Lecture 18 (11/29/2006)

Systematic Description of Minerals

Part 2:
Oxides, Hydroxides Halides,
Carbonates, Sulfates, and
Phosphates
Oxides
Three main groups based on metal cation/oxygen ratios
Hematite Group (X
2
O
3
) Corundum X=Al
+3

most phases hexagonal Hematite X=Fe
+3
Ilmenite X=1Fe
+2
+1Ti
+4


Rutile Group (XO
2
) Rutile X=Ti
x- +4 cation Pyrolusite X=Mn
most phases tetragonal Cassiterite X=Sn
Uraninite X=U

Spinel Group (XY
2
O
4
) Spinel X=Mg, Y=Al
X- +2 ; Y- +3 cation Magnetite X=Fe
+2
, Y=Fe
+3

most phases isometric

Chromite X=Fe
+2
, Y=Cr
or orthorhombic Chrysoberyl X=Be, Y=Al
Ulvospinel X=Ti
+4
, Y=Fe
+2
Fe-Ti oxides
Fe
+2
Fe
+3
Spinel Group (XY
2
O
4
)
Gem-quality
Spinels
Other Common Oxides
Rutile (TiO
2
)
Rutile needles in
Quartz
Pyrolusite dendrites
on fracture faces
Pyrolusite (MnO
2
)
Mass of botryoidal
Pyrolusite
Corundum (Al
2
O
3
)
Hardness=9
Red = Ruby
Blue = Sapphire
Chrysoberyl (BeAl
2
O
4
)
Cyclic twinning
in Chrysoberyl
Hydroxides
(OH)
-
main anionic group forming octahedrally
coordinated sheets with weak bonds between

Two structural types:

Brucite-type trioctahedral
sheets (all octahedral cation
sites are filled)
Gibbsite-type dioctahedral
sheets (only two of three
octahedral sites are filled)

Common Types of Hydroxides
Brucite Mg(OH)
2
Gibbsite Al(OH)
3







Manganite MnO(OH) Diaspore AlO(OH)





Goethite FeO(OH) Bauxite Al-hydroxide*






*hybrid mix of diaspore, gibbsite, and boehmite (AlO(OH))
Halides
Simple compounds composed of
large halogen anions (Cl, Br, F, I)
Typically isometric
Dominantly ionic bonding
Properties low hardness, high
melting points, poor conductors
(except at high temperatures)
Common Halides
Halite (NaCl)


Sylvite (KCl)


Flourite (CaF
2
)
Mineral
Groups
formed with
Anionic
Complexes
Carbonates



Sulfates



Phosphates



Silicates
Amount of residual charge
indicates relative strength
bonds with cations, which
reflected in the hardness
of the mineral
Carbonates
Aragonite
(High-P) Orthorhombic
Calcite
(Low-P - Hexagonal)
Most are Hexagonal
Other Carbonates
Azurite - Cu
3
(CO
3
)
2
(OH)
2
(Blue)
Malachite Cu
2
CO
3
(OH)
2
(Green)
Rhodochrosite MnCO
3
Borates
Kernite Na
2
B
4
O
6
(OH)
2
3H
2
O


Borax - Na
2
B
4
O
5
(OH)
4
8H
2
O


Ulexite NaCaB
5
O
6
(OH)
6
5H
2
O
H 2-2.5; SG 1.7
H 3; SG 1.95
H 1-2.5; SG 1.96
Television Rock
Sulfates
HYDROUS ANHYDROUS
Gypsum CaSO
4
2H
2
O
Alunite KAl
3
(SO
4
)
2
(OH)
6
Barite BaSO
4

Anhydrite CaSO
4

H: 3-3.5
SG: 4.5
H: 3-3.5
SG: 2.9
H: 2
SG: 2.32
H: 4
SG: ~2.7
Tungstates & Molybdates
Woframite (Fe,Mn)WO
4
Scheelite CaWO
4
Wulfenite PbMoO
4
SG: 7-7.5
SG: ~6
SG: 6.8
Phosphates
Apatite Ca
5
(PO
4
)
3
(F,Cl,OH)
prismatic hexagonal crystals
common in igneous rocks and
hydrothermal deposits
- variable colors
Other Common Phosphates
Monazite (Ce,La,Y,Th)PO
4

Ore mineral for Rare Earth Elements
Useful mineral in U-Pb and Th age
dating

Wavellite Al
3
(PO
4
)
2
(OH)
3
5H
2
O

Radiating globular aggregates
Turquoise
CuAl
6
(PO
4
)
4
(OH)
8
5H
2
O
Next Lecture 11/29/06

Systematic Description of Minerals

Part 3: Silicates

Read: Klein Chap. 11