CHAPTER 3 MATTER AND MINERALS
Feb 23, 2016
CHAPTER 3 MATTER AND
MINERALS
MINERALS: BUILDING BLOCKS OF ROCKS By definition a mineral is
Naturally occurringInorganic solidOrdered internal molecular structure
Definite chemical composition Rock
A solid aggregate of minerals
COMPOSITION OF MINERALS Elements
Basic building blocks of mineralsOver 100 are known (92 naturally occurring)
AtomsSmallest particles of matterRetains all the characteristics of an element
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON ELELMENTS ON EARTH? oxygen is the big dog in town - it accounts for
46.6% of the earth's crust by mass (and 94% of it by volume!).
silicon at 27.7% of the crust by mass, we come up with the astounding realization that nearly 75% of the earth's crust is composed of silicon and oxygen. Wow!
The other six (6) elements are: Aluminum . . . . . 8.1% Iron . . . . . . . 5.0% Calcium. . . . . . 3.6% Sodium . . . . . . 2.8% Potassiun. . . . . 2.6% Magnesium. . . . . 2.1%
MOST COMMON MINERALS ON EARTH
SILICATES Silicates Consists of a small silicon atom with a
+4 charge surrounded in tetrahedral fashion by four larger oxygen atoms each having a -2 charge.
Net charge on the anion group is -4. To satisfy this charge deficiency the SiO4 tetrahedra can either bond with cations (Fe, Mg, Ca, K, Na) or join with other SiO4 tetrahedra through oxygen sharing.
TETRAHEDRON
TOP 10 MOST COMMON MINERALS The Common Rock Forming Minerals
Feldspar (silicate) Quartz (silicate) Muscovite (silicate)
Ferromagnesians Olivine (silicate) Pyroxene (silicate) Amphibole (silicate) Biotite (silicate) Muscovite (silicate) Calcite (not a silicate)
COMPOSITION OF MINERALS Atomic structure
Central region called the nucleusConsists of protons (+ charges) and neutrons (- charges)
ElectronsNegatively charged particles that surround the nucleus
Located in discrete energy levels called shells or valences.
STRUCTURE OF AN ATOM
Figure 3.4 A
The maximum number of electrons that an atom can have in it’s valence shell is 8 it is not balanced until it has eight in it’s outer shell.
The number of electrons in its valence shell corresponds to its group on the periodic chart.
Things to remember from chemistry:
1. The nucleus of an atom is composed of _________ and __________
2. The atomic number is the same as the number of __________
3. A chemical element is defined by its number of __________
4. Atomic Mass is the mass of the ______ and _____ of an atom.
COMPOSITION OF MINERALS
Chemical or Covalent bondingFormation of a compound by combining two or more elements in other words the electrons are_______.
Ionic bondingAtoms gain or lose outermost or ________electrons to form ions
Ionic compounds consist of an orderly arrangement of oppositely charged ions called ________
HALITE (NACL) – AN EXAMPLE OF IONIC
BONDING
Figure 3.6
ANOTHER NAME FOR HALITE IS ________ It has an ionic bond As we know this bond
is not strong since we can easily dissolve it in water.
COMPOSITION OF MINERALS
Covalent bondingAtoms share electrons to achieve electrical neutrality
Generally ________than ionic bonds
Both ionic and covalent bonds typically occur in the same compound
COVALENT BONDING
Figure 3.7
COMPOSITION OF MINERALS
Other types of bondingMetallic bonding
Valence electrons are free to migrate among atoms
Weaker and less common than other bonds
ISOTOPES : COMPOSITION OF MINERALS
Isotopes and radioactive decayMass number = sum of neutrons + protons in an atom
_________= atom that exhibits variation in its mass number
Unstable _________emit particles and energy in a process known as radioactive decay
STRUCTURE OF MINERALS
Minerals consist of an orderly array of _________chemically bonded to form a particular crystalline structure (meaning orderly)
Internal atomic arrangement in ionic compounds is determined by ionic size
GEOMETRIC PACKING OF VARIOUS IONS
Figure 3.8
STRUCTURE OF MINERALS
PolymorphsMinerals with the same composition but different crystalline structures
Examples include diamond and graphite
Phase change = one polymorph changing into another
DIAMOND AND GRAPHITE – POLYMORPHS OF CARBON
Figure 3.10
PART 2 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
OF MINERALS
Primary diagnostic propertiesDetermined by observation or performing a simple test
Several physical properties are used to identify hand samples of minerals
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MINERALS
Crystal formExternal expression of a mineral’s internal structure
Often interrupted due to competition for space and rapid loss of heat
A GARNET CRYSTAL
CUBIC CRYSTALS OF PYRITE
Figure 3.11 A
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MINERALS
__________Appearance of a mineral in reflected light
Two basic categories____________________
Other descriptive terms include vitreous (glassy), silky, or earthy
GALENA (PBS) DISPLAYS METALLIC LUSTER
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MINERALS
