3 Minerals

We live in a world of minerals—they are everywhere around us. Gems and jewelry are
minerals. Gravel and sand are minerals. Mud is a mixture of microscopic minerals. Ice is a
mineral, and even dust in the air we breathe is made up of tiny mineral grains. Minerals
sustain our lives and provide continuously for society. The houses in which we live, the au-
tomobiles we drive, as well as the roads and other structures of our society, and almost
everything we touch are made of minerals or material derived from minerals. Indeed, on
average, every person on Earth uses, directly or indirectly, 10 metric tons of minerals each
year.
But the importance of minerals extends far beyond their value as economic deposits.
Minerals are also the substance of Earth’s natural systems. The green and white crystals in
this beautiful photograph are two very different minerals. The lustrous pastel green crystals
are apophyllite and the sparkling white needles are mesolite. Each mineral has distinguish-
ing properties. Every one of the tiny ice-clear crystals in these radial sprays of mesolite has
much in common with all of the other grains of its mineral species. For example, all grains
of mesolite have the same internal arrangement of atoms and have the same chemical and
physical properties even though individuals may vary greatly in size and shape. The atomic

52
structure of mesolite creates a natural chemical sieve. Its open structure allows some mole-
cules and ions dissolved in water to move through the framework of the atoms, but it will
filter out the larger molecules. Mesolite’s internal structure contains chains of atomic tetra-
hedrons aligned in one direction; this produces the needle-like shape of the crystals. The
mineral breaks preferentially between the long chains where atomic bonds are weakest.
All of Earth’s dynamic processes involve the growth and destruction of minerals as
matter changes from one state to another. As Earth’s surface weathers and erodes, some
minerals are destroyed and others grow in their place. Mesolite and apophyllite in this photo
grew from a watery solution as flowed through ancient lava flows. As sediments accumulate
in the oceans, minerals also grow from solution. Other minerals grow from molten rock when
lava erupts from volcanoes and cools. Deep below Earth’s surface, high pressure and temper-
ature remove atoms from the crystal structures of some minerals and cause them to recom-
bine them into new minerals. As tectonic plates move and continents drift, minerals are creat-
ed and destroyed by a variety of processes. Some knowledge of Earth’s major minerals,
therefore, is essential to understanding Earth’s dynamics.
In this chapter, we survey the general characteristics of minerals and the physical prop-
erties that identify them. We then explore the major rock-forming minerals in preparation
for a study of the major rock types in Chapters 4, 5, and 6.

Photograph by Chip Clark.

53
 MAJOR CONCEPTS
1. An atom is the smallest unit of an element that possesses the properties of
the element. It consists of a nucleus of protons and neutrons and a sur-
rounding cloud of electrons.
2. An atom of a given element is distinguished by the number of protons in its
nucleus. Isotopes are varieties of an element, distinguished by the different
numbers of neutrons in their nuclei.
3. Ions are electrically charged atoms, produced by a gain or loss of electrons.
4. Matter exists in three states: (a) solid, (b) liquid, and (c) gas. The dif-
ferences among the three are related to the degree of ordering of the atoms.
5. A mineral is a natural solid possessing a specific internal atomic structure and
a chemical composition that varies only within certain limits. Each type of
mineral is stable only under specific conditions of temperature and pressure.
6. Minerals grow when atoms are added to the crystal structure as matter
changes from the gaseous or the liquid state to the solid state. Minerals dis-
solve or melt when atoms are removed from the crystal structure.
7. All specimens of a mineral have well-defined physical and chemical proper-
ties (such as crystal structure, cleavage or fracture, hardness, and density).
8. Silicate minerals are the most important minerals and form more than 95%
of Earth’s crust.The most important silicates are feldspars, micas, olivines, py-
roxenes, amphiboles, quartz, and clay minerals. Important nonsilicate minerals
are calcite, dolomite, gypsum, and halite.
9. Minerals grow and are broken down under specific conditions of tempera-
ture, pressure, and chemical composition. Consequently, minerals are a record
of the changes that have occurred in Earth throughout its history.

MATTER

An atom is the smallest unit of an element that possesses the properties of

the element. It consists of a nucleus of protons and neutrons and a sur-
rounding cloud of electrons. There are three states of matter: gas, liquid,
and solid. Each state is distinguished by unique physical properties.
Processes in Earth’s dynamics mostly involve the changing of matter from
one state to another.

To understand the dynamics of Earth and how rocks and minerals are formed and
changed through time, you must have some knowledge of the fundamental struc-
ture of matter and how it behaves under various conditions.The solid materials that
make up Earth’s outer layers are called rocks. Most rock bodies are mixtures, or
aggregates, of minerals. A mineral is a naturally occurring compound with a defi-
nite chemical formula and a specific internal structure. Because minerals, in turn,
are composed of atoms, to understand minerals we must understand something
about atoms and the ways in which they combine.

Atoms
An atom is the smallest fraction of an element that can exist and still show the
characteristics of that element. Atoms are best described by abstract models con-
structed from mathematical formulas involving probabilities. They are much too
small to be seen with optical microscopes; recently, however, images of atoms have
been made. An example is shown in Figure 3.1. In its simplest form, an atom is
characterized by a relatively small nucleus of tightly packed protons and neutrons,
with a surrounding cloud of electrons. These are the principal building blocks of
atoms, but many other subatomic particles have been identified in recent years.

54
 Minerals 55

FIGURE 3.1 Image of atoms of silicon produced by a scanning tunneling microscope at the
IBM Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York. The blue spots are individual silicon atoms,
which are arranged in a regular pattern that repeats itself across the surface. You can also see the
hexagonal arrangement of groups of the atoms. Locally, flaws in the structure are also visible. Images
such as this are helpful in understanding the structure of different minerals. (Courtesy of
International Business Machines Corporation. Unauthorized use not permitted.)

The distinguishing feature of an atom of a given element is the number of pro-

tons in the nucleus. The number of electrons and neutrons in an atom of a given
element can vary, but the number of protons is always the same. Each proton car-
ries a positive electrical charge, and the mass of a proton is taken as the unit of
atomic mass, approximately 1.66 ∞ 10–24 g.The neutron, as its name indicates, is elec- What is the structure of an atom?
trically neutral and has approximately the same mass as the proton. The electron
is a much smaller particle, with a mass approximately 1/1850 the mass of the pro-
ton. It carries a negative electrical charge equal in intensity to the positive charge
of the proton. Because the electron is so small, for practical purposes, the entire
mass of the atom is considered to be concentrated in the protons and neutrons of
the nucleus.The atomic mass is simply the sum of the number of neutrons and protons.
Hydrogen is the simplest of all elements. It consists of one proton in the nucle-
us and one orbiting electron (Figure 3.2). The next heaviest atom is helium, with
two protons, two neutrons, and two electrons. Each subsequently heavier element
contains more protons, neutrons, and electrons. Figure 3.3 is a simplified chart of
all naturally occurring elements. The elements are arranged in rows, with increas-
ingly heavier elements to the right and bottom. This table is commonly called the
periodic chart. The distinguishing feature of an element is the number of protons
in the nucleus of each of its atoms, often called the atomic number. The number
of electrons and neutrons in the atoms of a given element can vary, but the num-
ber of protons is constant.
Atoms normally have the same number of electrons as protons and thus do not
carry an electrical charge. As the number of protons increases in progressively
heavier atoms, the number of electrons also increases. The electrons fill a series of
energy-level shells around the nucleus, each shell having a maximum capacity.The
progressive filling of these shells is reflected in the rows of the periodic chart (Fig-
ure 3.3).The electrons in the outer shells control the chemical behavior of the element.
56 Chapter 3

Isotopes
Although the number of protons in each atom of a given element is constant, the
number of neutrons in the nucleus can vary.This means that atoms of a given element
are not all exactly alike. Iron atoms, for example, have 26 protons but individual atoms
may have 28, 30, 31, or 32 neutrons. These varieties of iron are examples of isotopes;
e— they all have the properties of iron but differ from one another in mass. Most com-
mon elements exist in nature as mixtures of isotopes. Some isotopes are unstable,
p+
emitting particles and energy as they experience radioactive decay to form new, more
stable isotopes.

