UNIT 2.

2: COMMON
ROCK-FORMING
MINERALS
OBJECTIVE:
TO EXPLAIN SOME IMPORTANT NATURAL
PHENOMENA OCCURRING IN MINERALS,
PARTICULARLY IN SILICATES, VIZ.,SILICATE
STRUCTURES, MINERAL GROUPS, ISOMORPHISM
AND POLYMORPHISM.
TO GIVE DETAILS OF CHEMICAL COMPOSITION,
ATOMIC STRUCTURE, VARIETIES, PHYSICAL
PROPERTIES, TRENDS OF WEATHERING, MODE OF
OCCURRENCE, ETC., OF COMMON MINERALS OF
FIELD OCCURRENCE.
TO SHOW AT A GLANCE IN A TABULAR FORM (TO
COMPARE AND TO CONTRAST) THE IMPORTANT
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF COMMON MINERALS.
 TYPES OF ROCK-FORMING
MINERALS
IN THE ORDER OF ABUNDANCE. AMONG DIFFERENT ROCK-
FORMING MINERALS. SILICATES RANK FIRST IN THE
EARTH'S CRUST. OXIDES COME NEXT, THEN CARBONATES,
PHOSPHATES, SULPHATES, ETC., IN GREATLY DIMINISHED
IMPORTANCE.IVE:

SPECIAL FEATURES OF SILICATE MINERALS

SINCE SILICATES ARE THE MOST COMMON ROCK-
FORMING MINERALS, IT IS DESIRABLE TO KNOW SOME
IMPORTANT AND RELEVANT ASPECTS ABOUT THEM.
STRUCTURE OF SILICATES

SIO4
TETRAHEDRON
FUNDAMENTAL UNIT OF ALL
SILICATE MINERALS.
 SILICATE MINERALS
NESOSILICATES SOROSILICATES

E.G., OLIVINE, ZIRCON, GARNETS, E.G., MELILITE, IDOCRASE,

SILLIMANITE, KYANITE. EPIDOTE.
 SILICATE MINERALS
INOSILICATES CYCLOSILICATES

E.G., PYROXENES, AND DOUBLE CHAIN

SILICATES, E.G .• AMPHIBOLES E.G., BERYL, TOURMALINE,
CORDIERITE.
 SILICATE MINERALS
PHYLLOSILICATES TECTOSILICATES

E.G., MICA, CHLORITE, TALC, E.G., QUARTZ, FELDSPARS,

SERPENTINE, KAOLINITE ZEOLITES, FELDSPATHOIDS
 CLOSEST PACKING
CLOSEST PACKING, THE MOST EFFICIENT
ARRANGEMENT OF SPHERES, STARTS WITH THE
STRUCTURE SHOWN IN FIGURE (A), WHICH IS LAYER A.
IT IS FOLLOWED BY 6 IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS IN FIGURE
(B) WHICH WE CALL AS LAYER B. THE THIRD LAYER CAN
BE FORMED IN TWO WAYS.
HEXAGONAL CLOSE CUBIC CLOSE-PACKED
PACKED STRUCTURE STRUCTURE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ATOMIC RADIUS (R) AND
THE EDGE LENGTH (A) OF A CUBIC CELL

GOLPEO, ROSE ANGELI B.

 Is the smallest repeating unit of a crystal lattice
that when stacked together in three dimensions,
reproduces the entire crystal structure.
is a specific type of unit cell where all three axes are
of equal length and intersect at right angles.
Three variants exist: simple cubic cell (SCC), body-
centered cubic (BCC), and face-centered cubic (FCC).
Cubic cells are found in metals, ceramics, and salts.
Understanding their structures helps predict material
properties.
 4r
____
a= 2r a= a= √8r
√3
By understanding how the size of the atoms (expressed through the
atomic radius) relates to the dimensions of the unit cell (expressed
through the edge length), we can determine the packing efficiency,
which is a measure of how closely the atoms are packed together
within the crystal lattice.
 Gold (Au) crystallizes in a cubic close-packed
structure (the face-centered cubic unit cell) and
has a density of 19.3 g/cm3 . Calculate the atomic
radius of gold in picometers.
 Gold (Au) crystallizes in a cubic close-packed structure (the face-
centered cubic unit cell) and has a density of 19.3 g/cm3 . Calculate
the atomic radius of gold in picometers.

