MINERALS

Chapter 1
Rocks

 What is a rock?

 A rock is a naturally formed aggregate

composed of one or more minerals
Example of a rock, an aggregate of more than one minerals
What is a Mineral?

 A mineral is a naturally formed inorganic crystalline solid with a

definite chemical composition and identifying physical properties
 naturally formed
 formed by geologic processes in nature, not by humans
 inorganic
 was never alive
 crystalline solid
 a solid composed of atoms arranged in a repeating orderly framework
 definite chemical composition
 a homogeneous chemical compound with a chemical formula
 distinctive, identifying physical properties
What is a Mineral?
 Is water a mineral?
 Why or why not?

 Is ice a mineral?
 Why or why not?

 Is glass a mineral?
 Why or why not?

 Is gold a mineral?
 Why or why not?

 Is steel a mineral?
 Why or why not?
Identification of Minerals

 How do geologists identify minerals?

 How can you identify minerals?

 Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals
1. Crystal form
 Is a set of crystalline faces having a definite geometric
relationship to one another
Garnet

Quartz
 Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals
2. Color
 Is due to visible wavelengths of light not absorbed
 Is the most obvious but least reliable property to use for
identification Milky quartz Citrine

Amethyst Smoky quartz

Colors of ruby and sapphire,
varieties of corundum (Al2O3) Colors of Varieties of Quartz
 Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals
3. Streak
 The color of a mineral in powder form

Figure 1.8
Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals
4. Luster
 Is the intensity of light reflected from a surface

Pyrite

Potassium feldspar
Galena
Has a nonmetallic luster
Have a metallic luster
Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals
5. Cleavage
 Is breakage along planes of weakness
 Is due to weak bonding between those planes
Various Types of Cleavage
Pyramidal, Cubic, and Rhombohedral Cleavage Displayed by Fluorite,
Halite, and Calcite

Fluorite Halite Calcite

Figure 1.11
Distinguishing between Cleavage Planes and Crystal Faces