Ions
Atoms that have as many electrons as protons are electrically neutral, but atoms
Hydrogen of most elements can gain or lose electrons in their outermost shells. If electrons
are gained or lost, an atom loses its electrical neutrality and becomes charged.
These electrically charged atoms are ions. The loss of an electron makes a positively
charged ion because the number of protons then exceeds the number of nega-
tively charged electrons. If an electron is gained, the ion has a negative charge.The
electrical charges of ions are important because the attraction between positive ions
and negative ions is the bonding force that sometimes holds matter together. Like
e— 2n+ atoms, ions have distinctive sizes that reflect the number of particles in the nucle-
2p+ us and the number of electrons in the surrounding cloud. Ionic size and ionic charge
control how elements fit together to make solid minerals (Figure 3.3).
e—
Bonding
An atom is most stable if its outermost shell is filled to capacity with electrons. The
inner shell can hold no more than 2 electrons. The next shell can hold 8 electrons
Helium and is full in neon (atomic number 10). In heavier elements, the next shell can
have 18 electrons, and the shell after that one can have 32 electrons. Neon, for
example, has 10 protons in the nucleus and 10 electrons, of which 2 are in the
FIGURE 3.2 The atomic structures of
hydrogen and helium illustrate the major
first shell and 8 are in the second shell. A neon atom does not have an electrical
particles of an atom. Hydrogen has one charge. Its two electron shells are complete because the second shell has a limit
proton (p) in a central nucleus and one of 8 electrons. As a result, neon does not interact chemically with other atoms.
orbiting electron (e). Helium has two Argon and the other noble gases (the right column on the periodic chart) also
protons (p), two neutrons (n) in the nucleus, have 8 electrons in their outermost shell, and they normally do not combine with
and two orbiting electrons.
other elements. Most elements, however, have an incomplete outermost shell.
Their atoms readily lose or gain electrons to achieve a structure like that of argon,
neon, and the other inert gases, with 8 electrons in the outermost shell.
For example, an atom of sodium has only 1 electron in its outermost shell but
8 in the shell beneath (Figure 3.4). If it could lose the lone outer electron, the sodi-
um atom would have a stable configuration like that of the inert gas neon. The
chlorine atom, in contrast, has 7 electrons in its outermost shell, and if it could gain
an electron, it too would attain a stable electron configuration.Whenever possible,
therefore, sodium gives up an electron and chlorine gains one. The sodium atom
thus becomes a positively charged sodium ion, and the chlorine atom becomes a
negatively charged chloride ion. With opposite electrical charges, the sodium ions
and chloride ions attract each other and bond together to form the compound
What are the distinguishing characteris- sodium chloride (common salt, also known as the mineral halite). (A compound
tics of an isotope? Of an ion? has more than one element in its structure.) This type of bond, between ions of op-
posite electrical charge, is known as an ionic bond. Such bonds commonly devel-
op between elements that lie far from one another on the periodic table.
Atoms can also attain the electron arrangement of a noble gas, and thus attain sta-
bility, by sharing electrons. No electrons are lost or gained, and no ions are formed.
Instead, an electron cloud surrounds both nuclei.This type of bond is a covalent bond
and typically develops between elements that are near one another on the periodic
table. Bonds between two atoms of the element may be of this type; the bonds in an
oxygen molecule (O2) are a good example.The bonds between carbon and hydrogen
 Minerals 57
No tendency
Strong tendency to to gain or lose
lose electrons electrons

1 2
H Atomic number (protons) He
Tendency to share electrons Strong tendency
8 -2 Ionic charge or gain and lose electrons to gain electrons
Hydrogen O Helium
1.42 Symbol
3 1 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Li Be 2 Oxygen Ionic radius Å B3 C 4
N 5
O –2
F –1
Ne
0.76 0.27 Name of element 0.11 0.16 0.13 1.42 1.36
Lithium Beryllium Boron Carbon Nitrogen Oxygen Fluorine Neon

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Na 1 Mg 2 Darker colors are major constituents of crust Al 3
Si 4
P 5
S –2
Cl –1
Ar
1.18 0.72 0.54 0.40 0.38 1.84 1.81
Sodium Magnesium Tendency to lose electrons Aluminum Silicon Phosphorus Sulfur Chlorine Argon

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
K1 Ca 2 Sc 3 Ti 4
V 3
Cr 3
Mn 2 Fe 2
Co 2 Ni 2
Cu 2 Zn 2 Ga 3 Ge 4 As 3 Se 6 Br –1
Kr
1.51 1.12 0.14 0.74 0.64 0.62 0.83 0.78 0.74 0.69 0.73 0.74 0.62 0.53 0.46 0.42 1.95
Potassium Calcium Scandium Titanium Vanadium Chromium Manganese Iron Cobalt Nickel Copper Zinc Gallium Germanium Arsenic Selenium Bromine Krypton

37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54
Rb 1 Sr 2
Y3 Zr 4
Nb 5 Mo 5 Tc Ru 4 Rh 3 Pd 2 Ag 1 Cd 2 In 3 Sn 4 Sb 3 Te 6 I –1 Xe
1.61 1.26 1.02 0.84 0.74 0.61 0.62 0.67 0.86 1.15 0.95 0.80 0.69 0.76 0.56 2.16
Rubidium Strontium Yttrium Zirconium Niobium Molybdenum Technetium Ruthenium Rhodium Palladium Silver Cadmium Indium Tin Antimony Tellurium Iodine Xenon

55 56 57 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86
Cs 1 Ba 2 TO
Hf 4
Ta 5 W6 Re 4 Os 6 Ir 4
Pt 2
Au 1 Hg 2 Tl 1 Pb 2 Bi 3
Po At –1
Rn
1.74 1.42 0.83 0.74 0.60 0.63 0.54 0.62 0.60 0.68 1.02 1.59 1.29 1.17
Cesium Barium 71 Hafnium Tantalum Tungsten Rhenium Osmium Iridium Platinum Gold Mercury Thallium Lead Bismuth Polonium Astatine Radon

87 1 88 89 Metals Nonmetals
Fr Ra 2 TO
1.48
Francium Radium 92

57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71
La 3 Ce 3 Pr 3
Nd 3 Pm 3 Sm 3 Eu 2 Gd 3 Tb 3 Dy 3 Ho 3 Er 3
Tm 3 Yb 3 Lu 3
1.16 1.14 1.11 1.09 1.08 1.25 1.05 1.04 1.03 1.02 1.00 0.99 0.98 0.98
Lanthanum Cerium Praseodymium Neodymium Promethium Samarium Europium Gadolinium Terbium Dysprosium Holmium Erbium Thullium Ytterbium Lutetium

89 90 4 91 92 4
Ac Th Pa U
1.05 1.00
Actinium Thorium Protactinium Uranium

FIGURE 3.3 The periodic table of the elements shows the name and symbol of all of the naturally occurring elements. The lightest and simplest
elements are in the upper left; across and toward the bottom, each element is progressively more complex, with increasing numbers of nuclear particles
and electrons. The elements are separated into rows according to the outermost electron shell. Also shown is the charge of the common ion and the
radius for that ion. These properties of an element control how it combines with other elements to form minerals.

in organic materials are also of this type. Many bonds found in natural substances
are intermediate between covalent and ionic bonds. Electrons are “pulled” closer to
the nucleus of one ion than to the other.As a consequence, one part of the molecule
may have a slight charge. The Si-O bond that is so common in minerals is like this.
A third type of bond is the metallic bond. In a metal, each atom contributes
one or more outer electrons that moves relatively freely throughout the entire ag-
gregate of ions. A given electron is not attached to a specific ion pair but moves
about. This sea of negatively charged electrons holds the positive metallic ions to-
gether in a crystalline structure and is responsible for the special characteristics of
metals, including their high electrical conductivity and ductile behavior. Except
for a few native elements (such as gold), few minerals have metallic bonds.

States of Matter
The principal differences between solids, liquids, and gases involve the degree of
ordering of the constituent atoms. In the typical solid, atoms are arranged in a
rigid framework.The arrangement in crystalline solids is quite different.The atom-
ic structure of a crystal consists of a regular, repeating, three-dimensional pattern
known as a crystal structure. However, there are some amorphous solids in which
the atomic arrangement is random. Glass is an example of an amorphous solid
that lacks a clearly defined crystalline structure. In such solids, each atom occupies Why can gaseous, liquid, and solid
a more or less fixed position but has a vibrating motion. Changes in crystalline forms of a substance have such differ-
solids occur as the temperature or pressure changes. For example, as temperature ent physical properties and still have
rises, the vibration of atoms in the structure increases, and atoms move farther and the same composition?
farther apart. Eventually the bonds between two atoms may break and they be-
come free and able to glide past one another. Melting ensues, and the crystalline
solid passes into the liquid state.
In a liquid, the basic particles are in random motion, but they are packed close-
ly together. They slip and glide past one another or collide and rebound, but they
58 Chapter 3

Sodium atom Chlorine atom

loses 1 electron gains 1 electron
Reaction Reaction

Sodium ion Chlorine ion Covalent bond forms

Na+ Cl— by sharing electrons

Compound sodium chloride forms by

electrical attraction between Na+ and Cl-

(A) The formation of an ionic bond in sodium (B) Covalent bonds form when two atoms
and chloride ions by transfer of an electron from share electrons. The bond between silicon and
the outermost shell of a sodium atom to the oxygen, so common in minerals, is largely of
outermost shell of a chlorine atom results in a this type.
stable outer shell for each ion.