Gold (Au): FCC Radius (r) in

d = 19.3 g/cm^3 picometers
# of atoms

mass

volume
 Atom found in Edges

# of atoms

Atom found in Faces

edge length (a)
radius (r)
Some silicate minerals have a similar atomic structure and similar (but
not the same) chemical composition. Because of this basic feature, all
such minerals will also exhibit similar physical and optical properties.
Hence such sets of minerals are clubbed as "groups" or "families".

Examples of mineral families include the feldspar group, quartz group,

pyroxenes group, amphibole group, mica group, garnet group, and
carbonate group.
It refers to the ability of minerals within a series to have similar atomic
structures but varying compositions due to substitutions of certain
elements within the crystal lattice.

Example:
Enstatite (Mg2Si2O6) - Ferrosilite (Fe2Si2O6) series
pyroxene group
atomic structures (monoclinic crystal ) but differ in their chemical
compositions due to the substitution of magnesium (Mg) for iron (Fe)
within their crystal lattice.
Saturated minerals are silicate minerals which are capable of co-existing with
free quartz in rocks and which are unable to incorporate any further quantity of
silica into their structure, i.e .. satisfied with their silica content (during their
formation from magma).

Unsaturated minerals are formed only if silica is deficient in parent magma

Unsaturated minerals occur characteristically in ultrabasic and basic rocks like
dunite, nepheline and syenite.
unsaturated mineral saturated mineral

unsaturated mineral saturated mineral

 (poly = many, morph = form)

A natural phenomenon, two (dimorphism) or more minerals (polymorphism) may

exhibit distinctly different physical or optical properties in spite of possessing the same
chemical composition. Obviously, this is because they differ mutually in atomic
structure.
Example: QUARTZ
At low temperatures and pressures, quartz crystallizes in the trigonal crystal system as
α-quartz, which has a hexagonal prism shape.
At higher temperatures and pressures crystalizes to trigonal crystal system into β-
quartz.
This is a natural, phenomenon whereby a mineral assumes the form or shape of a
different mineral. This may occur either due to encrustation, replacement or
alteration.

Example:
Tiger’s Eye- is a unique and visually striking mineral known for its distinctive
appearance, which resembles the eye of a tiger.

Crocidolite, a blue fiber-like mineral, transforms into tiger's eye as its blue fibers get
replaced by golden-brown quartz over time.
 Felsic / Salic Group
Derived from "feldspar" and "silica."
High silica (SiO2) content.
Lower density.
Lighter in color.
Contains lighter elements such as
aluminum, potassium, and sodium.
Found in continental crust.
Examples: quartz, feldspars,
feldspathoids and muscovite mica.
Mafic/ Femic Group
Derived from "magnesium" and
"ferric" (iron).
Lower silica (SiO2) content
Higher density.
Darker in color.
Contains heavier elements such as
magnesium and iron, amphibole
(hornblende), and biotite.
Found in oceanic crust.
Examples: pyroxenes, amphiboles,
olivines, biotite, iron oxides, etc.
IMPORTANT DETAILS OF COMMON ROCK-FORMING
MINERALS AND THE FELDSPAR GROUP

HAYAG, CHARLES ANDREI S.

The salient aspects of some mineral groups and minerals are briefly described as follows.

Mineral Types - Minerals can be separated into groups on the basis of chemical composition.
Although incomplete, the following list of groups includes those minerals which would
normally be encountered by a practicing engineer.

Elements -This group consists of chemical elements that occur in nature in an uncombined
state. Examples are sulfur, graphite, and gold.
Oxides - The minerals in this group contain a metal element in combination with oxygen. The
iron mineral hematite is an example. A subgroup within the oxides is the hydroxides, which
include oxygen in the form of the hydroxyl radical or water. Limonite is an example of a
hydroxide

Halides -Halides are naturally occurring chlorides, fluorides, bromides, and iodides. Examples
are halite (rock salt) and fluorite.
Carbonates -. The carbonate group of minerals contains the carbonate radical. The common
minerals calcite and dolomite are included here.

