Module No.

and Title MODULE 2: EARTH MATERIALS AND PROCESSES

Lesson No. and Title LESSON 3: PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF MINERALS

Minerals

 A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic, solid material that has a fixed structure and a definite
chemical composition. In order for something to be considered a mineral, it should satisfy all these
criteria:
a. It is a naturally occurring substance.
b. It is an inorganic substance.
c. It has an orderly internal structure.
d. It has a fixed, (or uniformly variable) chemical composition.

Physical Properties of Minerals

 Physical properties are useful when working in the field, where there is usually no access to complex
analytical techniques. Although a particular mineral has different forms, the fundamental physical
properties are still the same. Useful physical properties to identify a mineral include color, streak, luster,
specific gravity, hardness, cleavage, tenacity, and crystal habit.

 The color of a mineral depends on the elements which constitute the crystal lattice – the arrangement
of atoms, or groups of atoms, in a specific pattern and with high symmetry. The reflection of certain
wavelengths of light by the crystal lattice results in the color perceived by the observer. A lot of minerals
can exhibit same or similar colors. Individual minerals can also display a variety of colors resulting
from impurities and also from some geologic processes like weathering. Examples of coloring: quartz
can be pink (rose quartz), purple (amethyst), orange (citrine), white (colorless quartz) etc.

Source: http://www.geologyin.com/2016/04/major-varieties-of-quartz.html
 Streak is the color of the mineral in its powdered form. It is inherent in almost every mineral, and is a
more diagnostic property compared to color. Note that the color of a mineral can be different from its
streak.

42. Sulfur (Yellow)

43. Malachite (Green)
44. Pyrite (Black)
45. Goethite (Brown)
46. Fluorite (White)
47. Rhodochrosite (White)
48. Hematite (Red)
49. Zincite (Orange)
50. Azurite (Blue)
51. Cinnabar (Red)

Source: https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent/minerals/properties/optical-properties-of-minerals/streak-42-51

 Luster is the relative differences in the opacity and transparency of a mineral as light is reflected on
its surface. This describes the 'sparkles' of the mineral surfaces. There are two types:

a. Metallic – generally opaque and exhibit a resplendent shine similar to a polished metal

b. Non-metallic – vitreous (glassy), adamantine (brilliant/diamond-like), resinous, silky, pearly, dull

(earthy), greasy, among others

Source: tes.com/lessons/uZIruOZe0dVjdQ/luster
 Specific gravity is the ratio of the weight of the mineral to the weight of the water with an equal volume.
This parameter indicates how many times more the mineral weighs compared to an equal amount of
water (SG 1). For example, a bucket of silver (SG 10) would weigh ten times more than a bucket of
water.

 Hardness is the measure of the resistance of a surface to abrasions or scratches. It is generally

measured using Mohs Scale of Hardness designed by German geologist/mineralogist Friedrich Mohs
in 1812. The Mohs Scale of Hardness measures the scratch resistance of various minerals from a
scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the hardest, 1 being the softest), based on the ability of a harder
material/mineral to scratch a softer one.

Source: https://www.gemselect.com/gem-info/gem-hardness-info.php
 Cleavage is the tendency of the mineral to be split or broken along flat surfaces. These planes exist
because the bonding of atoms making up the mineral happens to be weak in those areas. When
minerals break evenly in more than one direction, cleavage is described by the number of cleavage
directions, the angle(s) at which they meet, and the quality of cleavage (e.g. cleavage in 2 directions
at 90°).

Source: http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/geology/grocha/mineral/cleavage.html

 Fracture refers to the texture or shape of the mineral’s surface when the mineral breaks into forms
other than flat surfaces.

Source: http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/geology/grocha/mineral/cleavage.html
 Tenacity refers to the behavior of the mineral under deformation or stress such as cutting, crushing,
bending, or hitting.

 Crystal habit refers to the growth crystal pattern of a mineral as single or aggregated. The form reflects
the supposedly internal structure (of atoms and ions) of the crystal (mineral). It is the natural shape of
the mineral before the development of any cleavage or fracture. A mineral that do not have a crystal
structure is described as amorphous.

Source: http://www.geologyin.com/2019/10/crystal-habits-and-forms.html

Chemical Properties of Minerals

 All minerals have a certain arrangement of elements in their crystal structure. They can be represented
by a chemical formula, which presents the proportions of atoms that constitute them. For example, the
mineral quartz has a chemical formula SiO 2. Its crystal structure is a continuous framework of silicon-
oxygen tetrahedra.