FIGURE 3.4 Elements form chemical bonds in several different ways, but all involve
interactions of electrons in the outermost electron shell. Ionic and covalent bonds are two of the
most important in minerals.

are held together by forces of attraction greater than those in gases. This force of
attraction explains why density generally increases and compressibility decreases
as matter changes from gas to liquid to solid. If a liquid is heated, the motion of the
particles increases, and individual atoms or molecules become separated as they
move about at high speeds.
In a gas, the particles are in rapid motion and travel in straight lines until their
direction is changed by collision. Because the individual atoms or molecules are
separated by empty spaces and are comparatively far apart, gases can be mark-
edly compressed and can exert pressure. Gases have the ability to expand indefi-
nitely, and the continuous rapid motion of the particles results in rapid diffusion.
Water undoubtedly provides the most familiar example of matter changing
through the three basic states. At pressures prevailing on Earth’s surface, water
changes from a solid, to a liquid, to a gas in a temperature range of only 100°C. Most
people are familiar with the effects of temperature changes on the state of matter
because of their experience with water as it freezes, melts, and boils. Fewer people
are familiar with the effects of pressure. Under great pressure, water will remain
liquid at temperatures as high as 371°C.
The combined effects of temperature and pressure on water are shown in the
phase diagram in Figure 3.5. An interesting and very important feature of water is
the fact that as it freezes, the solid is actually less dense than the liquid.As a result,
water ice floats rather than sinks. The expansion of water during freezing is im-
portant for weathering and in the moderation of Earth’s climate. Because polar ice
floats on the sea, it creates an insulating layer that slows the cooling of the rest of
the sea. If ice did not float, Earth’s oceans may have frozen solid during the ice ages.
Other forms of matter in the solid Earth are capable of similar changes, but
usually their transitions from solid, to liquid, to gas occur at comparatively high
temperatures. At normal room temperature and pressure, 93 of the 106 elements
are solids, 2 are liquids, and 11 are gases. Diagrams similar to Figure 3.5, constructed
from laboratory work on other minerals, provide important insight into the process-
es operating at the high temperatures and pressures below Earth’s surface.
 Minerals 59
Critical
100 point
Solid Liquid

10 Freezing Boiling point

point at

Pressure (bars)
at 1 bar
1 bar

0.1
Vapor
0.01
Triple
point
0.001

—100 0 100 200 300 400

Temperature (¡C)

FIGURE 3.5 Temperature and pressure determine the state in which matter exists. In this
diagram, the ranges of temperature and pressure for the various phases of water are shown. The triple
point is the point at which all three phases are in equilibrium. Beyond the critical point the liquid and
gas phases cannot be distinguished. Similar phase diagrams can be constructed for other minerals.

THE NATURE OF MINERALS

A mineral is a natural inorganic solid with a specific internal structure and

a chemical composition that varies only within specific limits. All specimens
of a given mineral, regardless of where, when, or how they were formed,
have the same physical properties (including cleavage, crystal form, hard-
ness, density, color, luster, and streak). Minerals also have restricted stability
ranges.

Minerals are the solid constituents of Earth. Many people think of minerals only
as exotic crystals in museums or as valuable gems and metals; but grains of sand,
snowflakes, and salt particles are also minerals, and they have much in common
with gold and diamonds. A precise definition is difficult to formulate, but for a
substance to be considered a mineral, it must meet the conditions listed above and
described in greater detail below. The differences among minerals arise from the
kinds of atoms they contain and the ways those atoms are arranged in a crystalline
structure.

Natural Inorganic Solids

By definition, only naturally occurring inorganic solids are minerals—that is, natural
elements or inorganic compounds in a solid state. Synthetic products, such as
artificial diamonds, are therefore not minerals in the strict sense. Organic
compounds, such as coal and petroleum, which lack a crystal structure, are also
not considered to be minerals. This criterion is not as important as most of the
others. After all, there is little difference between a synthetic and a natural Why is the structure of a mineral so
gem, other than where they formed. All of its structural, physical, and chemical important?
properties are shared with its natural counterparts. Likewise, there are organic
solids that have all of the characteristics of minerals.

The Structure of Minerals

The key words in the definition of mineral are internal structure. Minerals can
consist of a single element, such as gold, silver, copper, diamond, or sulfur.
However, most are compounds of two or more elements.The component atoms of
a mineral have a specific arrangement in a definite geometric pattern. All speci-
mens of a given mineral have the same internal structure, regardless of when,
where, and how they were formed. This property of minerals was suspected
 STATE OF
THE ART X-Ray Diffraction and the Structure of Minerals
With modern methods of X-ray diffraction, we can determine more complicated X-ray diffraction pattern was formed
precisely a mineral’s internal structure and learn much about from a specimen of feldspar. Because feldspars have a much
the arrangement of its atoms. Diffraction involves the bend- greater variety of elements, bond types, and structural ele-
ing of X rays as they pass through a crystalline substance. ments, the diffraction pattern is also more complicated.
The technique is illustrated in the figure below. When a X-ray diffraction analysis is the definitive technique that
narrow beam of X rays is passed through a mineral grain, shows us that each mineral species has its own distinctive
the X rays are diffracted by the framework of atoms.The in- structure that is repeated many times in every grain of the
dividual ions are spaced very closely in the rigid network, mineral. It reveals the great symmetry and order found in
close enough to bend X rays—like a diffraction grating the mineral kingdom.
bends light rays. The diffracted rays cause constructive and
destructive interference—in effect, concentrating the en-
ergy of the X rays in some areas and dispersing it in others.
100
After they leave the crystal, the X rays expose a photo-
K-feldspar
graphic plate or are detected with a scanning device and 80
plotted as shown. From the pattern made by the spots or
from measurements of the position and height of the peaks, 60
the systematic orientation of planes of atoms within the
40

Intensity of difracted X-rays

crystal can be deduced. Such measurements are so precise
that the distances between atoms can be measured and the 20
size and shape of the electron cloud calculated. Detailed
models of crystal structures showing the position of each 0
different atom can thus be constructed. 100
The X-ray diffraction instrument is now the most basic Quartz
80
device for determining the internal structure of minerals,
and geologists use it extensively for precise mineral identi- 60
fication and analysis.
Two typical examples of X-ray spectra are shown on the 40
chart. The lower curve is the X-ray diffraction pattern for
20
the mineral quartz. The peaks are created by constructive
interference of the X rays and correspond to specific atom- 0
ic spacings that are the result of the nearly covalent silicon- 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
oxygen bond. The peak positions do not directly reveal the Angle of examination (2 Theta)
kinds of atoms, only their distances and arrangements. The

X-ray Focusing plates Photographic film

tube

Crystal

60
 Minerals 61

Strong covalent
Carbon bonds
atoms

Diamond

Carbon
atoms

Strong covalent
bonds

Weak
bonds
Graphite

FIGURE 3.6 The internal structure of a mineral controls its physical properties. Diamond and graphite have exactly the same chemical
composition, but the carbon atoms are arranged differently and held together by different types of bonds. Graphite is made of sheets of carbon
stacked on top of one another. It is soft and black. Diamond, the hardest mineral known, is made of carbon atoms bound together in a tight
tetrahedral framework. Most grains of diamond are transparent. (Photographs by Jeffrey A. Scovil)

long ago by mineralogists who observed the many expressions of order in

crystals. Nicolaus Steno (1638–1687), a Danish monk, was among the first to note
this property. He found from numerous measurements that each of the different
kinds of minerals has a characteristic crystal form. Although the size or shape of
a mineral’s crystalline form may vary, similar pairs of crystal faces always meet at
the same angle. This is known as the law of constancy of interfacial angles.
Later, Rene Hauy (1743–1822), a French mineralogist, accidentally dropped a
large crystal of calcite and observed that it broke along three sets of planes only,
so all the fragments had a similar shape (see Figure 3.9). He then proceeded to
break other calcite crystals in his own collection, plus many in the collections of his
friends, and found that all of the specimens broke in exactly the same manner. All
of the fragments, however small, had the shape of a rhombohedron. To explain his
observations, he assumed that calcite is built of innumerable infinitely small rhom-
bohedra packed together in an orderly manner; he concluded that the cleavage
of calcite is related to the ease of parting of such units from adjacent layers. His
discovery was a remarkable advance in understanding crystals. Today we know
that cleavage planes are planes of weakness in the crystal structure and that they
are not necessarily parallel to the crystal faces. Cleavage planes do, however, con-
stitute a striking expression of the orderly internal structure of crystals.
To understand the importance of structure in a mineral, consider the charac-
teristics of diamond and graphite (Figure 3.6). These two minerals are identical in
 62 Chapter 3

