ROCKS AND MINERALS COMPOSE THE LITHOSPHERE

• MINERALS: naturally formed

elements and inorganic compounds
whose atoms and molecules are
bound together in a definite orderly
arrangement to form crystals.
- Minerals are what composes rocks
- Minerals may be composed of:
 single elements such as C, Au,
Ag, and Cu
 2 or more elements combined to
form compounds of oxides,
sulfides, carbonates, silicates and
Mineralogy: Science that deals with the study of
phosphates. minerals.
• COLOR PROPERTIES OF MINERALS
- Color can be essential in mineral
identification, but it can also be rather
complicated.
Color is pretty reliable on opaque and
metallic minerals. For instance Galena always
has a bluish gray metallic color and pyrite
(fool’s gold) is always brass-yellow metallic.
For minerals that are transparent or
translucent, color is usually not a good
indicator. Color is the result of impurities.
When it comes to identification by color and
recording it on your notepad, try to be as
precise as possible. It can even help to relate
the color to a more common object that is
associated with a specific color (fire truck red
or blueberries).
 PROPERTIES OF MINERALS
• LUSTER
- Property of mineral to reflect or
refract light.
- Metallic minerals “shine” when
exposed to light
- Types of luster:
• Metallic: having the look of a
polished metal
• Submetallic: having the look of
metal that is dulled by weathering
• Nonmetallic: having no look of
metal
Terms that describe luster:
PROPERTIES OF MINERAL
• Adamantine: having a hard, sparkly
look of a diamond
• Resinous: having a look of yellow,
dark orange, or brown that is slightly
reflective
• Vitreous: having the look of glass
• Pearly: having the look of a pearl
• Greasy: having the look of an oil
coated surface
• Dull: having a plain looking surface
• Earthy: having the look of soil or clay
• Silky: having the look of fine, parallel
fibers
PROPERTIES OF MINERALS
• CYSTAL FORM
- Provides cue to the internal
atomic structure of the mineral.
- The atoms of a mineral are
arranged in a definite geometric
pattern and each mineral has its
own definite atomic arrangement.
- Amorphous: Minerals whose
atoms do not form a distinct
pattern.
PROPERTIES OF MINERALS
• CLEAVAGE
Refers to the natural
tendency of minerals
to break along
definite seams of
weak bonding.
• FRACTURE
Pertains to uneven,
nonpolar and
irregular breaking of
minerals
PROPERTIES OF MINERALS
• SPECIFIC GRAVITY
- refers directly to its density
(mass compared to volume).
- How many times denser a
given mineral is than an equal
amount of water.
- Minerals that are heavier than
water has a SG greater than 1
(specific gravity of water=
1g/cm3)
- Metallic minerals usually have
higher specific gravity.
PROPERTIES OF MINERALS
• HARDNESS
- Resistance of a
mineral from
being scratched.
- Frederick Mohs:
invented Mohs
scale for
hardness
 SPECIAL PROPERTIES OF
MINERALS
• MAGNETISM
- Ability of the
mineral to attract
other minerals.
- E.g. Magnetite
(lodestone and
pyrrholite)
 SPECIAL PROPERTIES OF MINERALS
• ELECTRICAL
PROPERTIES
- Properties wherein
some minerals
become electrically
charged when rubbed
like sulfur or when
subjected to pressure
(piezo electricity) like
quartz, or when
heated, like tourmaline
 SPECIAL PROPERTIES OF
MINERALS
• MALLEABILITY
- Ability of the
mineral to be
hammered into
desired shapes
- E.g. Gold and
Silver
 SPECIAL PROPERTIES OF
MINERALS
• DUCTILITY
- Ability of the
mineral to be
drawn into wires
- E.g. Copper and
Platinum
 SPECIAL PROPERTIES OF MINERALS
• RADIOACTIVITY
- Ability of the
mineral to emit
radiation.
- E.g. Radium,
thorium, uranium
ad cobalt