Kinds of Minerals

Objectives• Compare the two main groups of minerals• Identify the six types of silicate crystalline structures• Describe three common nonsilicate crystalline structures

• More than 4,000 minerals have been found, but fewer than 20 are common.

• Common minerals are called rock forming minerals

• This is because they form the rocks that make up Earth’s crust.

The two main groups• All minerals can be classified into two main groups• Silicate Minerals• Nonsilicate Minerals

• Their classification is based on the chemical composition of the minerals

Silicate Minerals• Minerals that contain a combination of silicon and oxygen.• This is the most abundant group of minerals• An example would be Quartz

• Silicates can have one or more additional elements as well.• An example is Orthoclase. Orthoclase also contains

potassium.

Nonsilicate Minerals• Minerals that do not contain compounds of silicon and

oxygen.• This category includes all minerals that are not silicates

Nonsilicate Minerals• Broken into 6 major classes• Carbonates – compounds that contain a carbonate group

• Ex: Calcite

Nonsilicate Minerals• Halides – compounds that consist of chlorine or fluorine

combined with sodium, potassium, or calcium• Ex: Halite (sodium chloride or SALT)

Nonsilicate Minerals• Native elements – elements uncombined with other elements

• Ex: Silver (Ag) or Copper (Cu)

Nonsilicate Minerals• Oxides – compounds that contain oxygen and an element other

than silicon.• Ex: Hematite

Nonsilicate Minerals• Sulfates – compounds that contain a sulfate group

• Ex: Anhydrite

Nonsilicate Minerals

• Sulfides – compounds that consist of one or more elements combined with sulfur.• Ex: Pyrite

Crystalline Structure• A crystal is a solid whose atoms are arranged in a regular,

repeating pattern.

• Each mineral has its own unique crystal structure.

Models• Create models with toothpicks and marshmallows of the six

kinds of silicate mineral arrangements and label them!

• If you are unsure, Page #107 in your textbook!