Magnetite 

Rutile 
Sulfur 

Azurite 
ROCKS & MINERALS
 OBJECTIVES:
• demonstrate understanding about physical and
chemical properties of minerals and will be able
to identify certain minerals using specific tests;
• identify some common rock-forming minerals;
and
• classify minerals based on chemical affinity.
 What
are
mineral
s?
What are minerals?

Is it non-living?

Minerals are inorganic.

This means that they are
not made of living things
or their remains.
What are minerals?

Is it a solid?

Minerals are not

gases or liquids.
What are minerals?
Does it have a
crystalline
structure?

Minerals are crystals.

Each mineral has a
certain crystal structure
that is always the same.
What are minerals?

Does it form
naturally?

Minerals are not

made by people.
Minerals

• Definition: naturally occurring, inorganic

elements or compounds with specific
physical and chemical properties.
 General Characteristics of
Minerals
• It is naturally occurring.
• Minerals are inorganic.
• Minerals are solid.
• It has a definite composition.
• It has ordered internal structure.
• Minerals are the
ingredients of
rocks.

Or

• Rocks are made

up of minerals.
ACTIVITY:
Mineral Properties
 Used to identify minerals

1. Color
• Least useful property in identifying
minerals.
• Why?
2. Streak
• The color of a minerals in its powder
form.
• “streak test”
3. Luster
• How the minerals surface reflects
light.
• Metallic vs. non- metallic.
 3. Luster
Metallic Non-metallic
• Metallic minerals are • While non-metallic are
generally opaque and vitreous (glassy),
exhibit a resplendent adamantine
shine similar to a polished brilliant/diamond-like),
metal. resinous, silky, pearly, dull
(earthy), greasy, etc.
4. Hardness
• The ability of a mineral to resist being
scratched.
• “Scratch test”

• If mineral A can scratch mineral B, what

does that tell us about the relative
hardness of each mineral?
Moh’s Hardness Scale
5. Fracture/ Cleavage
Fracture Cleavage
• Mineral breaks • The tendency of a
unevenly or Mineral to break
irregularly evenly along its
weakest plane to
form smooth, flat
surfaces.
6. Crystal Form
• Some minerals tend to form crystals that aid in
the identification of the mineral.
• The crystal form also define the relative growth
of the crystal in 3 dimension which are its
length, width and height
Standard 3-3.1
Standard 3-3.2
C
 
A  B Crystal Form, cont. Isometric: Pyrite
 Isometric:
Isometric crystals are block shaped with relatively C
similar and symmetrical faces. The crystal form has
three axes all at 90° angles and all the same length.
Mineral Example: Pyrite
Axes Length Relationships: A = B = C A B
Angles:  =  =  = 90 Copyright© Dr. Richard Busch

Tetragonal: Zircon
Tetragonal:
Tetragonal crystals are shaped like four-sided C
pyramids or prisms. The crystal form has three axes
that are all perpendicular to one another. Two axis
have the same length, and one is different. The axes
that are the same length lie on a horizontal plane,
with the third axis at a right angle to the other two. A B
Mineral Example: Zircon
Axes Length Relationships: A  B  C Copyright© Dr. Richard Busch

Angles:  =  =  = 90 Orthorhombic: Topaz

Orthorhombic: C
Orthorhombic crystals are shaped like a rectangular
prism with a rectangular base. The crystal has three
axes of different lengths and intersect at 90° angles.
Mineral Example: Topaz A B
Axes Length Relationships: A  B  C
Photo Courtesy USGS 22
Angles:  =  =  = 90
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Standard 3-3.1
Standard 3-3.2
C
 
A  B Crystal Form, cont. Hexagonal: Amethyst

Hexagonal:
Hexagonal crystals have three symmetrical axes that occur in D
the same plane and are all the same length. The fourth axis
may be either longer or shorter, and it intersects the other C
three axis at 90° angles. The sides intersect at 120 ° angles. B
Mineral Example: Amethyst A
Axes length Relationships: A = B = C ≠ D Copyright © Stonetrust ,Inc.

