Minerals

A mineral is a naturally occurring inorganic,

homogenous solid with definite chemical composition
and ordered internal/crystalline structure. They are
considered natural because they are formed by natural
geological process. Minerals are the building blocks of
rocks. These minerals undergo different geological
processes and become part or develop into rocks, in
which case they become known as rock-forming
mineral.
Mineral Characteristics

 Naturally occurring – formed by natural processes

 Inorganic – not alive; does not come from
anything living
 Solid,
crystalline structure – atoms arranged in in a
regular geometric pattern
 Specific
composition – unique chemical formula
(can be an element or compound)
Examples of Minerals
Properties of
Minerals
1. Color is the perceived Examples: Sulfur –
wavelength of light that Pale gold/yellow;
Obsidian – black ;
bounced off from the Feldspar – yellow,
material and is detected white, pink green,
by our eyes. and gray

2. Streak is the color of a

mineral in powdered form.
Minerals show color
differently when ground
into fine powder.
3. Luster is the behavior of
light as it is reflected by
the surface of a mineral.
In the description of luster,
minerals are
characterized as being
metallic or non-metallic.
4. Hardness is the resistance of a mineral
to scratching. In determining hardness,
the mineral is tested by scratching the
surface with a measurable amount of
force.
 Moh’s Hardness Scale
Moh’s Relative Mineral
Hardness
1 Talc
2 Gypsum
3 Calcite
4 Fluorite
5 Apatite
6 Orthoclase feldspar
7 Quartz
8 Topaz
9 Corundum
10 Diamond
5. Cleavage and Fracture
Cleavage
- The tendency of a
Mineral to break evenly
along its weakest plane.

Fracture
- Mineral breaks unevenly
or irregularly.
6. Crystalline structure, also
known as crystal lattice, is the
periodic array of the atoms.
This is a unique arrangement
of atoms in a crystal.

7. Specific gravity is a measure * If a mineral has a

of the density of the mineral. It specific gravity of 5 that
means it is 5 times as
determines how heavy the dense as water.
mineral is by its weight to water.
- The ratio of the density of the mineral
to the density of water (1 g/cm3)
 8. Magnetism indicates the
ability of the mineral to
attract or repel other
Other materials.

Properties 9. Odor is a distinct smell of a

mineral that is usually
released from a chemical
reaction manifested when
the mineral is subjected to
water, heat air, or friction.
 10. Tenacity is the mineral’s
ability to hold its particles
Other together or the material’s
level of resistance to stress
Properties such as bending, breaking,
crushing, or tearing.
Chemical Properties of Minerals

 The chemical properties of minerals show the

presence and arrangement of atoms in minerals.
Using their chemical properties, minerals are
identified by how they react to certain
substances.
 Mineral are grouped based on their common
chemical content and their crystalline structure:

 Silicate
class is the largest group containing silicon and
oxygen with some aluminum, magnesium, iron, and
calcium.
 Carbonateclass is mostly found deposited in marine
environments. They have been formed from the shells of
dead plankton and other marine organisms. The
carbonate class also includes nitrate and borate
minerals.
 Mineral are grouped based on their common
chemical content and their crystalline structure:

 Sulphate class are found in areas with high

evaporation rate, and where salty waters slowly
evaporate. During this process, the formation of
sulphates and halides in water-sediment interface
occur.
 Halide class contains natural salts and includes
fluorite, halite, sylvite, and ammoniac
components.
 Oxide class is perhaps the most important class,
at least in human civilization, as this contains the
metals considered to be valuable. They are
formed as precipitates close to Earth’s surface,
or as oxidation products of minerals during the
process of weathering.

Sulphide class minerals have important metals,

such as copper, lead, and silver, which are
considered economically significant in modern
civilization.
 Phosphate class contains minerals with
phosphorus, antimony, arsenic, and vanadium.
The phosphate class is considered an important
biological mineral found in the teeth and bones
of many animals.

Element class contains pure native elements,

unlike other mineral rocks that are composed of
combinations of chemical elements. This class has
minerals which are usually metals, in naturally
pure form but semimetals like bismuth, arsenic,
and antimony also belong in this class.
Rocks
 Rocks

 Rocks are natural substances consisting of

aggregate minerals clumped together with
other Earth’s materials glued by natural
processes on Earth.
Three Major Types of Rocks:

Igneous rocks

Sedimentary rocks

Metamorphic rocks
 Igneous rocks

 Igneous rocks are formed from the cooling and

solidification of molten or partially molten
volcanic material that came from within Earth
like magma.

