INTRODUCTION TO
MINERALOGY
INTRODUCTION TO MINERALOGY
LEARNING
OUTCOMES
(LO)
What is mineral????
A mineral is a naturally occurring inorganic solid
that possesses a definite chemical structure that gives it a
unique set of physical properties
Ionic bonding One or more electrons are transferred from one atom to another
(Gaining and losing electrons). Ionic compounds consist of oppositely charged
ions assembled in a regular, crystalline structure that allows for the maximum
attraction of ions, given their sizes.
Covalent Bonding
TECHNIQUES TO IDENTIFY
MINERALS
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TRANSPARENCY
CLEAVAGE AND
FRACTURE
STREAK
LUSTRE
CRYSTAL HABIT
(FORM)
HARDNESS
REACTION WITH
ACID
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COLOUR
The colour of a mineral is one of its most
obvious attributes, and is one of the properties that
is always given in any description.
Colour results from a minerals chemical composition,
impurities that may be present, and flaws or damage
in the internal structure.
Beryl - colourless
Quartz purple
Amethyst
Sulphur - yellow
Fluorite - blue
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COLOUR VARIATION IN
MINERALS
LUSTRE
Is the appearance of a mineral surface
in reflected light.
This can be described by the degree of
brightness such as:
Pyrite - metallic
Sulphur - resinous
Malachite - silky
STREAK
The streak of a mineral is the colour of its powder.
The colour is entirely different from their powder.
Crushing and powdering a mineral eliminates some
of the effects of impurities and structural flaws
Streak can be determined for any mineral by crushing it with a
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HARDNESS
Hardness or resistance to abrasion is
a standard scale of ten minerals, known as the
Mohs Scale of Hardness.
TRANSPARENCY
Transparency is the degree to which a mineral allows light to pass through it.
Transparency is described as:
Opaque light is prevented from
passing through the mineral and
nothing can be seen through it.
Examples are orthoclase, magnetite
And hornblende.
Transparent - Minerals which allow
light to pass through fully and objects
on the other side are seen clearly
through the mineral. Examples are
colourless quartz and calcite.
Semi-transparent Minerals which
allow light to pass partially and objects
are seen hazy through the mineral.
Examples are slightly milky white
varieties of quartz and calcite.
Translucent minerals which allow only
some diffused light to pass through.
Examples are milky white varieties of
quartz and calcite.
Orthoclase - opaque
Gypsum - transparent
Quartz semi-transparent
Tanzanite - translucent
CRYSTAL FORM
The crystal faces reflect the internal symmetry of the crystal
structure that makes the mineral unique.
Crystal Systems
with examples
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uneven or irregular.
splintery or fibrous.
curved or conchoidal.
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UNEVEN
CONCHOIDAL
FIBROUS
Figure shows the
cleavage in one, two,
three, four and six
directions of minerals.
CALCITE CLEAVAGE