Angles:  =  = 90 and  = 120 Monoclinic: Gypsum

C
Monoclinic:
Monoclinic crystals are short and stubby with tilted faces.
Each crystal has three axes that are unequal. Two of the axes B
lie in the same plane at right angles to each other, the third
axis is inclined. Mineral Example: Gypsum A Copyright © Stonetrust ,Inc.
Axes Length Relationships: A ≠ B ≠ C
Triclinic: Kyanite
Angles:  ≠  =  = 90
C
Triclinic:
Triclinic crystals have three axis which are all different
lengths and all three axis intersect at angles other than 90°. B
Mineral Example: Kyanite
Axes Length Relationships: A ≠ B ≠ C A
Angles:  ≠  ≠  Copyright © Stonetrust ,Inc.
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7. Specific Gravity
• It is a measure of the density of a mineral.
• The ratio of the density of the mineral to
the density of water (1 g/cm3)

• If a mineral has a specific gravity of 5

that means it is 5 times as dense as
water.
 Density
 It’s a calculation (math problem!)
 Use a balance to find the mass.
 Place the mineral in H2O to find the
amount of water it displaces. This
amount is the volume of the mineral.
 To find the density, divide mass by
volume.
 Ex: Sample of Olivine
 Mass = 237 g Volume = 72 cm3
 Density = 237 g/ 72 cm3 = 3.3 g/cm3
 8. Special Properties

• Calcite and fluorite show • Calcite produces a

the property of chemical reaction when a
fluorescence. This means drop of weak acid is
that they glow under placed on it. It fizzes and
ultraviolet light. produces gas bubbles.
 8. Special Properties

• Some minerals, such as • Magnetite shows the

this calcite, show optical property of magnetism. It
properties. Images look is a natural magnet.
doubled when they are
viewed through calcite.
 8. Special Properties

• Halite has a salty taste. • Minerals that contain

radioactive elements may
show the property of
radioactivity. The
radiation they give off can
be detected by a Geiger
counter.
A minerals properties are
due to the internal
arrangement of its atoms.
 How do
geologists
classify the
minerals?
• Geologists
classify minerals
based on the
elements or
compounds in
the minerals
 Two Main Groups of Minerals
Silicate Minerals Nonsilicate Minerals

• Silicon and oxygen are two of the • Minerals that do not contain
most common elements in the compounds of silicon and oxygen
Earth’s crust. Minerals that contain are called nonsilicate minerals.
compounds of silicon and oxygen • Some of these minerals are made
are called silicate minerals. Silicate of elements such as carbon,
minerals make up more than 90% oxygen, fluorine, and sulfur.
of the Earth’s crust.
• Most silicate minerals also contain Types of Nonsilicate Minerals
elements other than silicon and Oxides
oxygen, such as aluminum, iron, or
Sulfides
magnesium.
Sulfates
Halides
Carbonates
Native metals
 Silicates
 Silicates are composed of silicon-oxygen tetrahedrons, an arrangement which
contains four oxygen atoms surrounding a silicon atom (SiO4-4).
 Silicates are often divided into two major groups: ferromagnesian silicates and
non-ferromagnesian silicates
 Ferromagnesian silicates contain iron or magnesium ions joined to the silicate
structure. They are darker and have a heavier specific gravity than non-
ferromagnesian silicate minerals.
 Ferromagnesians include minerals such as olivine, pyroxene, hornblende, and
biotite
 Non-ferromagnesians include muscovite, feldspar, and quartz
 Silicates comprise the majority of minerals in the Earth’s crust and upper mantle.
Over 25% of all minerals are included in this group, with over 40% of those
accounting for the most common and abundant minerals.
 Feldspar, Quartz, Biotite, and Amphibole are the most common silicates
Quartz
Silicon-oxygen tetrahedron (SiO4-4)
Oxygen atoms

