MINERALS

at the end of the class them you will be able to:

1. identify common rock-forming minerals using

their physical properties; and
2. classify rocks into igneous, sedimentary, and
metamorphic
 What is a mineral?

A mineral is homogenous, inorganic,

naturally occurring substance
formed through geological
processes that has a characteristic
chemical composition, a highly
ordered atomic structure and
specific physical properties.
Minerals

 About 20 minerals make up more than 95% of

all the rocks in the Earth’s crust

 They are formed in the Earth’s mantle(from

heat and pressure) – near the surface when
oxygen, calcium and carbon combine in the
ocean.
Naturally - Occuring Inorganic

 It should be made by  The process to

natural processes produce a mineral by
without the aid of any natural means is
organism.
extended further by
 Any materials that is making sure that no
formed in
organic material be
laboratories or
artificial conditions is considered a mineral
not considered a
mineral.
Homogenous Definite chemical
Solid composition

 We should be able  A mineral must also

to see something possess uniformity
that is uniform in in its chemical
appearance and is composition
in the solid state of
matter
Physical Properties
 Color
 Hardness
 Luster
 Streak
 Cleavage and Fracture
 Crystalline Structure
 Transparency
 Magnetism
 Tenacity
 Odor
 Specific Gravity
1. Color
 the property used to identify minerals easily

 It is a result of the way minerals absorb light

2. Hardness
 Refers to the measure of the mineral’s
resistance from scratching
3. Luster
 Refers to the
reaction of a mineral
to light
 Determines how
brilliant or dull the
mineral is
4. Streak

 The color of the mineral in powder form

5. Cleavage and Fracture
 are used to describe
how minerals break
into pieces
 Cleavage – breakage
along the crystalline
structure where a
mineral is likely to
break smoothly
 Fracture – when it
breaks in a direction
where there is no
cleavage
5. Crystalline Structure
Tells how a mineral’s
crystals are arranged
6. Transparency
 Aka diaphaneity
 Indicates the extent
of light that can pass
through the mineral
7. Magnetism
 Ability of minerals to
attract or repel other
minerals
8. Odor 9. Specific Gravity

 Distinct smell of a  Measure of the

mineral that is density of a mineral
usually released  Determines how
from a chemical heavy the mineral is
reaction when by comparing its
subjected to water, weight to that of
heat, air or friction water
 What is a rock?

A rock is a
naturally
occurring
aggregate of
minerals and/or
other rock
fragments
 Rock classification

Igneous Sedimentary Metamorphic

 Igneous rocks

Igneous rocks form when

molten rock (magma) cools and
solidifies, with or without
crystallization,either below the
surface as intrusive (plutonic)
r ock s or on t h e s ur f a c e a s
extrusive (volcanic) rocks.
 Texture

Texture refers to the physical appearance

or character of a rock, such as grain size,
shape, and arrangement.
Igneous rocks that crystallize slowly beneath the
Earth's surface, typically have visible individual
minerals. Extrusive igneous rocks tend to cool much
more rapidly, and the minerals grow quicker and
can not get as large. They thus have a sugary or fine
grained texture.
 Texture

coarse coarse coarse Glassy/fine

 Sedimentary rocks

Sedimentary rocks are

classified by the source of
their sediments, and are
produced by one or more
processes that follow:
 Sedimentary rocks
Clastic sedimentary rocks are composed
of fragments of older rocks that have been
deposited and consolidated
· boulders greater than 25.6 cm
· cobbles 6.4 to 25.6 cm
· pebbles 2 mm to 6.4 cm
· sand 1/16 mm to 2 mm
· silt 1/256 mm to 1/16 mm
· clay less than 1/256 mm
 Sedimentary rocks
Chemical sedimentary rocks form when minerals
precipitate from a solution, usually sea water. Halite and
gypsum are examples of minerals that precipitate from
aqueous solutions to form chemical sedimentary rocks.

Biochemical sedimentary rocks are composed of

accumlations of organic debris. Coal and some limestones
are examle of biological sedimentary rocks.
 Metamorphic rocks

Metamorphic rocks are the result of the transformation of a

pre-existing rock type, the protolith, in a process called
metamorphism, which means "change in form". The protolith
is subjected to heat (greater than 150 degrees Celsius)
and/or extreme pressure causing profound physical and/or
chemical change. The protolith may be sedimentary rock,
igneous rock or another older metamorphic rock.
Foliation refers to flat or wavy planar features (looking like
layers) caused by the alignment of platy minerals such as mica.
Foliation may also look like alternating bands of light and dark
minerals.
Nonfoliated rocks have interlocking grains with no specific
pattern. They are classified based on composition, and this
usually depends on the type of rock it originally formed from.