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Definition of mineral
Crustal abundance of elements
Physical properties
Colour, lustre, streak
Crystal habit
Crystallography
Cleavage
Tenacity
Specific gravity
Magnetism
Others
Definition of mineral :
A mineral is
a naturally occurring
solid with
highly ordered atomic arrangement and with
definite (but not fixed) chemical composition
formed by inorganic processes.
Cornelis Klein (2002): The 22nd Edition of the Manual of Mineral Science
1.
2.
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4.
5.
Naturally occurring
Stable at room temperature
Represented by a chemical formula
Usually abiogenic
Ordered atomic arrangement
Dyar, M.D.; Gunter, M.E. (2008): Mineralogy and Optical Mineralogy
Natural occurrence :
To distinguish between minerals and synthetic minerals produced in laboratory
(e.g., synthetic rubies, diamonds, emeralds)
Solid state :
Excludes liquids and gases (e.g., water, mercury)
Note : Both water and mercury can be frozen to the solid state
but than they are not stable at room temperature.
However, such substances often fall in the domain of the mineralogist
they are called mineraloids.
Atomic order
Minerals are crystalline,
atoms or ions arranged in regular and repeating geometric pattern
Chalcopyrit
CuFeS2
Obsidian
(volcanic
glass)
Limonite
FeO(OH)nH2O
Chemical composition
Mineral can be expressed by a specific chemical formula
Composition is either
Fixed
dolomite CaMg(CO3)2
pure = end-member
Ca : Mg : CO3 = 1 : 1 : 2
Not fixed
Ca(Mg,Fe,Mn) (CO3)2
Ca : (Mg+Fe+Mn) : CO3 = 1 : 1 : 2
Another example
Forsterite
Fayalite
Mg2SiO4
Fe2SiO4
End-members
Olivine
Solid solution
of end-members
(Mg,Fe)SiO4
Inorganic origin
Carbon
Graphite
Diamond
Coal
CaCO3
Calcite
Corals
Shells
Ca(PO4)3(OH)
Apatite
Classifications of minerals
Wikipedia :
webmineral.com :
IMA :
ORE MINERALS
This
course
Native metals
Oxides
Silicates
Sulphides
Carbonates
Halides
Sulphates
Phosphates
Common
anions
Abundance
Earth crust
(continental & oceanic)
Continental crust thicker than oceanic crust, 70% of surface covered by oceans
Mass of continental crust approx 1.41022 kg
1ppm of mass corresponds to 14 000 000 gigatonnes
Mg 2.1%
K 2.6%
Na 2.8%
Ca 3.6%
Fe 5%
Al 8.1%
O, Si,
Al
82.40
%
PPM
Si 27.7%
10000
1000
100
10
1
O 46.6%
Ti Mn Ba Sr Zr V Cr Rb Ni
44001000 425 375 165 120 102 90 84
Zn Cu Pb U
70 60 14 2.7
Structure
Example
Formula
Olivine
Isolated SiO4
Forsterite
Mg2SiO4
Pyroxene
Single chains
Hedenbergite
CaFeSi2O6
Hornblende
NaCa2(Mg,Fe,Al)5(Al,Si)8O22(OH)2
Mica
Sheets
Muscovite
KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Feldspar
Framework
Plagioclase
(Na,Ca)(Al,Si)3O8
Quartz
Framework
Quartz
SiO2
Formula
Name
Formula
Calcite
CaCO3
Smithsonite
ZnCO3
Magnesite
MgCO3
Cerussite
PbCO3
Dolomite
(Ca,Mg)(CO3)2
Malachite
Cu2CO3(OH)2
siderite
FeCO3
Azurite
Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Native metals
Gold group and Platinum group Elements (PGE or PGM)
Gold group
PGE
Copper
Cu
Ruthenium
Ru
Silver
Ag
Rhodium
Rh
Gold
Au
Palladium
Pd
Osmium
Os
Iridium
Ir
Platinum
Pt
Formula
Name
Formula
Pyrite
FeS2
Arsenopyrite
FeAsS
Pyrrhotite
FeS
Sphalerite
(Zn,Fe)S
Chalcopyrite
CuFeS2
Galena
PbS
Bornite
Cu5FeS4
Pentlandite
(Fe,Ni)9S8
Chalcocite
Cu2S
Stibnite
Sb2S3
Covellite
CuS
Molybdenite
MoS2
Formula
Name
Formula
Magnetite
Fe3O4
Cuprite
Cu2O
Haematite
Fe2O3
Cassiterite
SnO2
Goethite
FeOOH
Pyrolusite
MnO2
Ilmenite
FeTiO3
(Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)2O6
Rutile
TiO2
Columbitetantalite
Chromite
FeCr2O4
Uraninite
UO2
Tenacity
Hardness
Stage of aggregation
Magnetism
Cleavage
Radioactivity
Colour
Colour is a response of the eye to the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum
