Introduction

To
Mineralogy
Mineralogy
• Mineral: Minerals are natural
inorganic substances of fixed
chemical composition and
characterized by the presence of
typical internal atomic structure.
Ex. Quartz, Feldspar, , Diamond,
Graphite, Hematite.
Minerals
The earth is made of rocks, which are in turn made of
minerals. In this part of the course we'll learn how
to identify common minerals and rocks.

In order for something to be classified as a mineral, it

must meet five (5) criterion:
Minerals are:
·        1. Naturally occurring,
·        2. Inorganic,
·        3. Have known chemical compositions
·        4. Have definite physical properties.
5. Are solid
·       
They are usually (although not always) crystalline.
 Mineral Classification

Minerals are classified based on chemical

composition
Minerals are made of different ions bonded
together.
Ions are charged atoms
·        Cations are positively charged whereas
·        Anions are negatively charged
 
Common ions in earth's crust:
O - most common ion (anion)
Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Na, K, Mg, (Cations)
1. Mafic silicate minerals contain iron or
magnesium and are dark in color.
Examples: olivine, pyroxene, amphibole, and
biotite mica

2. Felsic silicates don't contain magnesium or

iron, and are light in color.
Examples: feldspar, quartz, clay minerals,
muscovite mica
Mafic silicate

Felsic silicate
• Rock forming minerals:
Silicates
• Economic minerals:
Native gold, Cuprite,
Hematite/magnetite,
Chromite,
Bauxite,Galena,Gypsum
• 1. Rock forming mineral: Silicates---Classified based on the atomic
structure
• All silicate minerals contain silicon and oxygen
•Six types of silicate structure
• (i)Nesosilicate:
• (ii) Sorosilicate:
• (iii) Cyclosilicate:
• a) Three member ring
• b) Four member ring
• c) Six member ring

• (iv) Ino-silicate (chain structure)

• a)Single chain structure

• b) Double chain structure

• (v) Phylosilicates

• (vi) Tectosilicates
Silica Tetrahedron

Oxygens Silicon
• (i) Nesosilicate:
• Independent sio4 tetrahedra, Si:O
is 1:4, minerals- olivine, garnet,
Zircon, sillimanite, kyanite,
andalucite
• Fig.
• (ii) Sorosilicate:
• Two sio4 tetrahedra sharing
single apical oxygen, Si:O is
2:7,minerals-Epidote group
• Fig.
(iii) Cyclosilicate: Each sio4 tetrahedra shares two of its
oxygen with neighboring tetrahedra
• a) Three member ring,
• Fig. Ex.Benitoit

• b) Four member ring,

• Fig. Ex.axinite

• c) Six member ring,

• Fig. Ex.Beryl
(iv) Ino-silicate (chain
structure)
• a) Single chain structure:
• Si:O is 1:3 ( Pyroxene group)
• Fig.
• b) Double chain structure
• Si:O is 4:11 (Amphibole group)
• Fig.
• (v) Phylosilicates (Sheet
structure) Si4O10
• SiO4 tetrahedra are linked
by three of their oxygen.
Si:O is 4:10, Mica group-
• Ex. Muscovite and Biotite
• (vi)Tectosilicates:
• Every SiO4 tetrahedron
shares all its oxygen with
other tetrahedron. Si:O
is 1:2,
• Ex. Quartz, felspar
• Major silicate families
• Olivine group (Forsterite,Fayalite)
• Pyroxene group(Enstetite,Diopside)
• Amphibole group (Hornblende)
• Mica group (Muscovite, Biotite)
• Quartz group (Quartz, Tridymite)
• Felspar group (Orthoclase, Plagioclase)
• Minor silicate families
• Garnet group
• Epidote group
• Zeolite group
• Kaolinite group
• Alumino-silicate group
• Ungroup
• Zircon,Topaz,Tourmaline, Staurolite,Talc,
Sphene, Serpantine, Cordierite,Beryl
• Ungroup( not form groups)
• Zircon,
• Topaz,
• Tourmaline,
• Staurolite,
• Talc,
• Sphene,
• Serpantine,
• Cordierite,
• Beryl
•Non silicate minerals:
oxides, hydroxide,
carbonates,
sulphides,
sulphates
Common non-silicate minerals

Fluorite – used as a toothpaste additive

Calcite -- calcium carbonate -- Limestone is made of calcite.
Dolomite -- calcium magnesium carbonate
Gypsum -- calcium sulfate
Galena -- lead sulfide
Pyrite -- iron sulfide
Halite -- sodium chloride (table salt)
•Physical properties of minerals:

• Shape,
• Colour,
• Streak,
• Lusture,
• Diaphanity,
• Cleavage,
• Fracture,
• Hardness,
• Specific gravity,
• Tenacity,
• Electricity
• Magnetic properties
Physical properties of minerals
• Shape:
• Crystalline, amorphous,
earthy, columnar, bladed,
fibrous, foliated, lamellar,
tabular, granular, oolitic.
•Colour:
•White ( calcite),
• Blue (Azurite),
• Green (Fluorite),
•Yellow (Sulphur),
Color
Varies in many minerals, e.g. quartz
VERY unreliable.
Some minerals come in just one color;
other are many colors/many varieties.
 