chemical composition. Both consist of a single element, carbon (C). Their crystal
Si+4 0.40 Al
+3
0.54 structures and physical properties, however, are very different. In diamond, which
forms only under high pressure, the carbon atoms are packed closely, and the co-
valent bonds between the atoms are very strong. Their structure explains why di-
Ni+2 0.69 Mg
+2
0.72 Fe
+2
0.78 Fe+3 0.64 amonds are extremely hard—the hardest natural substance known. In graphite,
the carbon atoms form layers that are loosely bound. Because of weak bonds, the
layers separate easily, so graphite is slippery and flaky. Because of its softness and
slipperiness, graphite is used as a lubricant and is also the main constituent of com-
K+ 1.51 Na+ 1.18 Ca
+2
1.12 mon “lead” pencils.The important point to note is that different structural arrange-
ments of exactly the same elements produce different minerals with different prop-
erties. This ability of a specific chemical substance to crystallize in more than one
type of structure is known as polymorphism.
—1
O—2 1.42 OH 1.40
The Composition of Minerals
FIGURE 3.7 The relative size and
electrical charge of ions are important A mineral has a definite chemical composition, in which specific elements occur
factors governing the suitability of one in definite proportions. Thus, a precise chemical formula can be written to express
ion to substitute for another in a crystal
structure. Silicon can be replaced by
the chemical composition—for example, SiO2, CaCO3, and so on. The chemical
aluminum, iron by magnesium or nickel, composition of some minerals can vary, but only within specific limits. In these
and sodium by calcium. minerals, two or more kinds of ions can substitute for each other in the mineral
structure, a process known as ionic substitution. Ionic substitution results in a
chemical change in the mineral without a change in the crystal structure, so sub-
stitution can occur only within definite limits. The composition of such a mineral
can be expressed by a chemical formula that specifies ionic substitution and how
the composition can change.
The suitability of one ion to substitute for another is determined by several fac-
tors, the most important being the size and the electrical charge of the ions in ques-
tion (Figures 3.3 and 3.7). Ions can readily substitute for one another if their ionic
radii differ by less than 15%. If a substituting ion differs in charge from the ion for
which it is substituted, the charge difference must be compensated for by other
substitutions in the same structure in order to maintain electrical neutrality.
Ionic substitution is somewhat analogous to substituting different types of equal-
sized bricks in a wall. The substitute brick may be composed of glass, plastic, or
whatever, but because it is the same size as the original brick, the structure of the
wall is not affected. An important change in composition has, however, occurred,
and as a result there are changes in physical properties. In minerals, ionic substi-
tution causes changes in hardness and color, for example, without changing the
internal structure.
Ionic substitution is common in rock-forming minerals and is responsible for
mineral groups, the members of which have the same structure but varying com-
position. For example, in the olivine group, with the formula (Mg, Fe)2SiO4, ions
of iron (Fe+2) and magnesium (Mg+2) can substitute freely for one another because
they have similar charges and sizes (Figure 3.7).The total number of Fe+2 and Mg+2
ions is constant in relation to the number of silicon (Si) and oxygen (O) atoms in
the olivine, but the ratio of iron to magnesium may vary in different samples. The
common minerals feldspar, pyroxene, amphibole, and mica each constitute a group
of related minerals in which ionic substitution produces a range of chemical
composition.

The Physical Properties of Minerals

What determines the physical proper- Because a mineral has a definite chemical composition and internal crystalline
ties of a mineral? structure, all specimens of a given mineral, regardless of when or where they
were formed, have the same physical and chemical properties. If ionic substitu-
tion occurs, variation in physical properties also occurs, but because ionic substi-
tution can occur only within specific limits, the range in physical properties also can
occur only within specific limits. This means that one piece of quartz, for example,
 (B) Tetrahedrons of sphalerite (ZnS).

(C) Needles of the rare mineral crocoite (PbCrO4).

(A) Prismatic tourmaline

[Na(Li,Al)3Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4].

(D) Radiating clusters of long slender needles of the zeolite

mineral mordenite (Ca,Na2,K2)(Al2Si10)(O24·7H2O).

FIGURE 3.8 Crystal form is an important physical

property showing the arrangement of atoms in a mineral.
(Photographs by Jeffrey A. Scovil) (E) Cubes of pyrite (FeS2), commonly known as fool’s gold.

63
64 Chapter 3

(A) One plane of cleavage in mica produces thin plates or sheets. (B) Two planes of cleavage at right angles in feldspar produce blocky
fragments.

(C) Three planes of cleavage at right angles in halite produce cubic (D) Cleavage of calcite occurs in three planes that do not intersect at
fragments. right angles, forming rhombohedrons.

FIGURE 3.9 Cleavage reflects planes of weakness within a crystal structure.

is as hard as any other piece, that it has the same density, and that it breaks in the
same manner, regardless of when, where, or how it was formed.
The more significant and readily observable physical properties of minerals are
crystal form, cleavage, hardness, density, color, luster, and streak.
If a crystal is allowed to grow in an unrestricted environment, it develops nat-
ural crystal faces and assumes a specific geometric crystal form. The shape of a
crystal is a reflection of the internal structure and is an identifying characteristic
for many mineral specimens (Figure 3.8). If the atoms are arranged in a long chain,
the crystal may be shaped like a needle. If the atoms are arranged in a boxlike net-
work, the crystal will likely be in the form of a cube. If the space for growth is re-
stricted, however, smooth crystal faces cannot develop.
Cleavage is the tendency of a crystalline substance to split or break along smooth
planes parallel to zones of weak bonding in the crystal structure (Figure 3.9). If the
bonds are especially weak in a given plane, as in graphite, mica, or halite, perfect
cleavage occurs with ease. Breaking the mineral in any direction other than along
a cleavage plane is difficult (Figure 3.9). In other minerals, the differences in bond
strength are not great, so cleavage is poor or imperfect. Cleavage can occur in
more than one direction, but the number and direction of cleavage planes in a
given mineral species are always the same. Some minerals have no weak planes in
their crystalline structure, so they do not have cleavage and break along various
types of fracture surfaces. Quartz, for example, characteristically breaks by con-
choidal fracture—that is, along curved surfaces, like the curved surfaces of chipped
glass. Cleavage planes and crystal faces should not be confused with the facets
found on gems. Facets are produced by grinding and polishing the surface of a
 Minerals 65

TABLE 3.1
Mohs Hardness Scale
Hardness Mineral Test
1 Talc
2 Gypsum
Fingernail
3 Calcite
Copper coin
4 Fluorite
5 Apatite
Knife blade
or glass plate
6 K-feldspar
7 Quartz
FIGURE 3.10 Hardness reflects the strength of the atomic bonds inside the mineral. Gypsum
Steel file
has a hardness of 2 on Mohs hardness scale. It is a very soft mineral and can easily be scratched with 8 Topaz
a fingernail. 9 Corundum
10 Diamond

mineral grain and do not necessarily correspond to cleavage directions. For ex-
ample, diamond lacks cleavage altogether but can be polished so that a single crys-
tal will have many shiny faces.
Hardness is a measure of a mineral’s resistance to abrasion. It is in effect a mea-
sure of the strength of the atomic bonds in a crystal. This property is easily deter-
mined and is used widely for field identification of minerals. More than a century
ago, Friedrich Mohs (1773–1839), a German mineralogist, assigned arbitrary
relative numbers to 10 common minerals in order of their hardness. He assigned
the number 10 to diamond, the hardest mineral known. Softer minerals were
ranked in descending order, with talc, the softest mineral, assigned the number 1.
The Mohs hardness scale (Table 3.1) provides a standard for testing minerals for
preliminary identification. Gypsum, for example, has a hardness of 2 and can be
scratched by a fingernail (Figure 3.10). More exacting measures of hardness show
that diamond is by far the hardest mineral.
Density is the ratio of the weight of a substance to its volume. For example, at
room temperature, 1 cm3 of water weighs 1 g; the density is thus 1 g/cm3. On the other
hand, 1 cm3 of solid lead weighs a little over 11 g, and thus its density is 11 g/cm3.
Density is one of the more precisely defined properties of a mineral. It depends
on the kinds of atoms making up the mineral and how closely they are packed in
the crystal structure. Clearly, the more numerous and compact the atoms, the high-
er the density. Most common rock-forming minerals have densities that range from
2.65 g/cm3 (for quartz) to about 3.37 g/cm3 (for magnesium olivine). Iron-rich
olivine is even denser (4.4 g/cm3) because iron has a higher atomic weight than
magnesium. Some metallic minerals have much higher densities. For example,
native gold has a density of about 20 g/cm3 and native iron has a density of
almost 8 g/cm3. At high pressures, the densities of most minerals increase because
the atoms are forced to be closer together.At high temperatures, their densities de-
crease as the atoms move farther apart.
Color is one of the more obvious properties of a mineral. Unfortunately, it is not
diagnostic. Most minerals are found in various hues, depending on such factors as
subtle variations in composition and the presence of inclusions and impurities.
Quartz, for example, ranges through the spectrum from clear, colorless crystals
to purple, red, white, yellow, gray, and black.
Luster describes the appearance of light reflected from a mineral’s surface. Lus-
ter is described only in subjective, imprecise terms.There are two basic kinds of lus-
ter: metallic and nonmetallic. Minerals with a metallic luster shine like metals.
Nonmetallic luster ranges widely, including vitreous (glassy), porcelainous, resinous,
 66 Chapter 3

and earthy (dull). The luster of a mineral is controlled by the kinds of atoms and
5000 by the kinds of bonds that link the atoms together. Many minerals with covalent
bonds have a brilliantly shiny luster, called adamantine luster, as in diamond. Ionic
bonds create more vitreous luster, as in quartz. Metallic bonding in native metals,
Low Quartz

4000 such as gold, also has its characteristic luster.

