Systematic Description of Minerals

Part 2:
Oxides, Hydroxides Halides,
Carbonates, Sulfates, and
Phosphates
 Oxides
Three main groups based on metal cation/oxygen ratios
Hematite Group (X2O3) Corundum X=Al+3
most phases hexagonal Hematite X=Fe+3
Ilmenite X=1Fe+2+1Ti+4

Rutile Group (XO2) Rutile X=Ti

x- +4 cation Pyrolusite X=Mn
most phases tetragonal Cassiterite X=Sn
Uraninite X=U

Spinel Group (XY2O4) Spinel X=Mg, Y=Al

X- +2 ; Y- +3 cation Magnetite X=Fe+2, Y=Fe+3
most phases isometric Chromite X=Fe+2, Y=Cr
or orthorhombic Chrysoberyl X=Be, Y=Al
Ulvospinel X=Ti+4, Y=Fe+2
 Fe-Ti oxides

Fe+2 Fe+3
Spinel Group (XY2O4)

Gem-quality
Spinels
 Other Common Oxides
Rutile (TiO2) Corundum (Al2O3)
Hardness=9

Rutile needles in
Quartz

Pyrolusite (MnO2) Blue = Sapphire

Red = Ruby
Chrysoberyl (BeAl2O4)

Pyrolusite dendrites Mass of botryoidal

on fracture faces Pyrolusite
Cyclic twinning
in Chrysoberyl
 Hydroxides
(OH)- main anionic group forming octahedrally
coordinated sheets with weak bonds between

Two structural types:

Brucite-type – trioctahedral Gibbsite-type – dioctahedral

sheets (all octahedral cation sheets (only two of three
sites are filled) octahedral sites are filled)
 Common Types of Hydroxides
Brucite Mg(OH)2 Gibbsite Al(OH)3

Manganite MnO(OH) Diaspore αAlO(OH)

Goethite αFeO(OH) Bauxite Al-hydroxide*

*hybrid mix of diaspore, gibbsite, and boehmite (γAlO(OH))

 Halides
u  Simple compounds composed of
large halogen anions (Cl, Br, F, I)
u  Typically isometric

u  Dominantly ionic bonding

u  Properties – low hardness, high

melting points, poor conductors
(except at high temperatures)
Common Halides

Halite (NaCl)

Sylvite (KCl)

Flourite (CaF2)
 Mineral
Carbonates
Groups
formed with
Sulfates
Anionic
Complexes
Amount of residual charge
indicates relative strength
Phosphates bonds with cations, which
reflected in the hardness
of the mineral

Silicates
 Carbonates

Aragonite Calcite
(High-P) Orthorhombic (Low-P - Hexagonal)

Most are Hexagonal

Other Carbonates
Azurite - Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 (Blue)
Malachite – Cu2CO3(OH)2 (Green)

Rhodochrosite – MnCO3
 Borates

Kernite – Na2B4O6(OH)2·3H2O
H – 3; SG – 1.95

Borax - Na2B4O5(OH)4·8H2O
H – 2-2.5; SG – 1.7

Ulexite – NaCaB5O6(OH)6·5H2O
H – 1-2.5; SG – 1.96

“Television Rock”
 Sulfates
HYDROUS ANHYDROUS

H: 2 H: 3-3.5
SG: 2.32 SG: 2.9

Gypsum – CaSO4·2H2O Anhydrite – CaSO4

H: 4 H: 3-3.5
SG: ~2.7 SG: 4.5

Alunite – KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 Barite – BaSO4

Tungstates & Molybdates
Woframite – (Fe,Mn)WO4
SG: 7-7.5

Scheelite – CaWO4
SG: ~6

Wulfenite – PbMoO4
SG: 6.8
 Phosphates
u  Apatite – Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH)
– prismatic hexagonal crystals
– common in igneous rocks and
hydrothermal deposits
- variable colors
Other Common Phosphates
Monazite – (Ce,La,Y,Th)PO4
Ore mineral for Rare Earth Elements
Useful mineral in U-Pb and Th age dating

Wavellite – Al3(PO4)2(OH)3·5H2O
Radiating globular aggregates

Turquoise –
CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·5H2O
Systematic Description of Minerals

Part 3: Silicates

Read: Klein Chap. 11