Phosphates - Minerals whose composition includes the phosphate radical are included in this
group. One example is apatite.
Sulfates - These minerals include the sulfate radical. Gypsum is an example of a common
sulfate mineral

Silicates- Silicates form the largest group of minerals. They contain various elements in
combination with silicon and oxygen. Examples are quartz and feldspar
Form: Tabular that is, the mineral usually occurs as slabs of
uniform thickness.
Color: Generally white, pale grey or pale red. Green, brown and
other colors may also occur.
Streak: White or pale body color
Lustre: Vitrous
Fracture: Even to uneven
Cleavage: Two sets, one set is better developed. These two sets
are mutually perpendicular (or nearly so).
Hardness: 6, a few species are slightly harder, I.e., 6 – 6.5.
Density: Medium, specific gravity of potash feldspars is 2.57, for
plagioclases it is between 2.606 (albite) and 2.765 (anorthite).
Degree of Transparency: Not opaque
Chemical Composition
Potash feldspar:
- It's called "potash" feldspar because it contains potassium oxide (K2O), commonly known as potash.
-consists of potassium (K), aluminum (Al), silicon (Si), and oxygen (O).
-Potash feldspar is commonly found in igneous rocks like granite and is an essential ingredient in ceramics,
glassmaking, and some types of concrete.
Soda-lime feldspar:
-This type of feldspar contains sodium oxide (Na2O) and sometimes calcium oxide (CaO), along with aluminum,
silicon, and oxygen.
-consist of sodium (Na), aluminum (Al), silicon (Si), and oxygen (O). Sometimes, it may also contain calcium
instead of or in addition to sodium.
-Soda-lime feldspar is also found in igneous rocks and is commonly used in the glass industry to lower the
melting temperature of silica, which makes it easier to work with in glass manufacturing.
Varieties of Feldspar
Potash feldspar:
Orthoclase: This is a common type of potash feldspar. It's found in
igneous rocks like granite and has a pinkish or reddish color.

Sanidine: Another type of potash feldspar, similar to orthoclase but

found in volcanic rocks. It can be colorless or have a light color.

Microcline: This is another variety of potash feldspar. It's often greenish

and found in igneous rocks like granite.
Varieties of Feldspar
Soda Lime Feldspar :
Albite: This is a common type of soda-lime feldspar. It's usually white or
colorless and is found in various types of rocks.

Oligoclase: Another variety of soda-lime feldspar, often found in igneous and

metamorphic rocks. It can range in color from white to gray to green.

Andesine: This type of feldspar is similar to oligoclase and is often found in

volcanic rocks. It can have various colors, including gray, pink, or green.
Varieties of Feldspar
Soda Lime Feldspar :
Amazonite (Amarthitie): A specific variety of microcline feldspar known for its
blue-green color. It's often used in jewelry and decorative items.

Labradorite (Labrodorie): This is a type of plagioclase feldspar known for its

iridescent colors, often seen in blue, green, and gold hues. It's commonly used in
jewelry and ornamental stones.
Polymorphism

Orthoclase and microcline are two types of feldspar with different crystal structures.

Orthoclase forms crystals in the monoclinic system, while microcline forms in the triclinic system.

Despite looking similar, they have distinct arrangements of atoms in their crystals

Origin and Occurence

Feldspars are found in various rocks, especially igneous ones formed from magma.

When rocks containing feldspar are weathered, feldspar can end up in sediments or sedimentary rocks.

However, feldspar often weathers into other substances, like clay minerals, altering its appearance over time.
Uses

Glass: It's used to make glass because it lowers the melting temperature of silica, making glass easier to shape.

Ceramics: Feldspar is a key ingredient in ceramic products like tiles and tableware, helping them hold

together during firing.

Porcelain and Enamel: It's added to porcelain and enamel for strength, durability, and a smooth finish.

Abrasives: Feldspar acts as a binder in abrasive products like grinding wheels, making them tougher.

