MINERALS

What Is A Mineral? A naturally occurring inorganic solid

Formed by natural processes Not life processes

Definite chemical composition Element or compounds

Orderly arrangement of atoms Crystalline solids Pattern repeated over and over again

Crystal A solid in which the atoms are arranged in

orderly, repeating patterns Magma

Crystal size depends on rate of cooling Solution

Evaporation Hydrothermal deposit

Recrystalization

Mineraloid Naturally occurring, inorganic sold with

characteristic chemical composition Does NOT have crystalline structure

Silicates Most common rock forming minerals Contain Si and O

Most abundant in the crust Form from silicon-oxygen tetrahedra

Carbonates Second most common mineral group

Contain carbonate polyatomic ion and a metal ion (or two)

Example: calcite Often used in construction

Oxides Contain oxygen and one or more other

element (often metal) Example: rutile (TiO2) Example: corundum (Al2O3) LINK

May be ores

Sulfates and Sulfides Contain the sulfate ion (SO4 -2) or sulfide (S-

2) Common in hydrothermal or evaporite

deposits Example: gypsum (CaSO4 * 2H2O) Example: sphalerite (ZnS)

Halides Contain a halogen (group 17) ion and at

least one other element Often evaporites Example: Halite (NaCl) Example: Fluorite (CaF2)

Native elements Elements found in pure form (or nearly

pure) Often from hydrothermal deposits Example: Native copper