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...

it all
starts
with
matter!

Matter
anything with mass; occupies space
states of matter:
gas, liquid, solid
elements:
chemical constituents of matter

Periodic Table
O
Na Mg
K Ca

Al Si P
Ti

Mn Fe

... what
features
distinguish
different
elements?

The Atom

Ions

Bonding

... but what do


chemical elements
and their
compounds have
to do with earth
materials?

all solid Earth


materials (rocks)
are composed of
chemical
compounds or
minerals

Mineral
naturally occurring,
inorganic, crystalline
solid, with a fixed
range of chemical
composition and
physical properties

how do we know
that atoms form
regular and
distinctive patterns
in different
minerals?

Crystals

crystal habit : external

expression of atomic structure


bounded by crystal faces

Stenos Law

constancy of interfacial angles angles between similar faces of


crystals for given mineral have
constant value

Symmetry

repetition of pattern of faces


observed across a plane or about
an axis during crystal
manipulation

Mirror Symmetry

repetition across a plane

Rotational Symmetry

repetition about an axis

about 5000
different minerals
have been
recognized, how
do we categorize
them?

Mineral Groups
native elements - sulfur, gold, diamond, graphite
sulfides
S-2 pyrite, galena
oxides
O-2 hematite, magnetite
halides Cl-1, F-1 halite, flourite
sulfates (SO4)-2 anhydrite, gypsum
carbonates (CO3)-2 calcite, dolomite
phosphates (PO4)-3 apatite
silicates (SiO4)-2 quartz, feldspar

Mineral Groups
native elements - sulfur, gold, diamond, graphite
sulfides
S-2 pyrite, galena
oxides
O-2 hematite, magnetite
halides Cl-1, F-1 halite, flourite
sulfates (SO4)-2 anhydrite, gypsum
carbonates (CO3)-2 calcite, dolomite
phosphates (PO4)-3 apatite
silicates (SiO4)-2 quartz, feldspar

Mineral Groups
native elements - sulfur, gold, diamond, graphite
sulfides
S-2 pyrite, galena
oxides
O-2 hematite, magnetite
halides Cl-1, F-1 halite, flourite
sulfates (SO4)-2 anhydrite, gypsum
carbonates (CO3)-2 calcite, dolomite
phosphates (PO4)-3 apatite
silicates (SiO4)-2 quartz, feldspar

Mineral Groups
native elements - sulfur, gold, diamond, graphite
sulfides
S-2 pyrite, galena
oxides
O-2 hematite, magnetite
halides Cl-1, F-1 halite, flourite
sulfates (SO4)-2 anhydrite, gypsum
carbonates (CO3)-2 calcite, dolomite
phosphates (PO4)-3 apatite
silicates (SiO4)-2 quartz, feldspar

Mineral Groups
native elements - sulfur, gold, diamond, graphite
sulfides
S-2 pyrite, galena
oxides
O-2 hematite, magnetite
halides Cl-1, F-1 halite, flourite
sulfates (SO4)-2 anhydrite, gypsum
carbonates (CO3)-2 calcite, dolomite
phosphates (PO4)-3 apatite
silicates (SiO4)-2 quartz, feldspar

Mineral Groups
native elements - sulfur, gold, diamond, graphite
sulfides
S-2 pyrite, galena
oxides
O-2 hematite, magnetite
halides Cl-1, F-1 halite, flourite
sulfates (SO4)-2 anhydrite, gypsum
carbonates (CO3)-2 calcite, dolomite
phosphates (PO4)-3 apatite
silicates (SiO4)-2 quartz, feldspar

Mineral Groups
native elements - sulfur, gold, diamond, graphite
sulfides
S-2 pyrite, galena
oxides
O-2 hematite, magnetite
halides Cl-1, F-1 halite, flourite
sulfates (SO4)-2 anhydrite, gypsum
carbonates (CO3)-2 calcite, dolomite
phosphates (PO4)-3 apatite
silicates (SiO4)-2 quartz, feldspar