Cleaning Products: It can also be a mild abrasive in cleaning products, gently removing dirt without scratching

surfaces.
It has already been stated that next to feldspars and maflc minerals, quartz is the most common
rockforming mineral. It is silica in composition.
Form: Quartz occurs either as beautiful crystals or in a massive form. Quartz crystals are usually
prismatic, terminated by rhombobedrons.
Color: Usually colorless or white, but many other colors also occur for a variety of reasons.
Streak: White.
Lustre: Typically vitreous.
Fracture: Usually conchoidal or subconcboidal, but even and uneven fractures also occur
Cleavage: Absent.
Hardness: 7
Density: Medium (specific gravity = 2.65).
Degree of Transparency: Generally translucent. Some are perfectly transparent.
Rock Crystal Amethyst Milky Quartz
Occurrence
In igneous rocks, quartz occurs in all oversaturated rocks. It is a very important mineral constituent
of granite and many pegmatites.
In sedimentary rocks, it is the bulk component of many sandstones
Among metamorphic rocks it is found predominantly in quartzites. Gneiss also contain quartz. It
occurs in some mica schists also.
Uses
(1) Manufacture of glass, porcelain
(2) Flux in metallurgical operation
(3) Agates are used as Ornaments
(4) Amethysts are considered as semiprecious stone
(5) Pure quartz crystal shows piezoelectricity
(6) Quartz plates are used in controlling frequencies in radio circuits, radar, ultrasonic and multiple
telephone lines.
(7) Fibre quartz wires are frequently used for transmission of telephone messages. Each minute fibre
wire can send large messages.
(8) Quartz is used in refractories
(9) Pure silica is used in ceramics
(10)Pure sand, free from impurities is used in manufacturing Sand paper and Abrasive cloth.
It is important group of rock forming minerals
They are commonly occur in dark colours, igneous and metamorphic rocks
They are rich in calcium, magnesium, iron, silicates It show single chain structure of silicate
It is classified into orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene.
It is based on internal atomic structure.
Physical Properties
Form: Generally granular or short prismatic.
Colour: Black or dark greenish black; pale colour may occur in magnesium-rich pyroxenes; alkali
Pyroxenes tend to be greenish.
Streak: White or pale body colour.
Lustre: Vitreous; metallic lustre is found in bronzite
Fracture: Uneven
Cleavage: Two sets of prismatic cleavage, cleavage angle is 87° and 93° in basal sections.
Hardness: 5 to 6 .
Density: Medium; specific gravity = 3.2 to 3.5, Fe" -rich types are relatively heavier
Degree of transparency: Nearly opaque, Fe" -rich types appear opaque even along thin edges.
Magnetism: Not attracted by hand magnets, but if the intensity of the magnetic field is high, they
are attracted.
 Occurrence
By nature, pyroxenes occur more commonly in igneous rocks.
In metamorphic rocks, pyroxenes occur in gneisses and schists. Iron-rich pyroxenes occur as
skarn mineral at the contact of granitic rocks with limestones.

Uses
Pyroxene 'spodumene' (Li Al Si2 O6) is mined as raw material for lithium compounds. Its
transparent, coloured types, kunzite (pink or violet) and hiddenite (green) are used as gem
stones.
 These are closely related to pyroxene group
It shows double chain silicate structure
Rich in calcium, magnesium, iron oxide and Mn, Na, K and H

EXAMPLES:
Tremolite
Actionolite
Hornblende
Physical Properties
Form: Granular, bladed aggregate, prismatic, massive
Colour: Black or greenish black; (pale colour may occur in magnesium-rich members)
Streak: White
Lustre: Vitreous
Fracture: Even or uneven or hackly
Cleavage: Two sets of prismatic cleavage, cleavage angle is 124° and 56°
Hardness: 5 to 6.
Density: Medium; specific gravity of hornblende = 3.0 to 3.4, increasing with iron content.
Degree of transparency: Nearly opaque.
 Occurrence
Amphiboles are more common among metamorphic rocks. Amphiboles occur only as accessory
minerals in some igneous rocks.

