UNIT II MINERALOGY AND PETROLOGY 9

Physical and Chemical properties of common rock forming minerals: Quartz family,
Feldspar family, Mica (Muscovite, Biotite & Vermiculite), Pyroxene (Augite &
Hypersthene), Amphibole (Hornblende), Calcite, Gypsum and Clay minerals and their
significance. Formation of Igneous, Metamorphic and Sedimentary rocks; Description of
important rocks: Granite, Syenite, Dolerite, Basalt, Quartzite,
Slate, Schist, Gneiss, Marble, Sandstone, Limestone, Shale and Conglomerate.
Engineering properties of rocks: field and laboratory tests.

Physical and Chemical properties of common rock forming minerals:

Introduction
Rocks are composed of minerals. A mineral is a naturally occurring substance which is
usually solid, crystalline, stable at room temperature and inorganic.

There are almost 5000 known mineral species, yet the vast majority of rocks are formed
from combinations of a few common minerals, referred to as “rock-forming minerals”.
The rock-forming minerals are: feldspars, quartz, amphiboles, micas, olivine, garnet,
calcite, pyroxenes.

Minerals occurring within a rock in small quantities are referred to as “accessory

minerals”. Although accessory minerals are present in only small amounts, they may
provide valuable insight into the geological history of a rock, and are often used to
ascertain the age of a rock. Common accessory minerals are: zircon, monazite, apatite,
titanite, tourmaline, pyrite and other opaques.

The abundance and diversity of minerals depend on the abundance in the Earth’s crust of
the elements of which they are composed. Eight elements make up 98% of the Earth’s
crust: oxygen, silicon, aluminium, iron, magnesium, calcium, sodium and potassium. The
composition of minerals formed by igneous processes is directly controlled by the
chemistry of the parent body. For example, a magma rich in iron and magnesium will
form minerals such as olivine and pyroxene (as found in basalt). Magma richer in silicon
will form more silica-rich minerals such as feldspar and quartz (as found in granite). It is
unlikely that a mineral will be found in a rock with dissimilar bulk chemistry unlike its
own; thus it is unlikely that andalusite (Al2SiO5) would be found in an aluminium-poor
rock such as a quartzite.

Physical properties of minerals

Some minerals are easily identifiable; others can only be recognized only by the use of a
petrographic microscope or by complex analytical techniques. The following criteria are
used to differentiate minerals in hand sample. Most minerals cannot be identified from
one particular property, and so it is advisable to use several of the diagnostic criteria
outlined below. A hand lens will assist you greatly.

Colour
Colour is one of the most obvious characteristic of a mineral, but generally not the most
useful diagnostic feature. Depending on impurities, individual mineral types may come in
a vast variety of colours. For example, ruby and sapphire are differently coloured types of
the mineral corundum (Al2O3). The red colour of ruby is due to the presence of the
element chromium. Sapphires may come is a vast variety of colours; blue is the most
familiar colour, but yellow, orange, green, pink, orange and brown varieties are also
known. Garnets may also come in a large range of colours, depending on their
composition. They can be found with virtually any colour, although blue garnets are
exceptionally rare. It is therefore advisable not to rely on colour alone to identify a
mineral.
Hardness
Hardness is a measure of how resistant a mineral is to scratching. This physical property
is controlled by the chemical composition and structure of the mineral. Hardness is
commonly measured on the Mohs scale. This is defined by ten minerals, where each
mineral can scratch those with a lower scale number. Diamond (hardness 10) can scratch
everything below it on the Mohs scale, but cannot itself be scratched, whereas quartz
(hardness 5) can scratch calcite (hardness 3) but not corundum (hardness 9).
Streak
The streak of a mineral refers to the colour of the mark it leaves behind after being
rubbed against a piece of unglazed porcelain. Hematite provides a good example of how
streak works. While this mineral is usually black, silver or brown-red in hand sample, its
streak is always a dark blood-red. Chalcopyrite is usually golden-brown in hand sample,
but has a green-black streak. Streak can be used only for minerals with a Mohs hardness
of 7 or less, as minerals with a hardness greater than 7 will themselves scratch the streak
plate.

Lustre
Lustre refers to the way in which the surface of a mineral reflects light, and is controlled
by the kinds of atoms present and their bonding. It is described by the following terms
Adamantine – diamond-like lustre; such minerals are usually transparent and have a high
refractive index; e.g. diamond, cerussite, cubic zirconia

Dull or earthy – no reflections; e.g. kaolinite

Greasy – the appearance of being coated with an oily substance; may also be greasy to
the touch; e.g. opal

Pearly – the whitish iridescence of materials such as pearls; e.g. stilbite

Quartz family

Feldspar family

Mica (Muscovite, Biotite & Vermiculite)

Pyroxene (Augite & Hypersthene)

Amphibole (Hornblende)

Calcite

Gypsum and Clay minerals

Formation of Igneous

Metamorphic
Sedimentary rocks

Description of important rocks

Granite

Syenite

Dolerite

Basalt

Quartzite

Slate
Schist

Gneiss

Marble

Sandstone

Limestone

Shale and Conglomerate

Engineering properties of rocks: field and laboratory tests