Mineral Groups
native elements - sulfur, gold, diamond, graphite
sulfides
S-2 pyrite, galena
oxides
O-2 hematite, magnetite
halides Cl-1, F-1 halite, flourite
sulfates (SO4)-2 anhydrite, gypsum
carbonates (CO3)-2 calcite, dolomite
phosphates (PO4)-3 apatite
silicates (SiO4)-2 quartz, feldspar

Silica Tetrahedron

4 oxygen atoms bond to each Si

Si4+

sharing of O between Si atoms


produces linkage of tetrahedra

linking produces chains and other


3d structures

linked together
through bonds
between O
and other
atoms (e.g., Al,
Mg and Fe)

Silicate Mineral Groups


nesosilicates - isolated tetrahedra
sorosilicates - linked tetrahedral pairs
ring Silicates - tetrahedral rings
inosilicates - tetrahedral chains
phyllosilicates - tetrahedral sheets
tectosilicates - 3D tetrahedral frameworks

Nesosilicates

Ring Silicates

Single Chain Silicates

Double Chain Silicates

Sheet Silicates

Framework Silicates

... what physical


properties can
we use to
distinguish
different
minerals?

Mineral Physical Properties


luster -

appearance of
light reflected
from fresh
mineral surface:
metallic
non-metallic vitreous
(glassy),
waxy, pearly,
earthy,
resinous, etc.

Mineral Physical Properties


cleavage - tendency
to break along
direction of weak
atomic bonds
some minerals
have cleavage
(mica), others
do not (quartz)
reflects relative
strength
of bonds

Mineral Physical Properties


sheet silicates
provide good
example of
tendency to break
along direction of
weak atomic
bonds
single cleavage
well developed
between
sheets

Mineral Physical Properties


minerals that do
not have
cleavage tend to
fracture or break
irregularly, e.g.
quartz - breaks
with smooth
curved
surfaces
"
conchoidal
fracture

Mineral Physical Properties


hardness resistance to
scratching
reflects

differences in the
strength of
chemical
bonds in different
mineral structures

Mineral Physical Properties


Mohs Hardness Scale:
1. Talc
2. Gypsum
3. Calcite
4. Fluorite
5. Apatite

6. Orthoclase
7. Quartz
8. Topaz
9. Corundum
10. Diamond

Mineral Physical Properties


streak - color of

powdered mineral

Mineral Physical Properties


specific gravity measure of weight
and packing of
atoms in minerals
atomic structure

equals weight of
mineral per unit volume

density - weight of

mineral divided by
weight of equal volume
of water

Other Mineral Properties


taste

magnetism

Other Mineral Properties

striations - parallel lines or bands


across surface of minerals crystal
or cleavage face

Mineral Optical Properties


many mineral
properties (e.g.,
cleavage) best seen in
wafer-thin slice of a
mineral (or rock)
mounted on a glass
slide (thin section) and
viewed under a
microscope

Quartz

Feldspar

Feldspar

Pyroxene

Hornblende

Olivine

Olivine

Biotite
Muscovite

whats so
important
about these
different
minerals?

Mineral Resources & Reserves


minerals represent the nonrenewable source of many
commodities utilized in our
everyday lives

Mineral Resource

naturally-occurring solid, liquid, or


gas that is or potentially may be
extracted economically

Mineral Reserves
economically
extractable
resource:
metals
non-metals
(industrial
minerals)
energy

Use of Resources
annual U.S.A. per capita
use highest in world
Commodity
sand and gravel
iron and steel
crushed rock
aluminum

copper

per capita use


3,000 kg
500 kg
3,900 kg
20 kg
8 kg

... so how
are minerals
organized in
Earth
materials?

any naturally formed,


firm and coherent
aggregate of minerals
that constitutes part of
the Earth is a rock
rocks classified into
igneous, sedimentary
and metamorphic types

... what are


igneous
rocks and
how do they
form?

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