Geo Notes !
Geo Notes !
What is a Mineral?
A naturally
occurring,
inorganic solid
that has a
definite
chemical
composition
and/or crystal
structure
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Formation & Composition
Minerals come
from cooled
magma
2500 kinds of
minerals; some
are easy to find
and others are
rare.
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Mineral Properties
Each type of mineral has its own combination of properties that identify it. Some
of the properties are
Color
Many minerals come in a wide variety of colors. Different minerals can be the
same color. It is difficult to use just color to identify a mineral.
Streak
Streak is the color of a mineral in powdered form. You can see a minerals streak by
rubbing a sample across an unglazed ceramic plate and observing the powder left
behind. Sometimes a minerals streak is very different from the color of the
sample.
Hardness
Hardness is the resistance of a mineral to scratching. Geologists use the Mohs'
hardness scale to seriate and compare mineral hardness.
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Specific gravity
Specific gravity is the ratio of the weight of a given volume of a mineral to the weight
of an equal volume of water. Higher specific gravity means the mineral is heavier.
Cleavage
Cleavage is how a mineral breaks. Some minerals break in smooth, flat surfaces at
identifiable angles, such as calcite. Others fracture and produce no flat surfaces,
such as quartz.
Fracture
Fracture is how a mineral breaks when no cleavage surfaces form. For example,
quartz breaks in a pattern known as conchoidal fracture. Conchoidal fracture looks
like smooth, curved surfaces.
Luster
Luster is how a mineral reflects light or how it shines. Some ways to describe luster
include glassy or vitreous, metallic, dull, and pearly.
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Crystal form
Crystal form describes the geometric shape of a crystal. There are seven main
groups of crystal shapes, including cubic, hexagonal, and tetrahedral.
Transparency
Transparency describes how a mineral transmits light. Some minerals are
transparent (you can see through them); others are translucent (some light passes
through a sample) or opaque (no light passes through a sample).
Magnetism
Magnetism is a special property of some minerals, especially magnetite. Samples
are attracted by a magnet. Lodestone, a special form of magnetite, is a magnet
itself.
Reaction to acid
Some minerals react to acid. Calcite especially will fizz and bubble when it comes
in contact with an acid such as hydrochloric acid at room temperature.
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Identifying Minerals
Physical
Properties are
used to identify
minerals:
Color- always a
reliable way to
identify minerals.
However, color
can change do to
pollution, heat,
and cold
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Types
Idiochromatics:-Fairly constant colour(Copper Group of
minerals)
Allochromatic: Variable colour due to impurities(Mineral
Like Quartz, Calcite, Fluorite)
Pseudochromatic: Showing a false colour Simultaneous
reflection and refraction(Diamond)
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Luster
The way a mineral
reflects light from
its surface
Non-metallic
luster:
Dont have much
of a reflection;
known as glassy,
pearly, and dull
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Factors affects Lustre
The refractive index of a mineral
The absorption (of light) capacity of a minerals
The nature of reflecting surface
Metallic: Shine resembles as of Metals-Galena
Vitreous: Lustre of Glass-Quartz
Pearly: Shine resembles as of Pearl- Labradorite
Silky: Shine resembles as of Pure silk-Gypsum
Resinous: oily shine, waxy or greasy-Nepheline
Dull: Shine is almost absent-Chalk. Clay , Bauxite
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Streak
Color of powder
scraped off when
it is rubbed
against a hard,
rough surface
Streak may be a
different color
than the mineral
itself.
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Streak: colour of the fine powdered mineral
Determined by using a streak plate
Magnetite and chromite are almost black in colour
where as streak of magnetite is black and that of
Magnetite is brown
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Hardness
The ability to resist
being scratched
Most useful
properties for
identifying a mineral
Numbered 1-10.
1-Talc-softest
10-Diamond-
hardneest
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Cleavage & Fracture
Describe how the
mineral breaks along
flat surfaces. Ex:
Halite
Most minerals break
along a rough or
jagged surface. Ex:
Quartz
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Fracture
Even: Broken srface is
smooth-Chert
Uneven: Broken surface
is irregular surface-
Fluorite
Conchoidal: Broken
surface is having
concentric rings with
faint outline-Quartz
Splintry: Rough woody
fracture-Kyanite
Hackly:Irregular sharp
fine projections-Native
copper
Earthy: Surface is
smooth and soft and
porous-Chalk
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Tenacity
(Behaviour towards Break, bend, cut or crush)
Sectile: Cut with a knife
Malleable: Can be flattened by a hammer
Brittleness: Change to fine grain or powder
under a knife or a hammer
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Minerals have a crystal
shape that results
from the way the
atoms or molecules
come together as the
mineral is forming
Crystal Shape
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Structure of a Mineral
(Physical make up of a mineral)
Tabular: Mineral in the form of flattened,
square, rectangle (Calcite, orthoclase, barite)
Elongated: Mineral is in the form of a thin or
thick elongated, column-like crystals. (Beryl,
Quartz, Hornblende)
Bladed: Mineral appears to be composed of
thin, flat , bladed like overlapping. (Kyanite)
Lamellar: Mineral made up of relatively thick,
flexible, leaf-like sheets.(Vermiculite)
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Foliated: similar to lamellar in boarder sense but
individual sheets are thin. (Muscovite)
Fibrous: Mineral composed of Fibres, generally
separable easily or with a little difficulty. (Asbestos &
Gypsum)
Radiated: needle like crystal appears to originating
from a common point. (iron pyrite)
Granular: densely packed mass of small crystal
grains(Chromite)
Globular: Botroiydal, rounded, bulb-like overlapping,
(Hematite)
Reniform: Globular similar to human kidney shape(H)
Mammillary: Globular form, conspicuous overlapping
with each other(malachite)
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Special Properties
Magnetite: Naturally
magnetic
Halite:
Tastes salty
Sulfur:
Smells like rotten eggs
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13.3: Uses of Minerals
Minerals are raw
materials used for
a wide variety of
products from
dyes to dishes and
from table salt to
televisions
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Some minerals
Quartz Feldspar
Fluorite Magnetite
Hornblende Gypsum
Calcite Biotite
Copper Hematite
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GROUPS
Silicate
Pyroxene
Amphibole
Mica
Feldspar
olivine
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Physical Properties of
Clear Quartz