Rocks must be heated to temperatures of 800-

1200 degrees Celsius.
 Magmatism

 Magmatism happens when magma is

generated and develops into igneous
(magmatic) rocks. The process can take place
either under the surface or on the surface of
Earth to become part of the crust.
 Two Types of Igneous Rocks
Intrusive Rock Extrusive Rock
 Intrusive Rock forms when  Extrusive Rock forms when
magma cools and solidifies lava cools and solidifies
inside the Earth. outside the Earth’s crust.
 Igneous Rock Classification

 By Mineral Compositions By Texture

 Basaltic: Size, shape and distribution of
crystal
Dark colored, lower
silica contents, Porphyritic Rocks
gabbro Large, well formed
 Granitic: crystals
Light colored, high
silica contents, quartz, Vesicular Rocks
feldspar Spongy appearance
Two causes of heat inside the Earth

1. From Earth’s Molten

Formation.

2. Decay (Breakdown of
radioactive elements
generate thermal energy).
Early Molten Earth
This heat melts rock into magma.
8 Major Elements of Igneous Rocks

1. Oxygen (O)
2. Silicon (Si)
3. Aluminum (Al)
4. Iron (Fe)
5. Magnesium (Mg)
6. Calcium (Ca)
7. Potassium (K)
8. Sodium (Na)
 Sedimentary rocks

 Sedimentary rocks are rocks that have formed

from different materials deposits on Earth’s
surface. Sediments may be precipitates from
evaporation, or also preexisting rocks or piece
of dead organisms that have been lithified of
cemented together but the natural process of
Earth.
 Sediments are made from different
processes:
1. Weathering
Weathering is the breaking down of rocks, soil and
Minerals through contact with the Earth's atmosphere, biota
and waters.
Weathering occurs in situ, or "with no movement.“
2. Erosion
Erosion is the process by which material is
removed from a region of the Earth surface.
 Sediments are made from two
processes:
3. Transport
Transport is the movement of the sediments from one
place to another. Agents that eroded the sediment from their
source may still be the agents that will transport them.
Transport of sediments in the natural environment, and
leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere.
It usually occurs due to transport by wind, water, or ice;
the force of gravity; or by living organisms, such as burrowing
animals, in the case of bio-erosion.
 Formation of Sedimentary Rocks

4. Deposition
Deposition is the settling of the sediments in
an area before they are finally lithified to form
sedimentary rocks.
When transported materials come to rest on
the ground or sink to the bottom of a body of
water, deposition occurs.
 Formation of Sedimentary Rocks

5. Diagenesis
Diagenesis is the group of processes responsible for the
transformation of sediments into sedimentary rocks. Processes
include compaction, cementation, recrystallization, and
bioturbation.
 Metamorphic Rocks

 Metamorphic rocks are rocks that are formed

from igneous or sedimentary rocks that were
exposed to high pressure, high temperature, or
a combination of both, deep below the
surface of Earth.
 Metamorphism

 Metamorphism is the transformation of one

rock to metamorphic rock. The original rock
that has undergone metamorphism is called
the protolith.
 During metamorphism the protolith undergoes
changes in texture of the rock and the mineral
make-up of the rock. These changes take place
mostly in the solid state and are caused by
changes in physical or chemical conditions,
which in turn can be caused by such things as
burial, tectonic stress, heating by magma or
interactions with fluids.
 Factors that Control Metamorphism

1.Heat

2. Pressure
Two Types of Pressure
a.Confining pressure
b. Differential pressure

3. Chemically-active fluids.
 When high temperature and pressure
combine they change…

1. Texture
2. Mineral composition
3. Chemical
composition without
melting.
 Classification of Metamorphic Rocks

1. Foliated: Layers and 2. Non-foliated: Composed

bands of minerals in a mainly of minerals that form
rock. (stripes) blocky crystal shapes.

marble
 Rock Cycle

 The continuous
changing and
remaking of rocks.
Thank you and God bless!