EARTH & LIFE: Classifying Minerals

Mafic Silicates
- contains iron (Fe) and magnesium (Mg)
- dark in color
Examples: olivine, pyroxene, amphibole and biotite
mica.
Silicates
- minerals that contains
silicon and oxygen
- forms 95% of Earth's Felsic Silicates
crust
- contains potassium (K), sodium (Na) and
aluminum (Al)
- light in color
Examples: feldspar, quartz, clay minerals,
and muscovite (white mica)

Carbonates
- made of carbon, oxygen, and a metal element
- most common carbonate mineral is calcium carbonate
(CaCO3)
> also known as calcite
> common constituent of limestone

Non-Silicates
- does not contain silicon
- the other 5% of Earth's crust
- It is classified into six classes such as
oxides, sulfides, carbonates, sulfates,
halides, and phosphates.
Halides
- any group of naturally occuring inorganic
compounds that are salts of the halogen acids
- Halite or sodium chloride (NaCl) commonly
known as rock salt.
- Other forms of halides are bromide, fluoride, and
iodide

Sulfates
Minerals - made of compounds of sulfur combined
with metals and oxygen.
example: Gypsum or calcium
sulfate(CaSO4)

Metallic
- Minerals that are made up of heavy metallic elements
-minerals which contain one or more metallic elements
on their raw form
- good conductors of heat, have high malleability,
ductility and have luster.
Examples: copper, iron, gold, silver, chromium, and
nickel

Non-Metallic
- mineral that doesn't contain metallic elements
- it lack the properties of the metallic minerals
such as metallic luster, hardness, density, and
good conduction of heat and electricity
Examples: calsite, quartz, talc, and gympsum

Gems
-minerals that possess unique bright colors and
commonly used for jewelry.
Examples: jade, sapphire, ruby, opal and garnet