Characteristics of Minerals

Kinds of Minerals More than 3,000 kinds of minerals have been identified. Fewer than
20 minerals are common they are called the rock forming minerals. Only 10 of the
rock forming minerals make up 90% of the Earths crust. Based on their chemical
composition, minerals can be classified into one of two groups silicate minerals and
nonsilicate minerals.

Kinds of Minerals Silicate minerals contain a combination of silicon and oxygen, and
they may contain one or more metals. For example quartz is made only from silicon
and oxygen feldspar, the most common silicate contains potassium (potassium
feldspar) or sodium or calcium or both (plagioclase feldspar) ferromagnesian
minerals are rich in iron and magnesium Feldspar and quartz alone make up 50% of
the Earths crust

Kinds of Minerals Nonsilicate minerals do not contain silicon and oxygen and make up
about 4% of the Earths crust. Nonsilicate minerals are divided into six major categories
by their chemical composition. Carbonates contain carbonate group (CO 3 )
Halides Cl or F combined with Na, K, or Ca Native elements pure elements
Oxides contain oxygen, but no silicon Sulfates contain sulfate group (SO 4 )
Sulfides one or more elements combined with sulfur

Crystalline Structure A crystal is a solid whose atoms, ions, or molecules are arranged
in a regular, repeating pattern. The characteristic geometry of a crystals internal
structure can be seen in large mineral crystals that grow uninhibited. Minerals are
commonly made up of masses of microscopic crystals. Beryl Crystal in Quartz - Brazil

Crystalline Structure of Silicate Minerals The silicon-oxygen tetrahedron is the basic

unit of the structure of silicate minerals; a silicon ion chemically bonded to and
surrounded by four oxygen ions. http://www.winona.edu/geology/MRW/mrwi
mages/tetrahedron.jpg

Crystalline Structure of Silicate Minerals Silicon-oxygen tetrahedra combine in a variety

of arrangements to form different silicate minerals. Isolated tetrahedra do not link
with other silicon or oxygen atoms Ring silicates form rings by sharing oxygen atoms
Single-chain silicates form a chain by sharing oxygen atoms Double-chain silicates
form when two single chains of tetrahedra bond to each other Sheet silicates form
when each tetrahedron shares three of it s oxygen atoms with other tetrahedra
Framework silicates form when each tetrahedron is bonded to four other tetrahedra
*See Figure 3 pg. 107.

Six Kinds of Silicate Mineral Arrangements

The Crystalline Structure of Nonsilicate Minerals Nonsilicate minerals display a variety

of crystal structures including cubes, hexagonal prisms, and irregular masses. The
structure of the nonsilicate mineral determines the characteristics of that mineral.
Dogtooth Calcite Unknown Origin
16 The Crystalline Structure of Nonsilicate Minerals In native elements, for example,
atoms are packed together as close as possible (closest packing). Closest packing
results in the higher densities of metals. Each metal atom may be surrounded by 8 to 12
other metal atoms which are as close to each other as the charges of the atomic nuclei
will allow. Native Copper - Michigan