High
Quartz Streak refers to the color of a mineral in powder form and is usually more di-
Pressure (bars)

agnostic than the color of a large specimen. For example, the mineral pyrite (fool’s
3000
gold) has a gold color but a black streak, whereas real gold has a gold streak—the

Liquid
same color as that of larger grains. Streak is tested by rubbing a mineral vigor-
ously against the surface of an unglazed piece of white porcelain. Minerals softer
Cristobalite

2000
than the porcelain leave a streak, or line, of fine powder. For minerals harder
than porcelain, a fine powder can be made by crushing a mineral fragment. The
Tridymite

1000
powder is then examined against a white background.
Magnetism is a natural characteristic of only a few minerals, like the common
iron oxide magnetite. Although only a few minerals can be identified using this
0 property, magnetism is an important physical property of rocks that is used in
500 1000 1500 2000 many investigations of how Earth works (see page 604).
Temperature (¡C)

FIGURE 3.11 The stable form of Stability Ranges

SiO2 depends on pressure and Another important feature of each mineral is that it is stable only over a fixed
temperature. The colored areas show the
range of temperature and pressure over
range of conditions. We call a mineral stable if it exists in equilibrium with its en-
which each of five different minerals are vironment. In such a case, there is little tendency for further change. The environ-
stable. Quartz, for example, is stable at ment that exists when a mineral crystallizes determines which of the many thou-
intermediate temperatures over a wide sands of minerals will form.The environmental conditions that determine whether
range of pressures. Other minerals of the a particular mineral is stable are mainly pressure, temperature, and composition.
same composition (SiO2), but with
different atomic arrangements, are stable
We have already examined the stability ranges for the various states of water
at other pressures and temperatures. (see Figure 3.5), and we can use similar phase diagrams to represent the range
of conditions over which a specific mineral is stable. Figure 3.11 shows the
names and stability fields for various minerals with the chemical formula SiO2.
Quartz is the most common of these minerals because it is stable over the range
of temperatures and pressures found near Earth’s surface. However, if the tem-
perature is increased to 1300°C at a pressure of 1000 bars (a depth in Earth of
about 3 km), the arrangement of the atoms in quartz will change to form a differ-
ent mineral called tridymite, which has its own structure and distinctive physical
properties. For example, quartz has a density of 2.65 g/cm3 and tridymite has a den-
sity of about 2.26 g/cm3. If the temperature is increased to 1600°C, still another
change occurs as tridymite converts to cristobalite with a density of 2.33 g/cm3. In
the absence of water, pure SiO2 melts only at a temperature higher than 1700°C.
Changes in pressure can also induce minerals to break down and form new species
that are stable under the new conditions. Metamorphic processes, discussed in
more detail in Chapter 6, are driven by the tendency for minerals to react and
change as their environment changes.
Although minerals have distinctive stability ranges, they may remain in exis-
tence far from those conditions. A mineral existing outside of its stability range
is called metastable. Metastability occurs if the reactions to form new minerals
from preexisting minerals are very slow. Such barriers are common at Earth’s
surface, where low temperatures make atomic movements and reactions very
sluggish in solids. Thus, tridymite has been found at temperatures far below the
range of temperatures shown in Figure 3.11. Moreover, feldspars are common at
Earth’s surface, even though clay minerals are more stable in the presence of
water. Despite these reaction barriers at low temperature, it is useful to keep in
mind the approximate range of temperatures and pressures over which a given
mineral is stable.
 Minerals 67

THE GROWTH AND DESTRUCTION OF MINERALS

Minerals grow as matter changes from a gaseous or liquid state to a solid

state or when one solid recrystallizes to form another. They break down as
the solid changes back to a liquid or a gas. All minerals came into being
because of specific physical and chemical conditions, and all are subject to
change as these conditions change. Minerals, therefore, are an important
means of interpreting the changes that have occurred in Earth throughout
its history.

Crystal Growth
Even though minerals are inorganic, they can grow. Growth is accomplished by
crystallization, which occurs by the addition of ions to a crystal face. As noted
above, an environment suitable for crystal growth includes (1) proper concentra-
tion of the kinds of atoms or ions required for a particular mineral and (2) prop-
er temperature and pressure.
The time-lapse photographs in Figure 3.12 show how crystals grows from a liq-
uid in an unrestricted environment. Although the size of each crystal increases, its
form and internal structure remain the same. New atoms are added to the faces
of the crystal, parallel to the plane of atoms in the basic structure. Some crystal How can a mineral, which is inorganic,
faces, however, grow faster than others.As a result of these different growth rates, grow?
the crystal may become elongated in one direction. Thus, the ideal crystal shape
reflects not only the arrangement of atoms inside the crystal, but it also controlled
by which faces grow faster or slower. You can see that all of the crystals in Figure
3.12 have the same idealized shape, because they are all the same mineral. The
mineral grains in the chapter opening photograph show the dramatic results of
growth in an unrestricted environment. These minerals crystallized from a watery
solution in an open vug within an ancient series of lava flows. Each crystal was free
to grow to its ideal shape with little interference from other crystals. It is easy to
tell that there are two different kinds of minerals from their ideal shapes.
In contrast, where space is restricted, a crystal may not grow to form its ideal
crystal shape. Where a growing crystal encounters a barrier (such as another crys-
tal), it simply stops growing.This process is illustrated in Figure 3.12. Note how the
vertical crystal grew between 10 and 30 seconds.At 30 seconds, it has impinged on
a nearly horizontal crystal and stopped growing. However, the more horizontal

Elapsed Time
0 sec. 10 sec. 30 sec. 1 min.

Liquid

Growing
crystals

Solid

FIGURE 3.12 Crystal growth can be recorded by time-lapse photography. Each crystal grows as atoms in the surrounding liquid lock onto the
outer faces of the crystal structure.
68 Chapter 3

Growth
continued
x
z

y y Growth
eliminated
z
x

(A)

(B) (C)

Figure 3.13 Crystals growing in a restricted environment do not develop perfect crystal faces. (A) Where growth is unrestricted, all crystal
faces grow with equal facility. (B) In a restricted environment, growth on certain crystal faces, such as x and y, is terminated but growth on the
faces labeled z continues. (C) The final shape of the crystal is determined by the geometry of the available space in which it grows.

crystal grows throughout the sequence because there were no restrictions to its
growth.
Figure 3.13 shows how crystal growth occurs in a restricted environment. A
crystal growing from a liquid in a restricted space assumes the shape of the con-
fining area, and well-developed crystal faces do not form. The external form of the
crystal can thus take on practically any shape, but its internal structure is in no way
modified. The mineral’s internal structure remains the same; its composition is
unaffected, and no changes in its physical and chemical properties occur. The only
modification is a change in the shape of the crystal.
Crystal growth in restricted spaces is common for rock-forming minerals. In a
still molten lava flow or in an aqueous solution, many crystals grow at the same time
and must compete for space. As a result, in the later stages of growth, crystals in
rocks commonly lack well-defined crystal faces and typically interlock with adja-
cent crystals to form a strong, coherent mass (Figure 3.14). This interlocking tex-
ture is especially common in igneous rocks, which form by crystallization from
molten rock material.
Most crystals are rather small, measuring from a few tenths of a millimeter to
several centimeters in diameter. Some are so small they can be seen only when
enlarged thousands of times with a high-powered electron microscope (Figure
3.15). Where crystallization occurs from a mobile fluid in an unrestricted envi-
ronment, however, crystals can grow to enormous sizes (Figure 3.16).

Destruction of Crystals
Mineral grains can be destroyed in many different ways. Minerals melt by removal
of outer atoms from the crystal structure as they enter a less organized liquid state.
The heat that causes a crystal to melt increases atomic vibrations enough to break

FIGURE 3.14 Interlocking texture develops if crystals grow in a restricted environment. Crystals grow into one another when
they are forced to compete for space. Such textures are common in igneous rocks which form form molten magma. (see Chapter 4).
 Minerals 69

(A) Sand grains magnified 50 times. Small (B) Clay crystals coating sand grains (C) Clay crystals magnified 2000 times.
crystals of clay form between the grains. magnified 1000 times.

FIGURE 3.15 Submicroscopic crystals of hexagonal plates of clay growing in the pore spaces between sand grains can be seen with an electron
microscope. Each crystal contains all of the physical and chemical properties of the mineral, even though each one is extremely small. (Courtesy of
Harry W. Fowkes)

the bonds holding an atom to the crystal structure. Similarly, atoms can be “pried”
loose and carried away by a solvent, usually (in geologic processes) water. Crys-
tals begin to break down or dissolve at the surface and the reaction moves inward.
Mineral grains can also be destroyed as their constituent atoms become re-
arranged in the solid state. Such recrystallization processes are especially common
deep inside the crust and mantle, where heat and pressure cause some crystal struc-
tures to collapse and new minerals, with a denser, more compact atomic structure
(Figure 3.17) to form in their place. In this case, the atoms do not move far, but new
bonds form and new internal structures are created. The new mineral grains have
different physical properties, like cleavage, luster, hardness, and density.

(A) Open structure at low pressure.

(B) Densely packed structure at

high pressure.