ColorGenerally unreliable for mineral identification
Often highly variable due to slight changes in mineral chemistry
Exotic colorations of certain minerals produce gemstones
QUARTZ (SIO2) EXHIBITS A VARIETY OF COLORS
Figure 3.26
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MINERALS
_________Color of a mineral in its powdered form
_________Resistance of a mineral to abrasion or scratching
All minerals are compared to a standard scale called the Mohs scale of hardness
STREAK IS OBTAINED ON AN UNGLAZED PORCELAIN
PLATE
Figure 3.12
Mohs scale of
hardnessFigure 3.13
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MINERALS
CleavageTendency to break along planes of weak bonding
Produces flat, shiny surfacesDescribed by resulting geometric shapesNumber of planesAngles between adjacent planes
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MINERALS CONTINUED Cleavage is described in terms of how easy
the cleavage is produced. From easiest to hardest to produce the terms are:
perfect, imperfect, good, distinct, indistinct, and poor
Common cleavagedirection
sFigure 3.15
FLUORITE, HALITE, AND CALCITE ALL EXHIBIT PERFECT CLEAVAGE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MINERALS
_________Absence of cleavage when a mineral is broken
_________Weight of a mineral / weight of an equal volume of water
Average value = 2.7
CONCHOIDAL FRACTURE
Figure 3.16
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MINERALS
Other propertiesMagnetismReaction to hydrochloric acidMalleabilityDouble refractionTasteSmellElasticity
MINERAL GROUPS Nearly 4000 minerals have been named Rock-forming minerals
Common minerals that make up most of the rocks of Earth’s crust
Only a few dozen membersComposed mainly of the 8 elements that make up over 98% of the continental crust
ELEMENTAL ABUNDANCES IN CONTINENTAL CRUST
Figure 3.18
MINERAL GROUPS Silicates
Most important mineral groupComprise most rock-forming minerals
Very abundant due to large % of silicon and oxygen in Earth’s crust
Silicon-oxygen tetrahedronFundamental building blockFour oxygen ions surrounding a much smaller silicon ion
Two illustrations
of theSi–O
tetrahedronFigure 3.19
MINERAL GROUPS Joining silicate structures
• Single tetrahedra are linked together to form various structures including
Isolated tetrahedraRing structuresSingle and double chain structuresSheet or layered structuresComplex 3-dimensional structures
THREE TYPES OF SILICATE STRUCTURES
Figure 3.21
MINERAL GROUPS Common silicate minerals
Light silicates: Feldspar groupMost common mineral groupExhibit two directions of perfect cleavage at 90 degrees
Orthoclase (potassium feldspar) and Plagioclase (sodium and calcium feldspar) are the two most common members
POTASSIUM FELDSPAR
Figure 3.24
PLAGIOCLASE FELDSPAR
Figure 3.25
MINERAL GROUPS Common silicate minerals
Light silicates: QuartzOnly common silicate composed entirely of oxygen and silicon
Hard and resistant to weatheringConchoidal fractureOften forms hexagonal crystals
MINERAL GROUPS Common silicate minerals
Light silicates: MuscoviteCommon member of the mica family
Excellent cleavage in one directionProduces the “glimmering” brilliance often seen in beach sand
MINERAL GROUPS Common silicate minerals
Light silicates: Clay mineralsClay is a general term used to describe a variety of complex minerals
Clay minerals all have a sheet or layered structure
Most originate as products of chemical weathering
MINERAL GROUPS Common silicate minerals
Dark silicates: Olivine groupHigh temperature Fe-Mg silicatesIndividual tetrahedra linked together by iron and magnesium ions
Forms small, rounded crystals with no cleavage
MINERAL GROUPS Common silicate minerals
Dark silicates: Pyroxene groupSingle chain structures involving iron and magnesium
Two distinctive cleavages at nearly 90 degrees
Augite is the most common mineral in the pyroxene group
MINERAL GROUPS Common silicate minerals
Dark silicates: Amphibole groupDouble chain structures involving a variety of ions
Two perfect cleavages exhibiting angles of 124 and 56 degrees
Hornblende is the most common mineral in the amphibole group
HORNBLENDE AMPHIBOLE
Figure 3.27
CLEAVAGE ANGLES FOR AUGITE AND HORNBLENDE
Figure 3.28
MINERAL GROUPS Important nonsilicate minerals
Typically divided into classes based on anions
Comprise only 8% of Earth’s crust
Often occur as constituents in sedimentary rocks
Table 3.2
MINERAL GROUPS Important nonsilicate minerals
CarbonatesPrimary constituents in limestone and dolostone
Calcite (CaCO3) and dolomite CaMg(CO3)2 are the two most important carbonate minerals
MINERAL GROUPS Important nonsilicate minerals
Many nonsilicate minerals have economic value
ExamplesHematite (oxide mined for iron ore)
Halite (halide mined for salt)Sphalerite (sulfide mined for zinc ore)
Native copper (native element mined for copper)
NATIVE COPPER
END OF CHAPTER 3