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Color
Luster
Hardness
Crystal shape
Cleavage
Specific gravity
Other
Example:
Quartz
Obtained by scratching a
mineral on a piece of
unglazed porcelain.
Example:
Hematite
Metallic
example:
Galena
Non-metallic
example:
Orthoclase
Quartz
Pyrite
Example: mica
orthoclase
amphibole
halite
calcite
fluorite
smooth, curved
surfaces when minerals
break in a glass-like
manner: conchoidal
fracture
Quartz
Quartz
SG=2.67
Mineral Groups
Rock-forming minerals
~30 common minerals make up most rocks in
Earths crust
Composed mainly of the 8 elements that make up
over 98% of the crust
Mineral Groups
Element Abundances
SILICATES
1.5%
Silica
(SiO4)4-
Mineral Groups
Silicates (most abundant)
Non-silicates (~8% of Earths crust):
Oxides
O2Carbonates
Sulfides
Sulfates
Halides
Native elements
Silicon-oxygen
tetrahedron
(SiO4)4-
Mineral Groups
Silicates
ferromagnesian
No cleavage
Augite
2-directions
of cleavage
(at nearly 90 degrees)
Hornblende
2-directions
of cleavage
(not at 90 degrees)
Muscovite
1-direction
of cleavage
K-feldspar
2-directions
of cleavage
(at 90 degrees)
Ca/Na-feldspar
no cleavage
(conchoidal fracture)
Quartz
Mineral Groups
Non-ferromagnesian
Silicates (K, Na, Ca, Al)
Ferromagnesian
Silicates (Fe, Mg)
Oxides
Carbonates
Sulfides/sulfates
Native elements