FIGURE 3.17 Under high pressure, the

atomic structure of a mineral can collapse
into a denser form, in which the atoms are
FIGURE 3.16 Large crystals can form where there is more closely packed. Although the physical
ample space for growth, as in caves. These crystals of gypsum properties change, the chemical composition
are more than 1 m long. may remain the same.
70 Chapter 3

SILICATE MINERALS
TABLE 3.2
Concentrations of the More than 95% of Earth’s crust is composed of silicate minerals, a group
Most Abundant Elements of minerals containing silicon and oxygen linked in tetrahedral units, with
in Earth’s Crust (by weight) four oxygen atoms to one silicon atom. Several fundamental configurations
Element Percentage
of tetrahedral groupings are single chains, double chains, two-dimensional
sheets, and three-dimensional frameworks.
O 46.60
Si 27.72
Al 8.13
Although more than 4000 minerals have been identified, 95% of the volume of
Fe 5.00
Earth’s crust is composed of a group of minerals called the silicates. This should
Ca 3.63
not be surprising because silicon and oxygen constitute nearly three-fourths of the
Na 2.83
mass of Earth’s crust (Table 3.2) and therefore must predominate in most rock-
K 2.59
forming minerals. Silicate minerals are complex in both chemistry and crystal struc-
Mg 2.09
ture, but all contain a basic building block called the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron.
Ti 0.44
Nearly covalent Si-O bonds form a complex ion [(SiO4)4–] in which four large oxy-
H 0.14
gen ions (O2+) are arranged to form a four-sided pyramid with a smaller silicon ion
P 0.12
(Si4+) bonded between them (Figure 3.18). This geometric shape is known as a
Mn 0.10
tetrahedron. The major groups of silicate minerals differ mainly in the arrange-
S 0.05
ment of such silicate tetrahedrons in their crystal structures.
C 0.03
Perhaps the best way to understand the unifying characteristics of the silicates,
as well as the reasons for the differences, is to study the models shown in Figure
After B. Mason and C. B. Moore, Principles of 3.19. These were constructed on the basis of X-ray studies of silicate crystals.
Geochemistry, 4th ed. (New York: Wiley, 1982).
Silicon-oxygen tetrahedrons combine to form minerals in two ways. In the sim-
plest combination, the oxygen ions of the tetrahedrons form bonds with other
elements, such as iron or magnesium. Olivine is an example. Most silicate miner-
als, however, are formed by the sharing of an oxygen ion between two adjacent
tetrahedrons. In this way, the tetrahedrons form a larger ionic unit, just as beads
are joined to form a necklace.The sharing of oxygen ions by the silicon ions results
in several fundamental configurations of tetrahedral groups. These structures de-
fine the major silicate mineral groups:
1. Isolated tetrahedrons (example: olivine)
2. Single chains (example: pyroxene)
3. Double chains (example: amphibole)
4. Two-dimensional sheets (examples: micas, chlorite, and clays)
5. Three-dimensional frameworks (examples: feldspars and quartz)
The unmatched electrons of the silicate tetrahedron are balanced by various metal
ions, such as ions of calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and iron. The sil-
icate minerals thus contain silicon-oxygen tetrahedrons linked in various patterns
Crystal Models by metal ions. Considerable ionic substitution can occur in the crystal structure. For
example, sodium can substitute for calcium, or iron can substitute for magnesium.
Minerals of a major silicate group can thus differ chemically from one another but
have a common silicate structure.

Si

FIGURE 3.18 The silicon-oxygen tetrahedron is the basic building block of the silicate minerals. In
this figure, the diagram on the right is expanded to show the position of the small silicon atom. Four large
oxygen ions are arranged in the form of a pyramid (tetrahedron), with a small silicon ion covalently
bonded into the central space between them. This is the most important building block in geology
because it is the basic unit for 95% of the minerals in Earth’s crust.
 Minerals 71

Isolated Single chain Double chain

Two-dimensional sheet Three-dimensional framework

FIGURE 3.19 Silicon-oxygen tetrahedral groups can form various structures by the sharing of oxygen
ions among silicon ions. A small silicon ion lies at the center of each tetrahedral unit. In general, various types
of metal ions complete the mineral structure; they are not shown here.

ROCK-FORMING MINERALS

Fewer than 20 kinds of minerals account for the great bulk of Earth’s crust
and upper mantle. The most common silicate minerals are feldspars, quartz,
micas, olivine, pyroxenes, amphiboles, and clay minerals. Important nonsili-
cates are calcite, dolomite, halite, and gypsum.

Most of Earth’s crust and upper mantle are composed of silicate minerals in which
the common elements—such as iron, magnesium, sodium, calcium, potassium,
and aluminum—combine with silicon and oxygen.The identification of these min-
erals presents some special problems. Rock-forming minerals rarely have well-
developed crystal faces because (1) they grow by crystallization from melts (e.g.,
magmas) or from aqueous solutions (e.g., seawater) and vigorously compete for
space; (2) they are abraded as they are transported as sediment; or (3) they are
deformed under high temperature and pressure. In addition, most rock-forming
mineral grains are small, generally less than the size of your little fingernail, so
their physical properties may be difficult to see without a hand lens or microscope.
Further complications arise because most rock-forming mineral groups have
variable compositions attributable to ionic substitution in the crystal structure.
As a result, color, hardness, and other physical properties may be variable.
72 Chapter 3

It is important for you to become familiar with the general characteristics of

each of the major rock-forming mineral groups (feldspars, quartz, micas, olivines,
pyroxenes, amphiboles, clays, calcite, dolomite, halite, and gypsum) and to know
something about their physical properties, their mode of origin, the environment
in which they form, and their genetic significance. Some of the characteristics of
these, as well as other important but less common minerals, are listed in Table 3.3.
You will find the following summary of each mineral group to be much more mean-
ingful if you examine a specimen of a rock containing the mineral while you study
the written description.
A careful examination of the minerals that make up granite is a good beginning.
The polished surface of granite (Figure 3.20) shows that the rock is composed of
myriad mineral grains of different sizes, shapes, and colors. Although the minerals
interlock to form a tight, coherent mass, each has distinguishing properties.

Felsic Silicate Minerals

One large group of silicate minerals includes the major constituents of continen-
tal crust: feldspars and quartz.These are commonly known as felsic minerals. (They
are sometimes called sialic because they are rich in silicon and aluminum.) In
addition to being the major constituents of continental crust, the felsic minerals
also have low densities and crystallize at low temperatures in magmas.
Feldspars are the most abundant minerals in granite, a common crustal rock.The
granite in Figure 3.20 consists largely of a pink, porcelainous mineral that has a rec-
tangular form and a milky-white mineral that is somewhat smaller but similarly
shaped. These are feldspars (German, “field crystals”), the most abundant miner-
als in Earth's crust, comprising about 50%.The feldspars have good cleavage in two
directions, a porcelainous luster, and a hardness of about 6 on the Mohs hardness
scale. The crystal structure involves a complex three-dimensional framework of
silicate tetrahedrons (Figure 3.19). Considerable ionic substitution gives rise to
two major types of feldspars: potassium feldspar (K-feldspar) and plagioclase
feldspar. Potassium feldspar (KAlSi3O8) is commonly pink in granitic rocks. Pla-
gioclase feldspar (shown in gray in the sketch) permits complete substitution of
sodium (Na) for calcium (Ca) in the crystal structure, giving rise to a composi-
tional range from NaAlSi3O8 to CaAl2Si2O8. Moreover, most grains of plagioclase
have distinctive, closely spaced striations on their cleavage planes. Plagioclase in
granite is rich in sodium. Feldspars (with a density of 2.7 g/cm3) are common in most
igneous rocks, in many metamorphic rocks, and in some sedimentary rocks. Con-
sequently, the continental crust has a characteristically low density (ranging from
2.6 to 2.7 g/cm3), controlled by the shear abundance of feldspar and quartz.
Quartz forms the glassy, irregularly shaped grains in Figure 3.20. It usually grows
in the spaces between the other minerals.As a result, quartz in granite typically lacks
well-developed crystal faces.When quartz crystals are able to grow freely, their form
is elongated, has six sides, and terminates in a point, but well-formed crystals are
rarely found in rocks. In sandstone, quartz is abraded into rounded sand grains.
Quartz is abundant in all three major rock types. It has the simple composition
SiO2 and is distinguished by its hardness (7), its conchoidal fracture, and its glassy
luster. Pure quartz crystals are colorless, but slight impurities produce a variety of
colors. Quartz is made of silicate tetrahedrons linked together in a tight frame-
work. All of the bonds are between Si and O; it includes no other elements. As a
result, quartz is very hard, and, because all of the bonds have the same strength,
it lacks cleavage. Quartz is stable both mechanically (it is very hard and lacks
cleavage) and chemically (it does not react with elements at or near Earth’s sur-
face). It is therefore a difficult mineral to alter or break down once it has formed.
Micas are the tiny black, shiny grains in Figure 3.20. These distinctive min-
erals are potassium aluminum silicates. Micas are readily recognized by their per-
fect one-directional cleavage, which permits breakage into thin, elastic flakes. Mica
is a complex silicate with a sheet structure, which is responsible for its perfect
 Minerals 73

TABLE 3.3 Earth’s Common Minerals

Name Composition Cleavage/ Color Hardness Density Comments
Fracture (g/cm3)
Amphibole Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2 Two at 60° and 120° Black to green 5–6 3.2

Aluminum ore,
Bauxite AlO(OH) One perfect White 6.5 3.4
mineral diaspore
Emerald is gem variety
Beryl Be3Al2Si6O18 One poor Green, blue, red 8 2.7
Hexagonal prisms
Biotite K(Mg,Fe)3AlSi3O10(OH)2 One perfect Black to dark brown 2.5–3 3 Splits into thin sheets
Three perfect
Calcite CaCO3 Colorless, white 3 2.7 Bubbles in dilute acid
Rhombohedral
Brassy, golden yellow
Chalcopyrite CuFeS2 Fracture 4 4.3 Copper ore
Metallic luster

