMON ROCK FORMING
MINERALS
 QUARTZ
 It is pure or nearly pure silica and is hard
and glassy mineral.
 It is transparent to translucent in nature
and its colour varies from white and grey
to smokey.
 It does not have a cleavage and thus does
not break into regular flat faces.
 Hardness = 7
 FELDSPAR
▪ Feldspar is silicates of alumina,
with alkaline substances like
potassium, sodium and calcium.

▪ Its appearance is not so glassy as

that of Quartz and is dull to opaque
with a porcelain-like appearance.

▪ A stone readily meets the decay if

it contains large proportions of
feldspar mixed with other minerals.

▪ Hardness = 6
 MICA
▪ Mica contains silicates of aluminum
with potassium.

▪ It is soft and readily affected by

atmosphere and chemicals.

▪ It has perfect cleavage, causing it to

easily break into thin sheets.

▪ Hardness = 2.5
 HORNBLENDE
▪ Complex silicate with hardness = 5.5

▪ Dark coloured mineral found in many

types of igneous and metamorphic rocks.
CALCITE
▪Leading constituent of
limestone and marble.

▪ Hardness = 3
 DOLOMITE
▪ Metamorphic rocks like dolomitic marble
and few sedimentary rocks have dolomite as
the major constituent.

▪ It has three directions of perfect cleavage.

▪ Moh’s hardness is 3.5 to 4

 
END