Minerals

To understand how Minerals form.

Mineral - Definition
Emeralds worth Over $15,000

A naturally occurring inorganic substance that has a specific chemical composition and characteristic atomic structure

How many different types?

Over 5,000 identified Up to 100 new discovered each year The most abundant 50 make up over 99.9% of the earths crust

Peridot

5m m

Elements
A mineral composed of atoms of only one type Native Copper (Cu atoms)

Diamond (C atoms)
Graphite (C atoms)

Sulphur (S atoms)

Elements Diamond and Graphite

5mm

1cm

Both minerals are made up of just carbon atoms, it is the difference in atomic structure that accounts for their different physical properties, this phenomenon is known as polymorphism

Diamond and Graphite

Diamond has a tight interlocking framework structure with equally strong bonds in all directions

Graphite has a sheetlike structure with weak bonds between the individual layers

Diamond and Graphite

Hardness 10 Density 3.5 Octahedral Crystals Adamantine Lustre Octahedral Cleavage Streak White Hardness 1.0-2.0 Density 2.2 Flat, Tabular Crystals Metallic Lustre Perfect Basal Cleavage Streak Black

Stable form of carbon under very high pressure

Stable form of carbon under lower pressure

Compounds
Minerals composed of two or more different types of atoms which are chemically bonded together. Six major groups are recognised according to the elements they comprise Oxides Sulphides Halides Carbonates

Sulphates
Silicates

Elemental Composition of the Earths Crust

99% of the earths crust by weight is made up of just eight elements: Oxygen Silicon Aluminium

Iron
Calcium Sodium

Potassium
Magnesium

Atomic Structure
Minerals may form in a number of ways, this is largely dependent on their internal atomic structure. The two most common elements (Si and O) combine to form the basic building block for most common minerals the silica tetrahedron. In each tetrahedron four oxygen atoms are packed around one silicon atom.

Silica Tetrahedron

silica tetrahedron

silica tetrahedra in a framework silicate (see below)

Silicates
Which common mineral is composed of silicon and oxygen? Look through your mineral data cards and make a list of the silicate minerals that you have looked at.

Mineral Formation

Crystallisation from a melt

In this instance Minerals grow within a molten rock. The atoms come together and form elements and compounds. As the molten rock cools the minerals begin to crystallise. Depending on the time taken to cool will depend on the size of the mineral crystal.

Rates of cooling
If molten rock cools slowly what impact will this have on the size of the mineral? Can you think of an example where molten rock is forced to cool quickly? There are a range of minerals that form in this way, common examples are: quartz, feldspar and mica.

Metamorphic recrystallisation
This occurs when rocks are reheated. This can lead to the alteration of mineral structure, and even the formation of new minerals. Calcite and Garnet are examples of minerals that have formed in this way.

Crystallisation from solution in evaporating water

These can be called Evaporite Sediments. If mineral rich water is left to evaporate it can leave behind large quantities of minerals. Although rare evaporite deposits can be formed when fresh water lakes dry up, much larger amounts come from sea water. The most common examples of this are Halite (rock salt) and Gypsum.

Halite (Rock Salt)

1cm

Composed of Na and Cl atoms arranged in a 3dimensional framework or cubic lattice

Crystallisation as cement from flowing pore waters

As sediments are deposited they leave gaps between the fragments, this allows fluids to flush through them, this often occurs in the warmth and pressure after sediments are buried. If the fluids are mineral rich they can leave behind mineral deposits, which can grow over time, these will glue the sediments together. The most common cements are quartz and calcite.

Crystallisation from hydrothermal fluids

If hot, mineral rich fluids are flushed through the rock, then minerals deposits could be left in the spaces along cracks (veins) or faults, these could form into a range of minerals. These are called Gangue minerals Examples of Gangue minerals include: quartz and calcite and ore minerals; haematite and galena.

1.Which minerals crystallise from a melt? 2.Which minerals crystallise from solution in evaporating water? 3.Which minerals crystallise as cement in pores of rocks? 4.Which minerals crystallise as hydrothermal fluids (in veins and faults)?

5.Which minerals form through metamorphic recrystallisation?