Chlorite (Mg,Fe)5Al2Si3O10(OH)8 One perfect Green 2 2.5 Foliated masses

Clay Al2Si2O5(OH)4 One perfect White to brown 2 2.0–2.5 Common in soils

Corundum Al2O3 Fracture Brown or blue 9 4 Rubies and sapphires

Transparent
Diamond C Fractures 10 3.5 Hardest mineral known
Adamantine luster
Bubbles in acid when
Dolomite CaMg(CO3)2 Three perfect Transparent to white 3.5–4 2.8
powdered
Transparent, green,
Fluorite CaF2 Perfect 4 3.2 Fluorine ore
purple, yellow
Three perfect Black to silver
Galena PbS 2.5 7.6 Lead ore
Cubic Metallic luster
Conchoidal Red to brown
Garnet Ca3Al2Si3O12 6.5–7 3.6
fracture Vitreous luster

Graphite C One perfect Black 1–2 2.1 Compare with diamond

One perfect
Gypsum CaSO4•2H2O Transparent to white 2 2.3 Used in plasterboard
Two good
Three perfect
Halite NaCl Transparent to white 2.5 2.2 Table salt
Cubic
Red to silvery gray
Hematite Fe2O3 None 6 5.3 Iron ore
Metallic or earthy
White to gray
K-feldspar KAlSi3O8 Two at right angles 6 2.6
or pink
One perfect
Kyanite Al2SiO5 White to light blue 5–7 3.6 Long-bladed aggregates
One poor
Conchoidal Black
Magnetite Fe3O4 6 5.2 Magnetic
Irregular Metallic luster
Colorless to
Muscovite KAl3Si3O10(OH)2 One perfect 2–2.5 2.8 Splits into translucent sheets
light brown

Olivine (Mg,Fe)2SiO4 Conchoidal Green to brown 6.5 3.4 Gem peridot

NaAlSi3O8 Striations on cleavage planes
Plagioclase Two at right angles White to gray 6 2.7
CaAl2Si2O8 Most common mineral at surface
Brassy to golden Fool’s gold; well-formed cubes
Pyrite FeS2 Uneven fractures 6.5 5
yellow common
Two at about 90° Green to dark
Pyroxene (Mg,Fe)SiO3 6 3.3
brown or black
Colorless, also
Quartz SiO2 Conchoidal fracture 7 2.7 Six-sided elongate crystals
gray, purple, other
Splintery fracture Green to brown
Serpentine Mg6Si4O10(OH)8 2.5 2.5
Asbestos fibrous Silky or waxy luster

Sillimanite Al2SiO5 One perfect Colorless to white 6–7 3.2 Long, slender crystals

Staurolite Fe2Al9Si4O22(OH)2 One poor Brown to red 7 3.8

Talc Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 One perfect White to light green 1 2.8 Soft, soapy masses
Complex hydrous Colorless to light Earthy, but may form
Zeolite One perfect 4–5 2.2
silicates green radiating crystals in cavities
74 Chapter 3

Quartz

Plagioclase

(A) A polished surface of a granite,

shown at actual size, displays mineral
grains of different sizes, shapes, and Potassium
colors. Feldspar

Biotite

Quartz

Plagioclase

Potassium
Feldspar

Biotite

(B) An exploded diagram of (A)

shows the relative size and the shape
of individual mineral grains.

FIGURE 3.20 Mineral grains in a granite, a common rock in continental crust, form a tight, interlocking texture because each mineral is forced to
compete for space as it grows. The most common minerals in granite are the felsic minerals: quartz, plagioclase feldspar, and potassium feldspar.

cleavage. Two common varieties occur in rocks: muscovite [KAl3Si3O10(OH)2],

which is white or colorless and is found along with felsic minerals, and biotite
[K(Mg, Fe)3Si3AlO10(OH)2], a black mica, rich in iron and magnesium that
belongs to the category of mafic minerals discussed below. Both types of mica con-
tain water in the form of hydroxyl ions (OH–). The densities of these minerals are
also distinctive, with biotite (about 3 g/cm3) denser than muscovite (about 2.8
g/cm3). Mica is abundant in granites and in many metamorphic rocks and is also
a significant constituent of many sedimentary rocks.

Mafic Silicate Minerals

Another category of silicate minerals is the mafic minerals, so named because they
contain much magnesium and iron. These minerals contrast with felsic minerals
and generally range from dark green to black and have high densities. Biotite is clas-
sified in this general group, together with the olivine, pyroxene, and amphibole.
 Minerals 75

Plagioclase Olivine

(A) In a hand specimen, only a few large grains of green olivine can be
seen. The dark spots are gas bubbles frozen into the once molten rock.

Plagioclase Olivine

Pyroxene Glass
Pyroxene

Glass bubble
(B) Viewed through a microscope, the mineral grains form an
interlocking texture. Plagioclase feldspar crystals typically form small (C) An exploded diagram of (B) shows the size and shape of individual
lathlike grains between the mafic minerals. mineral grains.

FIGURE 3.21 Mineral grains in basalt are microscopic and are dominated by mafic minerals. Basalt is a mafic volcanic rock common in the
oceanic crust.

In granite, biotite is common, but the other mafic minerals are rare or absent.
The mafic minerals are common, however, in Earth’s mantle and in oceanic
crust. They generally crystallize at higher temperatures and have higher densities
than felsic minerals. Let us examine basalt, a common mafic volcanic rock, to see
what these minerals are like (Figure 3.21).
Olivine is the only mineral clearly visible in the hand specimen in Figure 3.21; it
is a green, glassy mineral. Olivine is a silicate in which iron and magnesium substi-
tute freely in the crystal structure. The composition is expressed as (Mg,Fe)2SiO4.
Olivine is composed of isolated Si-O tetrahedrons linked together by magnesium or
iron ions (Figure 3.19).This hard mineral is characterized by an olive-green color (if
magnesium is abundant) and a glassy luster. In rocks, it rarely forms crystals larger
than a millimeter in diameter. Like most mafic minerals, olivine has a relatively
high density (about 3.3 g/cm3) and typically forms at high temperatures. It is proba-
bly a major constituent of the upper mantle. At depths of about 400 km in the
mantle, olivine is no longer stable and recrystallizes to form an even denser miner-
al with the same elemental composition.
Pyroxenes are high-temperature minerals also found in many mafic rocks in
the crust and mantle. In Figure 3.21, pyroxene occurs as microscopic crystals, but
some basalts contain larger grains of this mineral, which typically range from dark
76 Chapter 3

FIGURE 3.22 Amphibole crystals were among the first to crystallize in this “granitic” rock and
therefore have well-developed crystal faces. The largest grain is about 3 cm long.

green to black.Their internal structure consists of single chains of linked Si-O tetra-
hedrons (Figure 3.19). Pyroxene crystals commonly have two directions of cleav-
age that intersect at right angles.
Amphiboles (Figure 3.22) have much in common with the pyroxenes.Their chem-
ical compositions are similar, except that amphiboles contain hydroxyl ions (OH–)
and pyroxenes do not. The minerals also differ in structure. The internal structure
consists of double chains of silicon-oxygen tetrahedrons (Figure 3.19). The amphi-
boles produce elongate crystals that cleave perfectly in two planes, which are not at
right angles. Amphibole ranges from green to black. This mineral is common in
many igneous and metamorphic rocks. Hornblende [NaCa(Mg,Fe)5AlSi7O22(OH)2]
is the most common variety of amphibole. The density of a typical amphibole is
about 3.2 g/cm3.
A dangerous form of amphibole is asbestos, once used widely to make fireproof
fabrics, tiles, and as insulation in buildings. Miners working in old dusty mines be-
came sick as small cleavage fragments of a specific type of this mineral became
lodged in their lungs, especially in conjunction with cigarette smoking.The incidence
of this noncancerous lung disease in modern mines with dust controls is much lower.
Fortunately, most asbestos used in construction consists of an entirely different min-
eral, and the hazard to people is much less than commonly supposed.

