Mineral Families and Mineral Resources
Jan 13, 2016
Mineral Families and Mineral Resources
Classification of Minerals
•Minerals are classified or grouped into families according to their chemical composition
Mineral Families• Native Elements: consist of a single element
• Halides: consist of a metal plus a halogen (Cl, F, Br)
• Carbonates: consist of a metal and carbonate group (CO3)
• Sulfides: consist of metal and sulfur
• Sulfates: consist of a metal and sulfate group (SO4)
• Oxides: consist of metal and oxygen
• Silicates: consist of silicon and oxygen (SiO4 or SiO2)
examples:•Native Elements: Graphite, and Sulfur
•Halides: halite, fluorite
• Carbonates: Calcite, Dolomite
• Sulfides: Pyrite, Galena
• Sulfates: Gypsum
•Oxides: Magnetite, Hematite
• Silicates: Quartz, olivine, garnet, mica, feldspar, amphibole etc...
Silicates: The largest mineral
family• Largest family of minerals
•most common
• basic unit-tetrahedron
• consists of SiO4
Other facts:
•Rare minerals of great beauty and value are classified as gems (ex: diamonds, rubies)
•Minerals that have a commercial value and use and can be extracted from the earth are ores. These are usually metals. (ex: lead, iron)
•We are studying minerals or mineralogy.