absorbed
Lustre
Appearance of the surface in reflected light
1. Metallic look of a polished metal
Pyrite
Chalcopyrite
Galena
2. Submetallic
Appearance of a metal dulled by weathering or corrosion
Euxenite
Sphalerite
Reflects more than 5% and less than 20% of the incident light
3. Non-metallic
Non-metallic look, most of the light passes to the mineral (<5% reflected)
Vitreous/glassy
Quartz
Greasy/oily
Opal
Adamantine
Diamond
Silky
Gypsum
Resinous
Waxy
Amber
Jade
Pearly
Stellerite
Dull/earthy
Kaolinite
Streak
The colour of a mineral powder (left on a streak plate)
Colour change
Chatoyancy
Schiller(twinkle)
Aventurescence
Fluoroscence Phosphorescence
Crystal habit
Describes its visible external shape
depends strongly on the conditions during the crystal formation
The shape of a crystal is also dictated by the internal arrangement of atoms/ions
Euhedral
Subhedral
Anhedral
well formed
moderately formed
poorly formed (or not at all)
All crystals fall into six crystal families and 32 crystal classes
Based on elements of symmetry
Planes
Axes
of symmetry
Center
Six 2-fold
180
Binary
Four 3-fold
120
Trigonal
Three 4-fold
90
Tetragonal
9 planes
13 axes
1 center
Crystal
Family
Crystal
System
Classes
Bravais
Lattices
4 threefold axes
Cubic
1 fourfold axis
Tetragonal
Orthorhombic
3 twofold axes or
1 twofold axis + 2 planes
Orthorhombic
Monoclinic
Monoclinic
None
Triclinic
Rhombohedral
Hexagonal
Cubic/isometric
Tetragonal
Triclinic
Hexagonal Trigonal
Hexagonal
Symmetry
1 threefold axis
1 sixfold axis
32
14
Lattice
System
System
Axes
Angles
a = b c (a1= a2 c)
a = b = g = 90
Orthorhombic
abc
a = b = g = 90
Monoclinic
abc
a = g = 90 , b 90
Triclinic
abc
a b g 90
Rhombohedral
a=b=c
a = b = g 90
Hexagonal
a1 = a 2 = a 3 c
a =120 , g = 90
Bravais lattices
Axes
Planes
Center
2-Fold
3-Fold
4-Fold
6-Fold
Tetardoidal
Diploidal
yes
Hextetrahedral
Gyroidal
Hexoctahedral
yes
Cube
Octahedron
Dodecahedron
+
Cube
Dodecahedron
=
Octahedron
Cuboctahedron
Hexoctahedron
Tetrahexahedron
Steven Dutch, Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/symmetry/hexocuc.htm
Axes
Planes
Center
2-Fold
3-Fold
4-Fold
6-Fold
Disphenoidal
Pyramidal
Dipyramidal
yes
Scalenohedral
Ditetragonal pyramidal
Trapezohedral
Ditetragonal dipyramidal
yes
Prism
Dipyramid
Dipyramid prism
Prism
Ditetragonal
dipyramid
Pyramid
Trapezohedron
Dipyramid
Scalenohedron
Ditetragonal
pyramid
Disphenoid
Steven Dutch, Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/symmetry/tetraguc.htm
Tetrahedron
Diploid
Pyritohedron
Gyroid
Tetartoid
Steven Dutch, Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/symmetry/isometuc.htm
Axes
Planes
2-Fold
3-Fold
4-Fold
6-Fold
Pyramidal
Disphenoidal
Dipyramidal
Prism
Disphenoid
Center
Dipyramid
yes
Prism
Pyramids
Orthorhombic cuboctahedron
Disphenoid
Steven Dutch, Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/symmetry/o-m-uc.htm
Axes
Planes
Center
2-Fold
3-Fold
4-Fold
6-Fold
Domatic
Sphenoidal
Prismatic
Domatic
Sphenoidal
Prismatic
Prism
Dipyramid
Axes
Planes
Center
2-Fold
3-Fold
4-Fold
6-Fold
Pedial
Pinacoidal
yes
Class
Planes
Center
2-Fold
3-Fold
4-Fold
6-Fold
Trigonal dipyramidal
Pyramidal
Dipyramidal
yes
Ditrigonal dipyramidal
Dihexagonal pyramidal
Trapezohedral
Dihexagonal dipyramidal
yes
Prism
Pyramid
Dipyramids
Trapezohedron
Class
Planes
Center
2-Fold
3-Fold
4-Fold
6-Fold
Pyramidal
Rhombohedral
yes
Ditrigonal pyramidal
Trapezohedral
Hexagonal scalenohedral
yes
Pyramid
Rhombohedron
Trapezohedron
Scalenohedron
Prisms
Trapezohedron
Pyramids
Rhombohedrons
Quartz crystal
Steven Dutch, Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/symmetry/trigrhuc.htm
Miller indices
Convenient way of labelling faces on a crystal.
