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Mineral PDF

Minerals are naturally occurring inorganic solids with a defined chemical composition and crystal structure. They form through processes such as cooling magma or precipitation from water. There are over 4,500 known minerals, with around 200 being common in rocks. Minerals have distinguishing physical properties like luster, color, streak, hardness and crystal structure that are used to identify them. Some minerals have economic value as ore deposits or gemstones. Ores contain metals that can be profitably extracted, while gemstones are valued for their beauty and rarity.

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385 views18 pages

Mineral PDF

Minerals are naturally occurring inorganic solids with a defined chemical composition and crystal structure. They form through processes such as cooling magma or precipitation from water. There are over 4,500 known minerals, with around 200 being common in rocks. Minerals have distinguishing physical properties like luster, color, streak, hardness and crystal structure that are used to identify them. Some minerals have economic value as ore deposits or gemstones. Ores contain metals that can be profitably extracted, while gemstones are valued for their beauty and rarity.

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Minerals

Minerals
What is a mineral?
Naturally occurring
Crystalline solid
Inorganic
Specific chemical composition
Definite structure

What is a rock?
Composed of one or more minerals
Mineral Formation
Minerals form
from:
Cooling
magma
Precipitation
from water
Minerals There are 4500 known
minerals
~200 are common
~24 form the majority of
rocks
Minerals form under
specific heat and pressure
conditions
Minerals are used to
classify and interpret rocks
Properties of Minerals
Seven important characteristics for identifying minerals
Luster
Color (sometimes ambiguous)
Streak
Hardness
Crystal habit
Breakage (Fracture or Cleavage)
Specific Gravity
Properties of Matter Crystal Habit
The external shape
Mineral crystals occur in
various shapes and sizes
Shape is determined by the
arrangements of the atoms,
molecules or ions that make
up the crystal and how they
are joined
Properties of Minerals --Hardness
Measure of resistance to
scratching
Hard mineral = very
resistant to scratching
Measured on Mohs
hardness scale
Properties of Minerals -- Color
NOT always a good diagnostic property
can be misleading
Most minerals have a wide range of colors
Example: Quartz

Color is the result of impurities

A few minerals DO have characteristic


colors
Ex. Olivine is always green
Properties of Minerals Streak
The color of powdered mineral
COLOR may vary, but streak is usually the same
Hematite always has a red streak (whether it has an earthy or metallic luster)
Properties of Minerals -- Luster
The way light reflects off
surface

Metallic
Nonmetallic
Earthy
Glassy
Pearly
Greasy
Properties of Minerals Specific Gravity
Ratio of mineral mass to
mass of an equal volume
of water

How HEAVY does the


mineral feel?
Galena is a heavy mineral
Properties of Minerals Breakage
Cleavage: Break along
zones of weakness in crystal
lattice
Tendency of a mineral to
break along planes of weak
bonds
Creates smooth, parallel
surfaces
Properties of Minerals -- Breakage
Fracture: uneven break when no
weak zones exist
Mineral has strong bonds in all
directions
Breaks along uneven, irregular
surfaces
OR
Breaks along curved, conchoidal
surface
Special Properties

Magnetism
Magnetite
Taste
Halite tastes salty
Reaction to HCl
Calcite reacts to HCl
Fluorescence
Fluorite, Calcite
Economic Minerals
Ores
A mineral that contains a valuable
substance that can be mined at a
profit
Classification can change is the
minerals supply and demand lowers
(may no longer be considered an
ore)
Example: iron found in the mineral
hematite
Economic Minerals
Gemstones
Gemstones are minerals that are valuable due to their rarity and
beauty
Pure, Very little defects

- Rare
- Transparent
- Even coloration
- Hardness >7 (not easily scratched)
Gemstones
Sapphires and rubies are both corundum (Al2O3)

- Sapphires blue are due to titanium and iron


- Rubies are red due to chromium

Because of their rareness, rubies and emeralds are more valuable


than diamonds

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