Rock Forming Minerals

Prepared by: Ron Seracarpio

Unlocking Difficulties

a.Rock- Forming Minerals - are rocks

formed from the combinations of a
few
common minerals.
b. Accessory Minerals – are minerals
occurring within a rock in small quantities.
 Learning Objectives
The learners…
a. Identify common rock-forming minerals
using their physical and chemical properties.
b. identify different characteristics and properties
of a minerals.
S_L_C_
SILICA
O_T_O_L_S_
ORTHOCLASE
P_A_I_C_A_E
PLAGIOCLASE
M_S_O_I_E
MUSCOVITE
B_O_I_E
BIOTITE
A_G_T_
AUGITE
H_R_B_E_D_
HORNBLENDE
O_I_I_E
OLIVINE
C_L_I_M C_R_O_A_E
 CALCIUM
CARBONATE
Rock-Forming
Minerals
How is a mineral different from a
rock?
Characteristics of a Minerals:
a. Naturally - Occurring
b. Inorganic
c. Solid
d. Crystalline structure
e. Can be represented by a chemical formula

Example: Quartz (SiO₂)

Properties of Mineral:
 Optical properties

 Mineral strength
 Specific gravity
Common Rock-
Forming Minerals
Optical Properties
a. Luster – quality of light that is
being reflected by the surface of a
mineral.

 Metallic Luster –
minerals that look
like metals and are
shiny.
Galena
 Submetallic luster –
minerals that
develop a dull
coating and are not
shiny. Amber
 Nonmetallic luster –
minerals that are
describe as glassy,
earthy, pearly, or
greasy.
Quartz
 Transmission of Light
Opaque – when light strikes object
does not pass through.
Translucent– some of light passes
through.
Transparent– almost all light passes
through.
Mineral Strength
 Tenacity (refers to breaking and deforming)

 Hardness (resistance to abrasion or scratching)

 Cleavage (when a mineral breaks into a smooth surface)

 Fracture (is the way a mineral breaks when it doesn’t break

along cleavage plane)
Mineral Strength
 Tenacity (refers to breaking and deforming)

Brittle, malleable, sectile, or elastic

Mineral Strength
 Hardness (resistance to abrasion or scratching)
Mineral Strength
 Cleavage (when a mineral breaks into a smooth surface)
Mineral Strength
 Fracture (is the way a mineral breaks when it doesn’t break
along cleavage plane)
Specific Gravity
 Measurement done by mineralogist to
describe the density of the minerals
 It represents the ratio of the mass of the
mineral to the mass of equal volume of water.
 Identify your birthstone and create an
infographic about its physical and chemical
properties.