Silicon atom
Copyright©Stonetrust, Inc. 34
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 Native Elements

 Native elements are minerals that are composed of a single

element.
 Some examples are: Gold (Au), Silver (Ag), Copper (Cu), Iron
(Fe), Diamonds (C), Graphite (C), and Platinum (Pt)

Gold Silver

Image Courtesy of the USGS Image Courtesy of the USGS

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 Halides

 Halides consist of halogen elements, chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), fluorine

(F), and iodine (I) forming strong ionic bonds with alkali and alkali
earth elements sodium (Na), calcium (Ca) and potassium (K)
 Some examples include Halite (NaCl) and Flourite (CaF 2).

Halite Fluorite

Copyright©Stonetrust, Inc. Image courtesy of USGS

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 Carbonates
 Carbonates are anionic groups of carbon and oxygen. Carbonate minerals result
from bonds between these complexes and alkali earth and some transitional
metals
 Common carbonate minerals include calcite CaCO3 , calcium carbonate, and
dolomite CaMg(CO3)2 , calcium/magnesium carbonate
 Carbonate minerals react when exposed to hydrochloric acid. Geologist will often
carry dilute hydrochloric acid in the field to test if a mineral contains calcium
carbonate. If the mineral fizzes when it comes in contact with the hydrochloric
acid it contains calcium carbonate. Some cola soft drinks can also be used for this
test because it contains enough hydrochloric acid to react with calcium carbonate.
Dolomite Calcite

Copyright©Stonetrust, Inc. Copyright©Stonetrust, Inc.

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 Oxides
 Oxides are minerals that include one or more metal cations bonded to
oxygen or hydroxyl anions.
 Examples of oxide minerals include: Hematite (Fe 2O3), Magnetite (Fe3O4),
Corundum (Al2O3), and Ice (H2O)

Hematite

Courtesy National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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 Sulfates

 Sulfates are minerals that include SO4 anionic groups combined with
alkali earth and metal cations.
 Anhydrous (no water) and hydrous (water) are the two major groups of
Sulfates.
 Barite (BaSO4) is an example of a anhydrous sulfate and Gypsum
(CaSO4 · 2H2O) is an example of a sulfate.

Barite Gypsum

Image Courtesy of the USGS Image Courtesy of the USGS

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 Sulfides
 Sulfides are minerals composed of one or more metal cations combined
with sulfur. Many sulfides are economically important ores.
 Pyrite (FeS2) or “fool’s gold”, Galena (PbS), Cinnabar (HgS) an
Molybdenite (MoS2) are a few commonly occurring sulfide minerals

Pyrite “Fool’s Gold” Cinnabar

Copyright©Dr. Richard Busch Image Courtesy of USGS

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Standard 8-3.5

Uses of Common Minerals

Minerals are a non-renewable natural resources, meaning that once we mine or
extract them they will not replenish in enough time to be used again by
humans. Industrial minerals are non-renewable minerals that are mined for
commercial value and are not used as fuel or as a source of metals. These
minerals are either used in their raw form or as additives with other materials.
Industrial minerals are used for construction, ceramics, cement, paints,
electronics, glass, detergent, paper, plastics, filtration, and variety of other
common household applications.
 Copper is a native element used for electrical wiring.
 Gold, Diamonds, Silver, and Platinum are native elements used for jewelry.
 Talc is a silicate mineral used for cosmetics and cat litter.
 Quartz is a silicate mineral used to make glass.
 Graphite is a native element used for pencil lead.
 Halite is a halide mineral used for common table salt.
 Kaolin is a silicate mineral used in ceramics, coated paper, and as a
medicine.
 Barite is a sulfate mineral used in cement or as an additive to petroleum.
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 ASSIGNMENT:
• List five minerals and their common uses.
Identify the specific property/properties
that makes the mineral suitable for those
uses. For example, graphite, having a
black streak and hardness of 1-2, is used
in pencils due to its ability to leave marks
on paper and other objects.

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