Minerals

Definition:

A mineral is a (1) naturally occurring, (2) inorganic, (3) solid (4) that has a definite chemical composition, and (5) crystal structure. In order for a substance to be called a mineral, it must have all five of the listed characteristics.

Naturally Occurring and Inorganic

A mineral must be naturally-occurring. It is not man-made or synthesized in a laboratory.
A mineral must be inorganic, or not formed from living things or the remains of living things.

Solid
A mineral is always a solid. Like all solids, a mineral has a definite volume and shape.

Chemical Composition
A mineral has a definite chemical composition. A mineral maybe made of a single pure substance, or element, such as gold, copper or sulfur. Most minerals are made of two or more elements chemically combined to form a compound.

Crystal Structure
A minerals atoms are arranged in a definite pattern repeated over and over. The repeating pattern of a minerals atoms form a solid called a crystal. A crystal has flat sides that meet in sharp edges and corners. All minerals have a characteristic crystal structure. There are 2500 different kinds of minerals.

Formation and Composition of Minerals

Many minerals come from magma, the molten rock beneath the Earths surface. When magma cools, mineral crystals are formed. How and where magma cools determine the size of the mineral crystals. When magma cools slowly beneath the Earths crust, large crystals form. When magma cools rapidly beneath the Earths surface, small crystals are formed.

Crystal Formation
Crystals may also form from compounds that are dissolved in a liquid such as water.When the liquid evaporates, or changes to a gas, it leaves behind the minerals as crystals. Halite, or rock salt, forms in this way.

Most Abundant Elements

The eight most abundant elements in the Earths crust are oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium. There are about 100 common minerals formed from the eight most abundant elements. Of these 100, fewer than 20 are widely distributed and make up almost all the rocks in the Earths crust.

Identifying Minerals
Minerals have certain physical properties that can be used to identify them, such as color, luster, hardness, streak, density, crystal shape, and other special properties.

Color
The color of a mineral is an easily observed physical property. Color can be used to identify only those few minerals that always have their own characteristic color, i.e. malachite is always green, and azurite is always blue.

Color
Many minerals come in a variety of colors (i.e. quartz can be clear, white, black, pink, blue, or purple). Some minerals are colorless, and colors can also change.

Color

malachite

citrine quartz

azurite

Luster
The luster of a mineral describes the way a mineral reflects light from its surface. Two Types of Luster 1. Metallic Luster 2. Non-metallic Luster

Metallic Luster
Minerals that have the appearance of untarnished metals, regardless of its color.

pyrite

Non-Metallic Luster
Minerals that do not reflect light have a nonmetallic luster, and are described as: adamantine dull (earthy) glassy (vitreous) silky resinous greasy pearly

Non-Metallic Luster

adamantine luster - topaz

earthy luster sanbornite

pearly luster talc

resinous luster - amber

Non-Metallic Luster

silky luster artinite

vitreous luster waxy (greasy) luster - bortryoid - gypsum

Hardness
The ability of a mineral to resist being scratched is known as its hardness. Hardness is one of the most useful properties for identifying minerals. Friedrich Mohs, a German mineralogist, worked out a scale of hardness for minerals ranging from 1 to 10. The number 1 is assigned to the softest mineral, talc and 10 is assigned to the mineral, diamond.

Hardness
Hardness is a relative scale. To determine a mineral's hardness, it must be shown that a substance with a hardness greater than the mineral does indeed scratch the unknown mineral, and that the unknown mineral scratches a known mineral of lesser hardness.

Hardness
In some minerals, hardness is dependent on direction. When there is significant difference in hardness in different directions, it can be a very diagnostic property of the mineral. It is thus wise to perform the hardness test by attempting to scratch the mineral in different directions. For example, kyanite has a hardness of 5 parallel to the length of the crystal, and a hardness of 7 when scratched along a direction perpendicular to the length.

Moh's Scale of Hardness

Hardness 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mineral Talc Gypsum Calcite Fluorite Apatite Orthoclase Quartz Common Object Fingernail (2+) Copper penny (3+) Window glass (5.5) Steel file

8 9 10

Topaz Corundum Diamond

Streak
The color of the powder scraped off a mineral when it is rubbed against a hard , rough surface is called its streak. The streak may be different from the color of the mineral. Streak can be observed by rubbing the mineral sample across a piece of unglazed porcelain, which is called the streak plate. A streak plate has a hardness slightly less than 7.

Density
Density is the amount of matter in a given space. The density of a mineral is always the same, not matter what the size of the mineral sample.

Crystal Shape
Minerals have a characteristic crystal shape that results from the way the atoms or molecules come together as the mineral is forming. There are six basic shapes of crystal structures: cubic, hexagonal, orthorhombic, monoclinic, tetragonal and triclinic.

Cleavage, Fracture and Parting

The terms cleavage, fracture and parting are used to describe the way a mineral breaks.

Cleavage
Cleavage is the tendency of a mineral to split along smooth, definite surfaces. Crystals often contain planes of atoms along which the bonding between the atoms is weaker than along other planes. In such a case, if the mineral is struck with a hard object, it will tend to break along these planes. Some minerals, like halite, break into small cubes. Micas cleave along one surface, making layers of thin sheets.

Fracture
If the mineral contains no planes of weakness, it will break along random directions. This property is called fracture. Kinds of Fracture Patterns Conchoidal fracture - breaks along smooth curved surfaces. Fibrous and splintery - similar to the way wood breaks. Hackly - jagged fractures with sharp edges. Uneven or Irregular - rough irregular surfaces

Parting
Parting is also occurs along a plane of
weakness in the crystal structure, but it is along planes that are weakened by some applied force. It may not be apparent in all specimens of the same mineral, but may appear if the mineral has been subjected to the right stress conditions.

Tenacity
Tenacity is the resistance of a mineral to breaking, crushing, or bending. Tenacity can be described by the following terms. Brittle - breaks or powders easily. Malleable - can be hammered into thin sheets. Sectile - can be cut into thin shavings with a knife. Ductile - bends easily and does not return to its original shape. Flexible - bends somewhat and does not return to its original shape. Elastic - bends but does return to its original shape.

Special Properties
Some minerals can be identified by special
properties. Magnetite is naturally magnetic. Fluorite glows under ultraviolet light. Halite tastes salty. Sulfur smells like rotten eggs. Calcite fizzes when hydrochloric acid is added to . Uraninite is radioactive.

Ores
The term ores is used to describe minerals
or combinations of minerals from which metals and nonmetals can be removed in usable amounts.

Metals
Metals are elements that have shiny
surfaces and are able to conduct electricity and heat. Metals can be pressed or hammered into thin sheets and other shapes without breaking. Metals cans also be pulled into thin strands. Iron, lead, aluminum, copper, silver and gold are examples of metals.

Smelting
Most metals are found combined with other
substances in ores. After the ores are removed from the Earth by mining, the metals must be removed from the ores. During a process, called smelting, an ore is heated in such a way that the metal can be separated from it. Metals are useful. Copper is used in pipes and electrical wire.

Nonmetals
Nonmetals are elements that have dull
surfaces and are poor conductors of electricity and heat. Nonmetals are not easily shaped. Some are removed from the Earth in usable form. Others must be processed. Sulfur,a nonmetal, is used to make matches, fertilizers and medicines.

Gemstones
Gemstones are minerals that are hard,
beautiful and durable and can be cut and polished for jewelry and decoration. Once a gemstone is cut and polished, it is called a gem. The rarest and most valuable gemstone- diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds, are known as precious stones. All other gemstones, amethysts, zircons, garnets, are known as semiprecious stones.