Clay Minerals
The clay minerals form another important group of silicate minerals. They are a
major part of the soil and are thus encountered more frequently in everyday ex-
perience than many other minerals. Clay minerals form at Earth’s surface, where
air and water react with various silicate minerals, breaking them down to form clay
and other products. Like the micas, the clay minerals are sheet silicates (Figure
3.19), but their crystals are usually microscopic and are most easily detected with
an electron microscope (Figure 3.15). More than a dozen clay minerals can be
distinguished on the basis of their crystal structures and variations in composition.
A common clay mineral, kaolinite, has the formula Al4Si4O10(OH)8 and a low
density of about 2.6 g/cm3.
 Minerals 77

Nonsilicate Minerals
Some important rock-forming minerals are not silicate minerals. Most of these
minerals are carbonates or sulfates and typically form at low temperatures and
pressures near Earth’s surface.
Calcite is composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), the principal mineral in
limestone. It can precipitate directly from seawater or is removed from seawa-
ter by organisms as they use it to make their shells. Calcite is dissolved by ground-
water and reprecipitated as new crystals in caves and fractures in rock. It is usu-
ally transparent or white, but the aggregates of calcite crystals that form
limestone contain various impurities that give them gray or brown hues. Calcite
is common at Earth’s surface and is easy to identify. It is soft enough (hardness
of 3) to scratch with a knife, and it effervesces in dilute hydrochloric acid. It has
perfect cleavage in three planes, which are not at right angles, so that cleaved
fragments form rhombohedra (see Figure 3.9). Besides being the major con-
stituent of limestone, calcite is the major mineral in the metamorphic rock mar-
ble. Calcite has a density of about 2.7 g/cm3.
Dolomite is a carbonate of calcium and magnesium [CaMg(CO3)2]. Large crys-
tals form rhombohedra, but most dolomite occurs as granular masses of small crys-
tals. Dolomite is widespread in sedimentary rocks, forming when calcite reacts
with solutions of magnesium carbonate in seawater or groundwater. Dolomite can
be distinguished from calcite because it effervesces in dilute hydrochloric acid
only if it is in powdered form. Dolomite has a density of nearly 2.9 g/cm3.
Halite and gypsum are the two most common minerals formed by evaporation
of seawater or saline lake water. Halite, common salt (NaCl), is easily identified
by its taste. It also has one of the simplest of all crystal structures; the sodium
and chloride ions form a cubical array. Most physical properties of halite are
related to this structure. Halite crystals cleave in three planes, at right angles, to
form cubic or rectangular fragments (Figure 3.9). Salt, of course, is very soluble
and readily dissolves in water.
Gypsum is composed of calcium sulfate and water (CaSO4·2H2O). It forms crys-
tals that are generally colorless, with a glassy or silky luster. It is a very soft miner-
al and can be scratched easily with a fingernail. It cleaves perfectly in one plane to
form thin, nonelastic plates (Figure 3.10). See the GeoLogic discussion at the end
of the chapter for more information about the internal structure of gypsum. Gyp-
sum occurs as single crystals, as aggregates of crystals in compact masses (alabaster),
and as a fibrous form (satin spar).
Oxide minerals lack silicon as well and include several economically important
iron oxides, such as magnetite and hematite (Table 3.3). Magnetite is particularly
interesting because it is one of only a very few minerals that are naturally magnetic.
A wide variety of other minerals have been identified, including silicates,
carbonates, oxides, sulfides, and sulfates. There are literally thousands of natu-
rally formed minerals; some seem rare and exotic because of their color, crys-
tal form, and hardness, and others seem more mundane because they occur as
minor constituents in common rocks. Some we consider precious, such as gold,
silver, diamonds, and rubies; others are important in high technology. In addi-
tion to providing documents of Earth’s history, minerals are at the foundation
of all human societies—from pre-Paleolithic times, in which minerals were used
for tools, to modern technological societies that require vast amounts of met-
als and construction materials.
 GeoLogic Internal Structure of Minerals

Gypsum (CaSO4¥2H2O) (1 cm across). Cleavage

planes look like topographic steps

Gypsum seen with scanning tunneling microscope (15 nanometers

across). Individual sulfate ions seen as hills in precise geometric
arrangement. Lighter area is an atom high "plateau," magnified
from the sheets seen in the cleavage planes.

Gypsum seen with scanning electron microscope

(150 microns across). Cleavage planes still visible
as plateaus separating different cleavage sheets.

Atomic model of the internal sturctue of gypsum.

Calcium ions (blue) are linked to sulfate groups (sulfur yellow
and oxygen red). Sulfur-oxygen bonds are strong and covalent.
Cleavage planes are created by weak bonds between these tightly
Gypsum seen with atomic force microscope (10 microns bonded sheets. The layers are bound together by weak hydrogen
across). Each cleavage sheet consists of even thinner bonds. (Hydrogens are small and pink.)
layers.

(Images courtesy of Dirk Bosbach and Barry Bickmore )

Seeing is believing—a phrase we often use to discount the shows the “smooth surface” is a series of humps and
unseeable. But how can we understand the internal struc- swales—individual groups of atoms—packed into a precise
ture of minerals at the atomic scale where distances are geometric network. The “step” shown in brighter colors is
measured in nanometers (10-9 m)? These images take you one atomic layer thick and lies on top of other similar lay-
on a tour through inner space, from the surface of a miner- ers below it.
al into its deep interior.
Interpretations
Observations The last step of the journey is not a real image, but rather
1. At the lowest magnification with an optical microscope, an interpretive model that has been constructed from the
you can see the nature of a cleavage plane in gypsum—a information gleaned by studying the other images and from
smooth lustrous break. X-ray diffractometry. Each group of atoms is bound to-
2. If we zoom in closer with a scanning electron microscope, gether by a strong electrical charge emanating from a cloud
you can see that the cleavage plane is not quite as smooth of electrons. This electron cloud gives the atomic groups
as it first looked, but you can still see broad flat plateaus. their shapes in the images. Finally, the images and mea-
3. Zooming in closer with an atomic force microscope, we surements show us that the physical properties of a mineral
can see that the planar structure is preserved at the micron are controlled by its internal atomic structure. For exam-
scale (10-6 m). You can see that the mineral grew as a series ple, strong bonds form hard minerals and where weak
of layers controlled by its internal structure. Each “layer” bonds are aligned like those between the hydrogen ions
has a relatively smooth surface but is only a molecule thick. shown in the model, the mineral cleaves easily in that
4. At even higher resolution, the atomic force microscope direction.

78
 Minerals 79

KEY TERMS
amorphous solid (p. 57) crystal form (p. 64) isotope (p. 56) plagioclase (p. 72)
amphibole (p.76) crystallization (p. 67) liquid (p. 57) polymorphism (p. 62)
atom (p. 54) crystal structure (p. 57) luster (p. 65) proton (p. 55)
atomic mass (p. 55) density (p. 65) mafic mineral (p. 74) pyroxene (p. 75)
atomic number (p. 55) dolomite (p. 77) magnetism (p. 66) quartz (p. 72)
biotite (p. 74) electron (p. 55) melt (p. 68) recrystallization (p. 69)
calcite (p. 77) feldspar (p. 72) metallic bond (p. 57) silicates (p. 70)
clay mineral (p. 76) felsic minerals (p. 72) metastable (p. 66) silicon-oxygen tetrahedron
cleavage (p. 64) gas (p. 58) mica (p. 72) (p. 70)
color (p. 65) gypsum (p. 77) mineral (p. 59) solid (p. 57)
compound (p. 56) halite (p. 77) muscovite (p. 74) stability range (p. 66)
conchoidal fracture (p. 64) hardness (p. 65) neutron (p. 55) stable (p. 66)
covalent bond (p. 56) ion (p. 56) nucleus (p. 54) streak (p. 66)
crystal (p. 61) ionic bond (p. 56) olivine (p. 75) X-ray diffraction (p. 60)
crystal faces (p. 64) ionic substitution (p. 62) oxide mineral (p. 77)

REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Contrast atoms, ions, and isotopes. 11. Why is color of little use in identifying minerals? What are
2. Give a brief but adequate definition of a mineral. some better diagnostic properties?
3. Explain the meaning of “the internal structure of a mineral.” 12. What are silicate minerals? List the silicate minerals that
4. Why does a mineral have a definite chemical composition? are most abundant in rocks.
5. What other common element might substitute for Ca in a 13. Why are feldspars so abundant in Earth’s crust?
plagioclase feldspar? Why? 14. Construct a table listing the distinguishing characteristics of
6. How do geologists identify minerals too small to be seen in quartz, feldspar, biotite, amphibole, pyroxene, mica, and
a hand specimen? clay.
7. Briefly explain how minerals grow and are destroyed. 15. Study Figure 3.20, and explain why most of the mineral
8. Explain the origin of cleavage in minerals. grains in a granite have an irregular shape even though they
9. Describe the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron. Why is it impor- still have an orderly atomic structure.
tant in the study of minerals? 16. What is the difference between a mineral and a rock?
10. Discuss the implications of a mineral’s limited stability
range for the kinds of minerals found at progressively
greater depths in Earth’s mantle.

ADDITIONAL READINGS
Deer, W. A., R. A. Howie, and J. Zussman. 1992. An Introduc- Perkins, D. 2001. Mineralogy, 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.:
tion to the Rock-Forming Minerals, 2nd ed. New York: Wiley. Prentice Hall.
Klein, C. 2002. Manual of Mineral Science (after J. D. Dana), Riciutti, E. R. 1998. National Audubon First Field Guide to
22nd ed. New York: Wiley. Rocks and Minerals. New York: Scholastic.
Mackenzie, W. S., and A. E. Adams. 1994. A Color Atlas of Rocks
and Minerals in Thin Section. New York: Halstead Press.
Nesse, W. D. 2000. Introduction to Mineralogy. New York:
Oxford University Press.

MULTIMEDIA TOOLS
Earth’s Dynamic Systems Website Earth’s Dynamic Systems CD
The Companion Website at www.prenhall.com/hamblin Examine the CD that came with your text. It is designed
provides you with an on-line study guide and addition- to help you visualize and thus understand the concepts
al resources for each chapter, including: in this chapter. It includes:
• On-line Quizzes (Chapter Review, Visualizing Geology, • Animations showing the three-dimensional atomic structures
Quick Review, Vocabulary Flash Cards) with instant feedback of common silicate and nonsilicate minerals
• Quantitative Problems • Video clips of mineral growth
• Critical Thinking Exercises • A direct link to the Companion Website
• Web Resources