MINERALOGY

MINERALOGY
Mineralogy is the branch of geology which deals with

various aspects related to minerals like mode of
formation, composition, occurrence, association,
properties, uses, etc. There are over 4,900 known
mineral species; over 4,660 of these have been approved
by the (IMA) or International Mineralogical Association.
A mineral is a naturally occurring homogeneous solid
with a definite (but not generally fixed) chemical
composition and a highly ordered atomic arrangement,
usually formed by an inorganic process.
naturally occurring
Means it forms by itself in nature. Human made minerals

are referred to as synthetic minerals.
Homogeneous
means that it is a compound that contains the same
chemical composition throughout, and cannot by
physically separated into more than 1 chemical compound.
solid
means that it is not a gas, liquid, or plasma

with a definite chemical composition
means that the chemical composition can be expressed by

a chemical formula.
highly ordered atomic arrangement
means that the atoms in a mineral are arranged in an

ordered geometric pattern. This ordered arrangement of
atoms is called a crystal structure, and thus all minerals
are crystals. If the crystal structure is different, then
we give the mineral a different name. A solid compound
that meets the other criteria, but does not have a definite
crystal structure is said to be amorphous.
Georgius Agricula
➢ Known as ‘The Father of Mineralogy’

➢ He provided the foundations for the
study of the Earth (and its rocks,
minerals, and fossils), in a
systematic, recorded, way. Agricula
spent a lot of time studying and
observing mining operation.
DIFFERENT METHODS OF STUDYING MINERALS
Every mineral has its own chemical

composition and atomic structure.
Common methods of study for
identification of minerals are
based on their:
* Physical properties
* Chemical properties
* Optical properties
* X-ray analysis
I. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Physical properties of minerals

like color, shine (luster),
hardness (resistance to
scratching), density, cleavage
(tendency of some minerals to
break in certain specified
direction) and etc. can be
studied with mere observation of
small mineral specimens.
III. OPTICAL PROPERTIES
In this method of study, the minerals

are ground very fine and fixed over
glass slides. The properties of
minerals like color, cleavage, shape
and pleochroism (an optical phenomenon
in which a substance has different
colors when observed at different
angles), are studied under polarized
light. Since every mineral has its
own specific chemical composition and
atomic structure, the optical
properties of every mineral are also
distinctive and hence helpful in the
identification of the mineral.
IV. X-RAY ANALYSIS
x-ray analysis makes use of the

definite atomic structure,
found in every mineral. x-rays
are similar to light waves but
have a much shorter wavelength,
comparable to the distances
between atoms in a crystalline
mineral.
PROPERTIES OF MINERALS
- Minerals can be identified by

their physical properties that are
usually used by mineralogists to help
identify a specimen.
-The list of properties is in a
suggested order, progressing from
simple experimentation and observation
to more complicated, either in
procedure or concept.
PROPERTIES OF MINERALS
● Color
● Streak
● Hardness
● Crystalline structure
● Amorphous structure
● Cleavage and Fracture
● Diaphaneity or transparency
● Tenacity
● Magnetism
● Luster
● Odor and Taste
● Specific gravity
1. COLOR
● This is typically the first property

and most basic way of identifying a
mineral, however, it may also be the
most difficult property to identify.
Especially in translucent to
transparent minerals as it has a much
more varied degree of color.
● Color is often unreliable diagnostic
property for two reasons:
>Most minerals are colorless or they
have same color.
>Impurities and trace minerals can
alter the actual color of the mineral.
1. COLOR
1. COLOR
2. STREAK
-also called “powder color” of a mineral.
-it refers to the colored residue left by

the scratch of a mineral on an abrasive
surface.
-useful to distinguish two minerals that

have the same color, but a different streak
- more reliable property of minerals than

color for identification.
- e.g. Distinguishing Gold from Pyrite,

Gold has yellow streak, Pyrite has a
greenish black streak
2. STREAK
3. HARDNESS
-it is the measure of the mineral’s
resistance to scratching.
-For example, if mineral A scratches

mineral B, and mineral B does not
scratch mineral A, then mineral A is
harder than mineral B. If mineral A
and B both scratch each other, then
their hardness is equal.
3. HARDNESS
-A scale to measure hardness was

invented by German geologist and
mineralogist named Frederick Mohs
(1822).
3. HARDNESS
4. Crystalline structure
-The particular shape is determined by

the arrangement of the atoms, molecules
or ions that make up the crystal and how
they are joined. ]
-Crystalline structure is one of the two

types of structural ordering of atoms,
and the other one is amorphous
structure.
Crystalline structure – Particles are

arranged in a repeating pattern.
They have a regular and ordered
arrangement resulting in a definite
shape.
4. Crystalline structure
5. Amorphous structure
–comes from the Greek ámorphos,

meaning “shapeless”. Particles are
arranged randomly. They do not have an
ordered arrangement resulting in
irregular shapes.
5. Amorphous structure
6. Cleavage and fracture
-Cleavage and fracture are used to

