Earth Science,

12e
Minerals: Building
Blocks of Rocks
Chapter 2

Minerals: the building

blocks of rocks
Definition of a mineral

Natural
Inorganic
Solid
Possess an orderly internal structure of atoms
Have a definite chemical composition

Mineraloid lacks an orderly internal

structure

Composition and
structure of minerals
Elements
Basic building blocks of minerals
Over 100 are known

Atoms
Smallest particles of matter
Have all the characteristics of an element

Periodic Table of the

Elements

Figure 2.4

How atoms are constructed

Nucleus central part of an atom that
contains
Protons positive electrical charges
Neutrons neutral electrical charges

Energy levels, or shells

Surround nucleus
Contain electrons negative electrical
charges

Simplified view of the atom

Figure 2.5

How atoms are constructed

Atomic number is the number of protons
in an atoms nucleus
Bonding of atoms
Forms a compound with two or more
elements
Ions are atoms that gain or lose electrons

Isotopes
Have varying number of neutrons

How atoms are constructed

Isotopes
Have different mass numbers the sum of
the neutrons plus protons
Many isotopes are radioactive and emit
energy and particles

Minerals
Physical properties of minerals

Habit
Luster
Color
Streak
Hardness
Cleavage

The mineral quartz often

exhibits good crystal shape

Figure 2.21

Pyrite (fools gold) displays

metallic luster

Figure 2.11

Mohs scale
of hardness
Figure 2.13

Three examples of cleavage

halite, calcite, and fluorite

Figure 2.15 B

Minerals
Physical properties of minerals
Fracture
Specific gravity
Other properties

Taste
Smell
Elasticity
Malleability

Conchoidal fracture

Figure 2.16

Minerals
Physical properties of minerals
Other properties

Feel
Magnetism
Double refraction
Reaction to hydrochloric acid

Minerals
A few dozen minerals are called the rockforming minerals
The eight elements that compose most rockforming minerals are oxygen (O), silicon (Si),
aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), sodium
(Na), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg)
Most abundant atoms in Earths crust are
oxygen (46.6% by weight) and silicon (27.7%
by weight)

Composition of
continental crust

Figure 2.19

Minerals
Mineral groups
Rock-forming silicates
Most common mineral group
Contain the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron (molecule)
Four oxygen atoms surrounding a much
smaller silicon atom
Combines with other atoms to form the various
silicate structures

The silicate (SiO4)4

molecule

Figure 2.20

Minerals
Mineral groups
Rock-forming silicates
Groups based on tetrahedral arrangement
Olivine independent tetrahedra
Pyroxene group tetrahedra are arranged in
chains
Amphibole group tetrahedra are arranged in
double chains

Hornblende a member of
the amphibole group

Figure 2.21

Minerals
Mineral groups
Rock-forming silicates
Groups based on tetrahedral arrangement
Micas tetrahedra are arranged in sheets
Two types of mica are biotite (dark) and
muscovite (light)
Feldspars Three-dimensional network of
tetrahedra

Minerals
Mineral groups
Rock-forming silicates
Groups based on tetrahedral arrangement
Feldspars
Two types of feldspar are Orthoclase and
Plagioclase
Quartz three-dimensional network of
tetrahedra

Potassium feldspar

Figure 2.21

Minerals
Mineral groups
Rock-forming silicates
Feldspars are the most plentiful mineral group
Crystallize from molten material

Nonsilicate minerals
Major groups
Oxides
Sulfides

Minerals
Mineral groups
Nonsilicate minerals
Major groups
Sulfates
Carbonates
Native elements

Common nonsilicate
mineral groups

Table 2.1

Minerals
Mineral groups
Nonsilicate minerals
Carbonates
A major rock-forming group
Found in the rocks limestone and marble
Halite and gypsum are found in sedimentary rocks
Many have economic value

Minerals
Mineral resources
Reserves are already identified deposits
Ores are useful metallic minerals that can be
mined at a profit
Economic factors may change and influence a
resource

An underground
halite (salt) mine

Figure 2.22