•Streak: Refers to color of mark
left by rubbing mineral against a streak
plate (unglazed porcelain). Streak does
not vary even if color does.

• Hematite-(Cherry red)
• Chalcopyrite—(Black)
•Lusture:
• Appearance of surface of mineral.
• Metallic-
• gold, silver, copper, galena, graphite.
• Non metallic-
• Vitreous (Quartz),
• Greasy,
• Resinous,
• Admantine (Diamond),
• Silky,
• Pearly
• Diaphaneity:
• Degree of transparency

• Transparent
• Semi-transparent
• Transluscent
• Opaque
Cleavage
Refers to very smooth, flat, shiny breakage surfaces
These special breakage surfaces correspond to zones of
weak bonding in the crystal structure.
To describe cleavage, one must determine the number of
unique cleavage planes (directions) and their angle with
respect to each other (e.g. salt breaks into cubes, with
cleavage in 3 directions, all at 90 degrees)

NO
cleavage

 
• Cleavage:
• Property of breaking along
Definite smooth plain.
• Type:
• Pinacoidal (Unidirectional):
Kyanite, Gypsum
• Prismatic (Bi-directional):
Pyroxene, Amphibole
• Tri-directional
• Cubic (Galena, Helite)
• Rhombohedral (Calcite)
• Octohedral: (Diamond, Fluorite)
• Pyramidal
• (Four direction): Scheelite
• Dodecahedral (six direction):
Sphalerite
• Fracture:
• Character of surface obtained when
mineral is broken in direction other
than that of cleavage :
• even
• uneven
• hackly
• Hardness:
• Resistance of mineral to abrasion.
Moh’s scale of hardness—
1.Talc- 2.Gypsum-
3.Calcite-
4. Fluorite- 5.Apatite, 6.Feldspar,
7.Quartz, 8.Topaz, 9.Corundum
10.Diamond
Hardness
Refers to "scratchability" or resistance to being scratched. Harder
minerals will scratch softer minerals.
Geologists rank minerals according to hardness using the Moh's scale

Moh's Hardness Scale (Commit this to memory)

1.0     TALC
2.0    GYPSUM
2.5 FINGERNAIL
3.0    CALCITE
3.5    COPPER PENNY
4.0    FLUORITE (Note the spelling!)
5.0    APATITE
5.5    STEEL KNIFE BLADE/GLASS PLATE
6.0    ORTHOCLASE FELDSPAR
7.0    QUARTZ
8.0     TOPAZ
9.0     CORUNDUM (RUBY)
10.0 DIAMOND
• Specific gravity: Ratio of weight of
mineral to the weight of an equal
volume of water.
• Tenacity: Behaviour of mineral under
stress--- brittle, Sectile, malleable,
flexible, elastic

• Electricity: Pyroclectricity,
piezoelectricity, photoelectricity
• Electricity:
• Pyroclectricity (Quartz),
• Piezoelectricity (Quartz,
Tourmaline)
• Photoelectricity (Fluorite)

• Magnetic properties:
(Magnetite, Pyrrohtite)
Chemical properties of minerals
•Isomorphism
•( gradation in chemical composition and form,
sp.gr., RI. Ex. Plagioclage series-(Albite-Anorthite)
•Polymorphism
•(same chemical compo. Differs in form, ex.
Calcite- Aragonie CaCo3)
•Paramorphism
•(external form same ex. Calcite- Aragonie)
•Homeomorphism: same form.differ in chemical
composition. Ex. Rutile and Zircon- Tio2, Zrsio4
 Introduction to
Petrology/Petrography
• Igneous rocks
• Sedimentary rocks
• Metamorphic rocks
• Igneous mineral assemblage: olivine,
pyroxene, amphibole, mica and quartz,
feldspar,

• Metamorphic mineral assemblage: kyanite,

sillimanite, staurolite, andalucite, chlorite, ga
rnet

• Sedimentary mineral assemblage: weathering

product of pre existing rocks. They may
contain only minerals or assemblage of
minerals
• Texture: Mutual relationship of
grains or grains and ground mass.
• Crystallinity-
• Holocrystalline,
• Hemicrystalline,
• Holohyline
• Size of grain- coarse, medium, fine
• Shape of grain- Euhedral, subhedral,
anhedral
Texture of igneous
•Even grained
•Porphyritic
texture (two size)
• Structures of igneous rocks
• Vesicular/ Amygdaloidal--- Basic lava
• Block lava--- rough surface (acidic
composition)
• Ropy lava– smooth surface (basic
composition)
• Pillow structure– Na rich
• Columnar:
• Orbicular: spherical segregation in granite
• Spherulitic: radiating arrangement in basic
rocks
• Classification of Igneous
rocks
• Based on mode and depth of
formation
• Intrusive: Plutonic
• Hypabyssal
• Extrusive: Volcanic rocks
Based on Silica %
• Acid >66%
• Intermediate - 66-52%
• Basic – 52-45%
• Ultrabasic-- <45%
• Based on mineral composition
• (A)Quartz and K- feldspars
dominant
• Granite, Rhylite, Obsidian