Uses
As already referred to, the asbestos types are used in industries. They are also used in
themanufacture of asbestos cement and as insulating material.
Nephrite, a variety of jade, is a very valuable ornamental stone.
Crocidolite, when replaced by quartz, produces ornamental stones known as tiger's eye or cat's
eye.
Form: Lamellar form, layers are separable, also occur in book form; some occur as flaky minerals
Color: Muscovite is silvery white in book form. Biotite is typically black in colour. Lithium micas
are pale violet in color.
Streak: Pale body color
Lustre: Pearly to vitreous
Fracture: Uneven to hackly
Cleavage: Excellent, one set, basal cleavage.
Hardness: 2 to 3 (biotite is slightly harder than muscovite).
Density: Medium, (specific gravity = 2.7 – 3.1)
Degree of Transparency: Thin muscovite layers are as transparent as clear as glass. Biotite is
considerably less transparent than muscovite.
Chemical Composition

Muscovites: Muscovite – potassium mica:

Paragonite – sodium mica:
Lepidolite-lithium mica:

Biotites: Biotite - iron, magnesium mica:

Phlogopite-magnesium mica:
Zinnwaldite-lithium mica:

Sericite is a fine-grained muscovite type found in gneisses and schists. Mica found in sedimentary
rocks is called illite (clay mica)
Muscovites Biotites Lithium Mica
Occurrence
Biotite occurs in many igneous rocks (e.g., granites and granodiorites), is common in many pegmatite
masses, and constitutes one of the chief components of many metamorphic rocks (e.g., gneisses, schists,
and hornfelses)
Muscovites is particularly common in metamorphic gneisses, schists, and phyllites. In fine-grained
foliated rocks, such as phyllites, the muscovite occurs as microscopic grains (sericite) that give these rocks
their silky lustres.
Uses
Most “sheet mica” with these compositions has been used as electrical condensers, as insulation sheets
between commutator segments, or in heating elements.
Form: Distinct crystal are common; massive and granular forms also occur.
Color: Different in different types. The common variety, i.e. almandine shows red or
reddish brown color
Streak: White
Lustre: Vitreous to resinous or adamantine
Fracture: Conchoidal to sub-conchoidal, sometimes uneven.
Cleavage: Absent
Hardness: 6.5 to 7.5
Density: 3.5 to 4.3 (grossularite = 3.5, almandite = 4.25, spessartite = 4.3)
Degree of Transparency: Translucent along thin edges.
Chemical Composition
Pyrope: Magnesium-aluminum garnet:
Almandine: Iron-aluminum garnet:
Spessartite: Manganese-aluminum garnet
Uvarovite: Calcium-chromium garnet:
Grossularite: Calcium-aluminum garnet:
Andradite: Calcium-iron garnet:
Occurrence
The rock-forming garnets are most common in metamorphic rocks. A few occur in igneous rocks, especially
granites and granitic pegmatites. Garnets derived from such rocks occur sporadically in clastic sediments and
sedimentary rocks.
Uses
The hardness, lack of cleavage, and tendency to break into irregular grains have led to the recovery,
crushing, and size-sorting of garnet for use in abrasives such as sandpaper.
Form: Rhombohedral
Color: Usually colorless or white, but many other colors also occur.
Streak: White
Lustre: Vitreous
Fracture: Rarely noticed due to well developed sets of cleavage; said to be conchoidal.
Cleavage: Rhombic, 3 sets of perfect cleavage, cleavage angles 105° and 75°
Hardness: 3, not scratched by fingernail, but easily scratched by knife.
Density: Medium, specific gravity = 2.7
Degree of Transparency: Translucent to translucent
Reaction with acid: Vigorous reaction with acid, magnesium-bearing mineral shows dull
reaction.
Chemical Composition

Calcium Carbonate is the composition of calcite. But usually part of its Ca content is replaced
by magnesium of natural waters leading to the formation of “dolomite” Ca Mg mineral.

Varieties
Iceland spar; pure transparent and Satinspar; less common fibrous form of
colorless type. calcite.
Aphrite; rare lamellar form of calcite.

Stalactite; hanging columns from the Stalagmite; floor deposits of caves.

roof of the of a cave.
Travertine; spring deposit. Chalk; soft, white earthy form of

Limestone Varieties; amorphous

calcium carbonate material.
Occurrence

The calcium carbonate material, the chemical content of calcite, occurs in the form of different types
of limestones (organic and inorganic) and in the crystalline condition as marble.

Uses
In the pulverized form of calcite is used mostly as filler in rubber and textiles.
It is also used in considerable quantities of ceramics industry for the preparation of glazes.
Super white quality powder is used in the manufacture of paint and distemper.
It is also used in manufacture of insecticides, cement, calcium carbide and metal polish
It is valuable in preparation of Nicol prisms, in the optical industry.