CLASSIFICATIONS

OF
COMMON
ROCK-FORMING
MINERALS
Group Description Mineral/Composition
Native diamond, graphite, gold, silver,
Found in naturally fine form
Elements sulfur, copper, platinum

Largest and most common group of

Silicates feldspar, olivine, garnet, pyroxene
minerals

hematite, magnetite, corundum,

Oxides Combination of metal and oxygen
chromate, sapphire

Sulfides Combination of sulfur and metal pyrite, galena, cinnabar, sphalerite

Combination of sulfur, metal, and

Sulfates gypsum, barite
oxygen
 Group Description Mineral/Composition
Form from halogens combined with
Halides metallic elements
halite, fluorite

Made of carbon, oxygen, and metallic

Carbonates elements
calcite, dolomite

Made of phosphorus, oxygen, and

Phosphates metallic elements
apatite, turquoise

Form from hydroxyl in combination

Hydroxides with metal
bauxite, limonite
She died because of blood poisoning
which she acquired through the used
of lead-based make-up during her era.

Queen Elizabeth I
 SOME
COMMON
MINERALS AND
THEIR USES
Minerals Uses
transportation, packaging, building/construction,
Aluminum
machinery, and kitchen utensils
Minerals Uses
Asbestos used for fireproof materials
 used as a heavy additive in oil well drilling; in the paper
Barium and rubber industries; as a filler or extender in cloth, ink
and plastics products, and in radiography
 used as hardening alloy for lead, fire retardant in
Antimony
fireworks, and in rubber/textile industries
 used in computers, telecommunication products,
aerospace and defense applications, appliances and
Beryllium
automotive, consumer electronics and in medical
equipment
 used as an alloy and in stainless, in heat resisting steel
Chromite
products, and in chemical and metallurgical industries
 used in floor and wall tile as an absorbent, in sanitation,
Clays mud drilling, foundry sand bond, iron pelletizing, brick,
light weight aggregate and cement
 used in building construction, electric and electronic products
Copper (cables and wires, switches, plumbing, heating); transportation
equipment; roofing; chemical and pharmaceutical machinery
 important in glass and ceramic industries; patter and enamelware;
soaps; bond for abrasive wheels; cements; insulating
Feldspar compositions; fertilizer; tarred roofing materials; and as a sizing,
or filler, in textiles and paper
 used in jewelry and arts; dentistry and medicine; in medallions
Gold and coins; in ingots as a store of value; for scientific and electronic
instruments; as an electrolyte in the electroplating industry
 processed and used as prefabricated wallboard or an industrial or
Gypsum building plaster; used in cement manufacturing; agriculture and
other uses.
 used in human and animal diet, food preservation; preparation of
Halite cleaning products, purification of mineral waters, and soap
manufacturing
 used to manufacture steels of various type
Iron
and other metallurgical products
 used in lead-acid batteries, gasoline,
Lead
additives, wirings, and construction
 essential to iron and steel production. Also used in the
Manganese making of manganese ferroalloys, construction, machinery
and transportation
 used manufacturing paints, cement, plastics, and parts for
Mica electronic equipment
 used in transportation, fabricated metal products, electrical
Nickel equipment, petroleum and chemical industries, household
appliances and industrial machinery
 used to produce fertilizers, feed additives for livestock,
Phosphate elemental phosphorus, and a variety of phosphate chemicals
for industrial and home consumers
Silica used in computer chips, glass, ceramics, cosmetics
Silver used in jewelry, coins, electrical devices