describe how minerals break into
pieces.
Cleavage is the tendency of a crystal

to break along smooth, flat planes
of structural weakness.
7. Diaphaneity or transparency
-Diaphaneity is a mineral’s degree of

transparency or ability to allow light
to pass through it. The degree of
transparency may also depend on
the thickness of the mineral.
8. Tenacity
-describes the reaction of mineral

to stress such as crushing,
bending, breaking or tearing.
Certain minerals react differently
to each type of stress. Since
tenacity is composed of several
reactions to various stresses, it is
possible for a mineral to have more
than one type of tenacity.
8. Tenacity
I. Brittle -mineral crumbles to grains or powder when

hammered. -e.g., quartz, calcite, fluorite
II. Sectile - Sectile minerals can be separated with a

knife, much like wax but usually not as soft.
-e.g., Talc, Graphite
III. Malleable - If a mineral can be flattened by pounding

with a hammer, it is malleable. All true metals are malleable.
-e.g., silver, gold
8. Tenacity
IV. Ductile - A mineral that can be stretched into a

wire is ductile. All true minerals are ductile.
-e.g., gold
V. Flexible but inelastic - Any mineral that can be bent, but

remains in the new position after it is bent.
-e.g., copper
VI. Flexible and elastic -When flexible and elastic minerals

are bent, they spring back to their original position. -e.g.,
biotite
9. Magnetism
-several minerals react when placed

within a magnetic field. Some minerals
are attracted to the magnet, others are
weakly attracted, and one mineral is
repelled. There are also several minerals
that are attracted to magnetic fields
only when heated.
-The presence of iron in a mineral is

responsible for the magnetic properties
of minerals in virtually all cases.
-To test a mineral for magnetism, just

put the magnet and mineral together and
see if they are attracted.
10. Luster
-shows how much light is

reflected in a mineral and how
brilliant or dull the mineral is.
-often described as either
metallic or non-metallic.
10. Luster
I. Metallic luster- is for minerals that are opaque and

reflective and have the look of polished metal.
- Some common examples are different pyrites, which
are used to make coins, gold nuggets, and copper.
>Submetallic luster- is one that resembles a metal but, due to

weathering and corrosion, have become less reflective or dull.
Some examples are sphalerite and cinnabar.
10. Luster
II. Non-metallic luster -minerals may be shiny and reflect

light, however, they do not look like a metal.
>Adamantine -Minerals that have remarkable shine and

brilliance and have the hard look of a diamond. These minerals
can be transparent or translucent, and the most popular
examples are found in jewelry and accessory stores: diamonds
and cubic zirconia.
11.Taste and Odor
-Some minerals have a distinctive

taste and some have distinctive odor.
-Only soluble minerals have a taste,

but it is very important that minerals
not be placed in the mouth or on the
tongue. You should not test for this
property in the classroom. -Most
minerals have no odor unless they are
acted upon in one of the following
ways: moistened, heated, breathed
upon, or rubbed.
12. Specific Gravity
-The specific gravity of a mineral is

the ratio of its weight compared to
the weight of an equal volume of
water.

MINERALOGY

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

MINERALOGY

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

MINERALOGY

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

MINERALOGY

Mineralogy is the branch of geology which deals with

Means it forms by itself in nature. Human made minerals

means that it is not a gas, liquid, or plasma

means that the chemical composition can be expressed by

means that the atoms in a mineral are arranged in an

➢ Known as ‘The Father of Mineralogy’

Every mineral has its own chemical

Physical properties of minerals

In this method of study, the minerals

x-ray analysis makes use of the

- Minerals can be identified by

● This is typically the first property

-also called “powder color” of a mineral.

-it refers to the colored residue left by

-useful to distinguish two minerals that

- more reliable property of minerals than

- e.g. Distinguishing Gold from Pyrite,

-For example, if mineral A scratches

-A scale to measure hardness was

-The particular shape is determined by

-Crystalline structure is one of the two

Crystalline structure – Particles are

–comes from the Greek ámorphos,

-Cleavage and fracture are used to

Cleavage is the tendency of a crystal

-Diaphaneity is a mineral’s degree of

-describes the reaction of mineral

I. Brittle -mineral crumbles to grains or powder when

II. Sectile - Sectile minerals can be separated with a

III. Malleable - If a mineral can be flattened by pounding

IV. Ductile - A mineral that can be stretched into a

V. Flexible but inelastic - Any mineral that can be bent, but

VI. Flexible and elastic -When flexible and elastic minerals

-several minerals react when placed

-The presence of iron in a mineral is

-To test a mineral for magnetism, just

-shows how much light is

I. Metallic luster- is for minerals that are opaque and

>Submetallic luster- is one that resembles a metal but, due to

II. Non-metallic luster -minerals may be shiny and reflect

>Adamantine -Minerals that have remarkable shine and

-Some minerals have a distinctive

-Only soluble minerals have a taste,

-The specific gravity of a mineral is

You might also like