Mineral formation

Most minerals crystallize

from MAGMA or LAVA,

Molten material is a liquid

mixture of freely moving
crystals.
As molten material cools
crystalline solids form.

Water can also produce

minerals by evaporation and
chemical precipitation.
The type of mineral formed depends on two factors.

1. Types of element in the magma….

2. The melting point of each mineral….

Minerals with high melting point will crystallize first.

Slow cooling promotes large crystals
Fast cooling promotes fine grained or small crystals
Minerals and Rocks
 

A. Minerals "The building blocks of rocks”

1. Defined as… a.   Naturally Occurring
b.   Crystal Structure
c.   Inorganic (nonliving)
d.   Have a specific internal
arrangement of atoms

2. Chemical composition of Minerals

a. can be a single element
ex. (Au) Gold (Ag) Silver
b. can be a compound
ex. Calcite CaCo3
3. Rocks can be…
a.  Polyminerallic: Composed of two or more minerals

ex. Granite  
Mica
Quartz
Feldspar

b.  Monominerallic: Composed of one mineral

ex. Quartzite
Quartz
B . Minerals can be identified on physical or chemical properties
“Determined by their specific arrangement of atoms.”
 

1. Physical Characteristics

a. Color e. Cleavage
b. Streak f. Specific Gravity
c. Hardness g. Crystal Structure
d. Luster

a.     Color "outside color of mineral"

Impurities discolor a mineral
 
b.    Streak "powdered form of mineral true color"

   streak or no streak
c.     Hardness "Scratch Test" Used to Identify
minerals by the process of elimination.
 Moh's Scale of Hardness

http://www.gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/minerals/hardness.htm
d.     Luster: Looks like a metal or not.

Metallic
Non-Metallic (glassy, pearly, earthy)
 
e. Crystal Structure: Minerals that grow in ideal
conditions have a crystalline shape that is
determined by their I.A.A.’s
Silicon Tetrahedron Geometric Figure w/ 4
faces. Silicon at the
Silicon = Atoms center oxygen on the
Oxygen = corners.
 
Crystals with
Tetrahedrons are called
Silicates.

http://www.usd.edu/esci/figures/BluePlanet.html
3. ESRT Common Minerals & Elements
 
Most abounded elements
in the lithosphere
-Oxygen -Silicon
Combine to form chains or sheets.
F.     Cleavage: Mineral will split along a flat surface of
weakness.

-     Due to internal arrangement of atoms.

 Halite
Mica
Conchoidal Fracture: Breaks into a chunk.
 Opal
 Quartz
g. Specific Gravity (Density)

-Arrangement of atoms and packing determines the density

 
 
2. Chemical & Special Properties
a.     Acid Test: Minerals Bubble (Calcite)
b.    Taste (Halite)
c.     Double Refraction: (Calcite)
d.    Magnetism (Magnetite)
 Summery

The Chemical and Physical Properties of a mineral

are determined by the internal arrangement of
atoms.