Geo 306 lab 8 p.

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Name __________________________________________________

Physical and Optical Properties of Sulfides, Halides, Native Elements

Goals for this lab: 1. Learn essential properties for identifying these minerals in hand specimen: stibnite, pyrite, bornite, galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, molybdenite, cinnabar, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, halite, fluorite, graphite, copper, sulfur. Lab lecture topics 1. Key properties of each mineral. Lab groups: You can work together, but should turn in individual work on this lab. Introduction Sulfides are a very important group of minerals from an economic standpoint. The same processes that deposit and concentrate many sulfide elements are those that concentrate other economically and industrially important elements, including gold, silver, and an array of other elements essential to our technological way of life. Sulfides are generally metallic, and thus opaque in thin section, as are many oxides. Native elements are quite uncommon, because most elements are found among others with which they can bond and make more complex minerals. It requires special conditions or reactions to make native elements. Stibnite Dont confuse this mineral with stilbite (a zeolite). One useful trick is that stibnite has Sb (antimony) in it, and the crystals are elongated and metallic, like a stabbing implement. Hand sample notes:

Grey splendent metallic bladed to acicular crystals are distinctive. Similar: molybdenite, galena, specular hematite, arsenopyrite

Galena Hand sample notes: Very dense grey splendent metallic mineral. Cubic cleavage and cubic crystals are common. Massive varieties are also common. Similar: pyrite, stibnite, molybdenite

Pyrite Hand sample notes: Pale yellow splendent metallic crystals, generally in cubes or pyritohedra when isolated, as in shales / slates. Can also occur as layers or masses. Often alters in an oxidating environment to limonite or goethite, sometimes as pseudomorphs. Similar: chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, galena

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Bornite Hand sample notes:

Submetallic black, but tarnishes (oxidizes on surface) to iridescent. Called peacock ore for this reason. Similar: chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite

Sphalerite Hand sample notes: Resinous orange/yellow/brown colors. One of the few non-metallic sulfides. Six perfect cleavage directions. Smells like sulfur when powdered. Similar: galena, titanite, calcite/dolomite, sulfur

Chalcopyrite Hand sample notes: Like pyrite, but a more yellow, brassy color. Can also tarnish like bornite. Similar: bornite, pyrite, pyrrhotite

Pyrrhotite
3+ 2+ !Fe" Pyrrhotite has the solid solution vector Fe2 which allows it to have vacancies in the structure in the 3

Fe sites, giving it a variable Fe:S ratio. Hand sample notes:

Like pyrite, but a more !bronze color. Can also tarnish like bornite. Similar: pyrite, bornite, chalcopyrite

Arsenopyrite Hand sample notes: Powder smells like garlic (gives off arsenic oxide vapor in small amounts). Similar: chalcopyrite, galena, specular hematite, molybdenite

Molybdenite Hand sample notes: Very soft! Malleable metallic sheets are diagnostic Similar: graphite, stibnite, galena, arsenopyrite

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Cinnabar Hand sample notes:

Deep red color, often as surface encrustations or druses. Similar: hematite

Halite Hand sample notes: Low density is useful, together with cubic cleavage and vitreous luster. Taste is distinctive, but be careful licking minerals there are poisonous ones out there. Similar: gypsum, calcite, quartz, fluorite

Fluorite Hand sample notes: Octahedral cleavage is commonly obserrved. Crystal shapes can be cubic or octahedral. Often shows color zonation, typically in greens and purples, but colorless varieties are not uncommon. Similar: halite, gypsum, quartz, calcite

Graphite Hand sample notes: Soft, black mineral. Commonly found in low to moderate grade metamorphic rocks. Similar: molybdenite

Copper Hand sample notes: Metallic, but tarnishes easily with a layer of reddish cuprite. Hackly fracture Copper is one of the few common sectile minerals it can be sliced with a hard enough knife. Similar: pyrite, chalcopyrite

Sulfur Hand sample notes: Lightweight, yellow resinous mineral with distinctive odor. Similar: sphalerite