Express the directions of planes in which the faces lie.
Represent the relative intercepts of faces
on the crystallographic axes.
Mathematical background
z
a x b y cz d
x y z
1
h k l
l
k
h
x
Miller indices
Notation
(h,k,l)
represents a point
(hkl)
{hkl}
represents a plane
represents a family of planes
[hkl]
<hkl>
represents a direction
represents a family of directions
110
100
-a1
a1
100
1 10
0 10
-a2
a3
0110
1100
1010
-a1
a1
1 100
10 10
0 1 10
-a2
-a3
Miller indices
1 0.91 0.54
(hkl )
0.026 0.026 0.026 111
38.2
35.0
20.7
Steven Dutch, Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/symmetry/millerdx.htm
Crystal forms
A crystal form a collection of equivalent crystal faces
related to each other by the symmetry of the mineral
Closed form encloses a volume entirely
Open form does not enclose a volume entirely
Isometric forms 15 different forms possible
Nonisometric forms
Pedions (O)
Pinacoids (O)
Dihedrons (O)
Prisms (O)
Pyramids (O)
Dipyramids (C)
Scalenohedrons (C)
Trapezohedrons (C)
Rhombohedrons (C)
Tetrahedrons (C)
Polymorphism
Polymorphs are crystals with the same chemical composition but different crystal system
Generally related to temperature of formation
Zns
FeS2
Sphalerite
cubic
Pyrite (high T)
cubic
Marcasite (low T)
hexagonal
Wurtzite
hexagonal
Cleavage
Minerals have a tendency to break along the weak planes
dictated by atoms/ions internal structure
Reason? Some bonds are weaker than others
These planes of weakness are called cleavage planes or cleavages
rhodochrosite
calcite
pyrite
Formula
Talc
Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
Gypsum
CaSO42H2O
Calcite
CaCO3
Fluorite
CaF2
5
6
Apatite
Orthoclase
Ca5(PO4)3(OH,Cl,F)
KAlSi3O8
Intermediate
Rb, Cs, Li, Na, K
Ga, Sr, In, Sn, Ba, Pb, graphite
Ca, Se, Cd, S, Te, Bi, Ce
Mg, Au, Ag, Al, Zn
Cu, As, Sb
Fe, Ni
Pt, steel
Co, Zr, Pd, obsidian
Be, Mo
Ti, Mn, Ge, Nb, Rh, U
Quartz
SiO2
Topaz
Al2SiO4(OH,F)2
Corundum
Al2O3
10
Diamond
Tenacity
Brittle
Quartz
Metallic bonded
Silver
Ductile
Only malleable
Gold
Sectile
Relatively few
Gypsum
Elastic
Copper
Flexible
Chrysotile, serpentine
Hardness Cleavage
Tenacity Behaviour
Molybdenite
MoS2
1-1.5
1 direction
perfect
sectile
Native Gold
Au
2.5-3
none
ductile
Galena, PbS
2.5
3 directions
perfect
brittle
Pyrite
FeS2
6-6.5
none
brittle
m
V
g cm 3
H O
G determination
Based on buoyancy
Jolly balance
Pycnometer
G 1
In solids
(unlike in gases
& liquids)
Density may not be
uniform, constant
Silicates
Sulphides
K-Feldspar
2.56
Sphalerite
4.1
Quartz
2.65
Chalcopyrite
4.2
Calcite
2.7
Pyrrhotite
4.6
Chlorite
2.8
Pentlandite
4.8
Talc
2.8
Pyrite
5.0
Olivine
3.3
Galena
7.6
Oxides
Ilmenite
4.75
Diamond
3.5
Chromite
5.1
Copper
8.9
Magnetite
5.2
Gold
19.3
Haematite
5.26
Platinum
21.5
Most gangue
2.7 3.1
Native elements
Magnetism
Magnetic fields are produced by the movement of electrons
At the atomic level, the most important movement is electron spin
Paired electrons magnetic moment cancels out
Unpaired electrons (usually in partially filled 3d orbitals) net magnetic moment
Each spinning electron produces a magnetic field with a Bohr magnetic moment B
Magnetic properties of minerals may play important role in the process of separation
Iron
[Ar]
Fe
[Ar]4s23d6
2B
Fe2+
[Ar]4s03d6
4B
Fe3+
[Ar]4s03d5
5B
Other properties
Piezoelectricity
Radioactivity
Solubility in HCl
Blue
Red
Green
Uranium 238U
Potassium 40K
Thorium 232Th