 The chemical properties of minerals depend on their chemical formula and crystal structure. Solubility
and melting point are chemical properties commonly used to describe a mineral.

 Solubility refers the ability of a substance to dissolve in a solvent at a specified temperature. For
example, biotite, a mineral commonly found in igneous rocks, is soluble in both acid and base
solutions. The dissolution releases the loosely-bound potassium ions in the mineral.

 Melting point refers to the temperature at which solid turns into liquid. Minerals composed of atoms
that are tightly bonded within the crystal structure have high melting points. For example, quartz melts
above 1670°C.
Let’s have a recap!

1. What is the difference between a mineral and a rock?

2. What are the four criteria which should be satisfied in order for something to be considered as a
mineral?
3. What are the physical and chemical properties of a mineral?

Common Rock-Forming Minerals

 The most common rock-forming minerals are quartz, feldspar, mica, pyroxene, amphibole, and olivine.
All of the following silicate minerals, except for quartz, are mineral groups.

 Quartz – Quartz has a chemical composition of SiO 2. It is a glassy-

looking hard substance with white streaks. Despite its hardness, with a
Mohs hardness of 7, it is quite brittle. Pure quartz is clear and
transparent. Colored varieties of quartz are due to elemental impurities
built into its lattice. The grains of quartz, in general, are irregular in
shape.
Source:
https://www.thespruce.com/what-is-a-
clear-quartz-crystal-1274383

 Feldspar – Feldspar has a chemical composition of XAl (1−2)Si(3−2)O8,

where X is K, Ca, or Na. It is quite hard with a Mohs hardness of 6. It is a
light-colored material, usually white, but they can have lighter shades of
red or green. It has a glassy luster. In rocks, feldspar forms rectangular
crystals that break along flat faces.

Source:
https://mineralseducationcoalition.org/mi
nerals-database/feldspar/

 Mica – Mica is any group of hydrous potassium aluminum silicate

minerals. The most common examples are clear muscovite and black
biotite. Mica is soft, with Mohs hardness ranging from 2 to 2.5. It is easily
identified by its perfect cleavage, reducing it to thin smooth flakes. Its
shine is responsible for the flashes of light in rocks such as granite and
slate. Source:
https://www.rocksandminerals4u.com/
mica.html
 Pyroxene – Pyroxene minerals have a general composition of XY(Al,Si) 2O6
where X is Ca or Mg and Y is either Mg, Fe, Al. Augite is the most common
of this group. It has a glassy luster with streaks of white, light green, or light
brown. It is generally black in color and has stubby prismatic crystals. Its key
feature is its two cleavages at around 90°.

Source:
https://geology.com/minerals/pyrox
ene.shtml

 Amphibole – Amphibole has a dark color, usually black to dark green, with
a Mohs hardness ranging from 5 to 6. Hornblende is the most common
amphibole. It has a glassy luster and an opaque characteristic. Its crystals
are very long and very thin.

Source:
https://mineralseducationcoalition.org
/minerals-database/amphibole/

 Olivine – Olivine is a silicate mineral with a general chemical composition of

(Mg,Fe)2SiO4, but calcium, manganese, and nickel can be substituted for
magnesium and iron. It is known for its distinct olive-green color and
commonly used in the gemstone industry as peridot. It is a glassy looking and
transparent substance that is almost as hard as quartz. Its crystals have a
granular shape.
Source:
https://en.clipdealer.com/photo/media/
A:140132567

Let’s have a recap!

1. What are the different rock-forming minerals?

2. What properties of a mineral were commonly used to differentiate one mineral from the other?
 Did you know that…

The Philippines has been ranked as the fifth most

mineralized country in the world?

The Philippines has an estimated US$1 trillion in

untapped reserves of copper, gold, nickel, zinc and
silver. Despite the foregoing, statistics from the
Philippine Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)
indicate that, as of 2017, there are only 50
operating mines. For the same year, the Philippine
Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) has placed the preliminary
gross production value for large-scale metallic
mining at 107.7 billion pesos.

The Philippines’ top mineral exports are copper, gold and nickel. Other target minerals include quartz, mica,
iron, gypsum, feldspar, chromite, calcite and sulfur. Some target non-metallic minerals are sand and gravel,
limestone, marble, clay and other quarry materials.

Benguet, Masbate, Nueva Vizcaya, Cebu, Compostela Valley, Davao, Palawan and Surigao are among
the regions which have high metallic and gold mining activities.