• (B)Quartz and Plagioclase

dominant
• Granodiorite,dacite,Pitchston
• K-Feldspar dominant, no quartz
• Syenite, Trachyte, Pitchstone
• Na-plagioclage dominant
• Diorite, Andesite, Pitchstone
• Ca- plagioclage dominant
• Gabbro, Dolerite, Tachylyte
• Feldspars and feldspathoids
• Nepheline, Phonolite
• Based on mode of occurrance
• Plutonic
• Granite
• Pegmatite
• Syenite
• Diorite
• Gabbro
• Peridotite
•Hypabyssal
•Dolerite
•Aplites
•Porphyries
 •Volcanic
•Andesite
•Basalt
•Pyroclastic rocks
• Agglomerates-particle size>20mm
• Tuff and Ash- Particle size.25-1mm
• Scoria and pumice (porous or spongy
frothy lava)
Sedimentary rocks
• Sedentary-----Laterite
• Transported----
• Clastic----- based on grain size
• Rudaceous (>2mm)----- conglomerate,
Breccia,
• Arenaceous(2-1/16mm)----sandstone,

• Argillaceous(<1/16mm)---- Shale
Shale(fissile),Mudstone(Non fissile)
• Non clastic----
• Chemically deposited –
• Evaporites: ( salt and Gypsum)
• Siliceous: Chert, Flint
• Calcareous and carbonates:
Limestone, Dolomite, Travertine
• Ferrugenous: Hematite, Goethite
• Biochemical
• Siliceous: Radiolarian chert
• Calcareous: fossiliferous
limestone, Marl, Chalk
• Phosphatic: Phosphatic deposits
• Ferrugenous: Bog Iron ore
• Carbonaceous: Coal and
Petroleum deposits
• Sedimentary texture
• Clasic texture: It results from the
accumulation of discrete particles and
is characterized in its altered states by
point contacts between particles or
grains.
• Non clastic texture: It results from the
crystallization within or at the surface
of sediments and is characterized by
interlocking crystal mosaic.
 • Clastic texture includes:
• Size
• Shape
• i. Sphericity
• ii. Roundness
• Sorting
• Packing
• Fabric
• Size:
• Wentworth Size Scale (1922)
• Size in mm Phi Ø unit Name Equivalent rocks

• >256 -8 Boulder Boulder

• 64-256 -7 Cobble Cobble

• 4-64 -6 Pebble Pebble

• 2-4 -2 Granule Granul stone

• 2-1/16 +4 Sand Sandstone

• 1/16-1/256 +8 Silt Siltstone

• >1/256 +9 Clay Claystone

• Structures of sedimentary rocks:
• Primary
• Bedding/Lamination
• Ripple Marks
Wave ripple
Current ripple
• Cross bedding
• Graded bedding
• Imbricate structure
• Torrential bedding
• Mud-cracks
• Secondary
• Concretions
• Organic- fossil impression
• Metamorphic rocks
• Metamorphism:
• Mineralogical and structural adjustment of
solid rocks in response to physical and
chemical changes.
1. Isochemical changes
2. Changes takes place in an essentially solid
medium
3. Structure and texture are the product of
structure and texture and Temperature and
pressure.
• Texture of metamorphic
rocks:
• Crystaloblastic
• Granoblastic
• Porphyroblastic
• Blasto-porphyritic
•Structure
of metamorphic rocks
•Schistose
•Granulose
•Gneissose
• Metamorphic rocks and
metamorphism
• Agent of metamorphism
1. Temperature
2. Pressure (Uniform pressure
and directed pressure)
3. Chemically active fluid
• Type: Temp dominant
• Contact -
metamorphism

• Auto-metamorphism
• Regional metamorphism
• Low grade (T- 100-300 and P- low)-
slate, phyllite, schist

• Intermediate (T- 300-500 and P-

moderate)-

• High grade( T-500-700 and P-High)-

• Gneisses
• Minerals:
• Stress minerals:
• Garnet, Kyanite, Chlorite,
Epidote, Staurolite.
• Anti stress minerals:
Sillimenatite , Andalusite
Cordierite
• Classification of metamorphic rocks
• Based on parent rocks

• Ortho-metamorphic rocks
• Para-metamorphic rocks
• Psephitic ----- from gravel
• Psammitic--------from sand
• Pelitic--------------from shale

• Based on structure
• Foliated--- slate , schist, gneiss
• Non- foliated– quartzite, Marble, hornfels
• Based on Mineral composition:

• product of contact metamorphism

• Albite-epidote-hornfels facies
• Hornblende –hornfels facies
• Pyroxene – hornfels facies
• Sanidinite facies

• Product of regional metamorphism-

• Zeolite facies
• Greenschist facies
• Amphibolite facies
• Granulite facies
• Eclogite facies
Metamorphic rocks
• Slate
• Phyllite
• Schist
• Gneiss
• Marble
• Quartzite
• Amphibolite
• Granulite
• Charnokite
• Khondalite