ROCKS
AND
MINERALS
MINERALS
LESSON 2.1
MINERALS
Defined as a naturally-occurring, inorganic solid
with a definite chemical composition and an
ordered internal structure.
Crystals are composed of a repeating structural
unit composed of atoms of one or more elements.
Characteristics:
Naturally-occurring
Inorganic
Solid
Definite chemical composition
Ordered internal structure
Naturally-occurring- Minerals exist
naturally.
Inorganic- Minerals are limited
to substances formed
through inorganic processes.
Solid- Ice formed in the glaciers is
considered a mineral but water is not.
Definite chemical composition- it should
express exact chemical formula with the
elements and compounds in specific
ratios.
Ordered internal structure- The
atoms in minerals are organized in a
regular, repetitive geometric
patterns or crystal structure.
COMPOSITION
OF MINERALS
1. SILICATES
•Composed primarily of silicon-
oxygen tetrahedrons (SiO4 ).
2-
•Major rock forming minerals.
OLIVINE QUARTZ
2. OXIDES
• Consist of metal cations bonded to
oxygen anions.
• Common oxide minerals are
magnetite and hematite.
HEMATITE MAGNETITE
Fe2O3 Fe3O4
3. SULFIDES
• Consist of metal cation bonded to sulfide.
• They are common minerals along with oxide
since metals form a high proportion of
mineral.
• Examples: galena and pyrite
Pyrite Galena
4. SULFATES
• Consists of metal cation bonded to the SO 4
2-
anionic group.
• They usually precipitate of water near
Earth’s surface.
• Example: gypsum
GYPSUM
5. HALIDES
•Composed of halogen ion, such
as chlorine or fluorine, which
forms halite or rock salt and
fluorite.
FLUORITE
6. CARBONATES
• Characterized by the presence of
carbonic ion which bonded elements
such as calcium or magnesium to
form calcite or dolomite.
CALCITE DOLOMITE
7. NATIVE METALS
•Consist of a single metal
such as copper and gold.
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE OF MINERALS
•Dependent on the
chemical composition of
the mineral.
SIX CRYSTAL SYSTEM USED IN CRYSTAL
GROUPING MINERALS BASED ON
STRUCTURE
• Triclinic
• Monoclinic
• Orthorhombic
• Tetragonal
• Hexagonal
• Isometric
LUSTER
•describes the appearance of
light as it is reflected off its
surface.
ABILITY TO TRANSMIT LIGHT
• A mineral can be opaque when no light is
transmitted through it; translucent when
small amount of light is transmitted
through it; and transparent when almost
all amount of light is transmitted through
it.
COLOR
•It is the visible property yet
not reliable in identifying a
mineral.
STREAK
•color of a mineral in its
powdered form.
CRYSTAL SHAPE
•Refers to the common or
characteristic shape of crystal
or combination of crystals
TENACITY
•It is the mineral’s toughness
or resistance to breaking or
deforming
HARDNESS
•It is the resistance of the
mineral to abrasion or
scratching.
MOHS SCALE OF HARDNESS
•It is a relative measure of hardness
using common materials and
standard minerals to represent a
specific hardness value.
MOHS SCALE OF HARDNESS
Field Hardness Guide
Scale Description
1 Can be rubbed off on a finger
2 Can be scratched with a finger nail
3 Can be scratched with a coin
4 Can be scratched with difficulty with a knife
5 Can be scratched with a knife blade
6 Can be scratched with a piece of glass
7 Can be scratched with a piece of quartz
8-10 Minerals too hard to be included in this scale
CLEAVAGE
•It is the ability of the mineral to
break along planes of weak
bonding.
FRACTURE
•It can be an irregular fracture
when a mineral breaks and
exhibits uneven surface.
SPECIFIC GRAVITY
•It is the ratio of the density
of the mineral to the density
of water.
OTHER PROPERTIES
Magnetism (magnetite)
Taste (halite is salty)
Effervescence or reaction to acid (calcite and
other carbonates will react with weak acid)
Feel (talc is greasy)
MAGNETITE
HALITE
CALCITE
TALC
COMMON
ROCK-FORMING
ELEMENTS
•Most of the common rock-
forming minerals are silicate
minerals composed of primarily
of silicon and oxygen.
