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Introduction To Mineralogy

This document provides an introduction to the field of mineralogy. It defines minerals as naturally occurring, homogeneous solids with definite but not fixed compositions and ordered atomic arrangements formed through inorganic processes. Mineralogy studies the atomic arrangements in rocks and minerals and is a tool for understanding various aspects of the Earth sciences. Key topics covered include the definition of minerals and rocks, polymorphs and isomorphs, and applications of mineralogy in fields like geophysics and geochemistry.

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74 views

Introduction To Mineralogy

This document provides an introduction to the field of mineralogy. It defines minerals as naturally occurring, homogeneous solids with definite but not fixed compositions and ordered atomic arrangements formed through inorganic processes. Mineralogy studies the atomic arrangements in rocks and minerals and is a tool for understanding various aspects of the Earth sciences. Key topics covered include the definition of minerals and rocks, polymorphs and isomorphs, and applications of mineralogy in fields like geophysics and geochemistry.

Uploaded by

bea
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction to Mineralogy

Why Study Minerals?


 Minerals are the way atoms are arranged in
rocks.
 Atomic environments in rock are
homogeneous from the mm scale to the Å
scale (7 orders of magnitude).
– 1Å = 10-10 m = 10-7mm
 Mineralogy is solid-state geochemistry.
 Minerals are fundamental to Earth Sciences.
– Environmental sciences
–Geochemsitry
– Geophysics
 Mineralogy is a mature science.
 Mineralogy is primarily a tool for
understanding the Earth
Rocks are aggregates of
minerals.
Rocks are aggregates of
minerals.
Definition of a Mineral

 A mineral is a naturally occurring,


 homogeneous solid
 with a definite, but not fixed, composition, and
 an ordered atomic arrangement that is formed
by inorganic processes.
 A mineral is a natural, crystalline phase.
Minerals are Naturally
Occurring

 In order to be a mineral, a chemical compound


must occur naturally somewhere and be
stable enough to study in the lab.

 We can make many compounds in the lab


that are not minerals unless they are found in
nature.
Mineral are homogeneous

 Minerals are chemically homogeneous down


to the atomic scale.
Definite, but not fixed,
composition

 Minerals have chemical formulas determined


by the atomic structures.

 Symmetry requires atoms to occur in simple,


specific, integer ratios.

 But, for a given mineral, substitutions of


similar elements are possible.
Ordered atomic arrangement

 Minerals are crystals (crystalline solids).

 Crystals are periodic arrays of atoms.

 Atoms achieve their lowest energy by having


each different type of atom (element) in an
identical environment.
Ordered atomic arrangement
Inorganic Processes

 The mineral must have at least one


occurrence where it is formed by inorganic
processes.

 Calcite may be formed by organisms to form


shells, but it also occurs in igneous and
metamorphic environments.
These are Minerals

 Gold, silver, diamond, graphite


 Pyrite, marcasite, sphalerite
 Salt (halite), fluorite, calcite, apatite
 Olivine, garnet, zircon
 Pyroxene, amphibole, mica
 Quartz, feldspar, zeolite
These natural solids are
NOT Minerals
 Granite, basalt, limestone
– (These are rocks, composed of minerals)

 Wood, coal
– (organic, non-crystalline solids)

 Opal, obsidian, pumice


– (glass, non-crystalline solids) (amorphous)
Polymorphs and Isomorphs

 Polymorph: same composition, different


structure

 Isomorph: same structure, different


composition
Polymorphs

 Two minerals with the same composition, but


different structures are different minerals.
 Diamond and graphite are both pure carbon,
but are different minerals
 Quartz-tridymite-cristobalite-
coesitestishovite: all polymorphs of SiO2.
 Calcite and aragonite are both CaCO3.
 This is why we use mineral names rather than
chemical formulas.
Isomorphs
 Minerals with the same structure and different
compositions are isomorphs.
– Forsterite (Mg2SiO4)- fayalite (Fe2SiO4)
–Halite (NaCl) - sylvite (KCl),
- periclase(MgO), galena (PbS)
– Gold (Au) - silver (Ag)
– Quartz (SiO2) - berlinite (AlPO4)
– Muscovite-Biotite
 Sometimes there’s crystalline solution,
sometimes not.
Mineralogy Today

 Mineralogy is a mature science


– 10 to 20 new species each year
– About 5000 total species

 Mineralogy is primarily a tool for


understanding the Earth.
Mineralogy Today

 Mineralogy is the study of natural crystalline


solids.
 Geophysics
–Mineral Physics
 Geochemistry
– Igneous, sedimentary, Metamorphic
– Ore deposits
– Environmental
– Biogeochemistry
Definition of terms
 Crystal – a homogenous solid possessing
long-range, three dimensional, internal
order.

 Rock – is an aggregate of minerals. It can


be composed of only one kind of mineral
(monomineralic) or of different kinds of
minerals.

 Ore Minerals – those minerals from which one or


more metals may be extracted at a profit.
 Industrial Minerals – those minerals which
are, themselves, used for one or more
industrial purposes such as in the
manufacture of electrical and thermal
insulators, refractories, ceramics, glass,
abrasives, fertilizers, fluxes, cement, and
other building materials.

 Gems – those minerals which have


ornamental value, and which possess the
qualities of beauty, durability, rarity,
fashionability and portability.

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