Mineral Formation

Mineralogy

New minerals can be formed in one of 2 ways Magma Process

New minerals can be formed when rocks are heated sufficiently to melt them. This causes the existing minerals to break down and new minerals can be formed from the pieces Also refers to process of rock that rises from the mantle cooling from a liquid state into a solid state.

Fall 2007

Mineral Formation
Pressure Process
New minerals can be formed when rocks are squeezed sufficiently to break down the existing minerals. This may or may not involve creation of liquid rock. New minerals can be formed from the pieces of the old minerals. Because of the extreme pressure this involves, the minerals are usually different from the original minerals.

Mineral Properties
Crystal Structure
6 basic types (there are others)
Cubic, Orthorhombic, Tetragonal, Triclinic, Monoclinic, and Hexagonal

This structure determines most physical properties of a mineral.

Mineral Shapes
Isomorphs

Mineral Properties: Luster

How the mineral shines in the light 2 Basic types
Metallic is either dull or shiny Non-Metallic (many options)

Polymorphs
Carbon

Adamantine looks like a gemstone (rubies) Greasy looks greasy to the touch Resinous looks like dried glue Silky shiny in one direction Gumdrop looks like a partially eaten jolly rancher Vitreous glassy, very reflective Pearly looks like a pearl
http://webmineral.com/help/Luster.shtml http://www.galleries.com/minerals/property/luster.htm

Mineral Properties: Fracture

How a mineral breaks
Uneven or Irregular rough surface

Mineral Properties: Cleavage

How a mineral breaks along crystal faces. Not all minerals have this property.

Conchoidal how a shell would break has spiral patterns to it obsidian Splintery very jagged and sharp

Shows you where the weak bonds are thats where the cleavage plane is.

Mineral Properties: Specific Gravity

Comparison of the density of a mineral to the density of water. Density of mineral divided by density of water.

Mineral Groups: Silicates

Any mineral that contains Silicon and Oxygen 96% of all minerals
50% of silicates are either feldspar or quartz

Feldspar
Hardness = 6, pearly, 2 directions of cleavage Most abundant mineral in earths crust (60%) 2 types of feldspar

Potassium Feldspar pink or salmon in color

Almost always greater than 1 (pumice). Highest Sg = 21.5 for pure platinum

KAlSi 3O8

Sodium-Calcium Feldspar most common white to gray in color

NaSi4O8 alternating with CaSi 4O8

Mineral Groups: Silicates

Quartz 2nd most abundant mineral in crust Made entirely of silica SiO2 Vitreous/greasy luster, hardness = 7, Clear/gray/white color Mica KAl2Si3O8 Soft (hardness = 2.5) vitreous or pearly Comes in sheets (called pages) Multiple pages are called books Amphibole Needle like cyrstals part of most granites Olivine Gemstone silicate (peridot) 6.5 hardness, green color

Mineral Groups: Non-Silicates

Does not contain silicon and oxygen but it could contain one of them. Carbonates
Contain a carbonate group (CO3) Calcite = CaCO3

Oxides
Compounds containing oxygen and something else (other than silicon) Corundum = Al2O3 (Sapphires & Rubies)

Mineral Groups: Non-Silicates

Halides
Compounds that contain a halogen (typically F or Cl) with another element. Halite = NaCl

Mineral Groups: Non-Silicates

Sulfides
Compounds containing sulfur and something else Pyrite = FeS2 Galena = PbS

Native Elements
Minerals that exist as single elements that are uncombined with other elements Gold = Au Copper = Cu

Sulfates
Contain a sulfate group (SO4) Gypsum = CaSO42(H2O) Zincosite = ZnSO4

Rock Forming Minerals

There are over 4000 minerals, but only a few commonly build rocks. Silicates
Feldspar, Quartz, Muscovite (mica), Olivine, Biotite, Amphibole & Pyroxene

Non-Silicates
Calcite and Dolomite