Mineral Classification

Study Notes

Minerals are naturally occurring inorganic solids with a specific chemical composition and a crystalline structure.
Classified into different groups based on their chemical composition and internal structure:
- Silicates (most common group, e.g., quartz, feldspar)
- Oxides (e.g., iron oxide, titanium oxide)
- Carbonates (e.g., calcite, dolomite)
- Sulfides (e.g., pyrite, galena)
- Phosphates (e.g., apatite)
- Native elements (e.g., copper, silver, gold)

Color: varies widely, can be affected by impurities and lighting conditions
Luster: appearance of a mineral in reflected light, can be metallic, glassy, earthy, or pearly
Streak: color of a mineral in powdered form, often different from its original color
Hardness: resistance to scratching, measured on Mohs scale (1-10)
Cleavage: tendency to break along flat surfaces, can be perfect, good, or poor
Fracture: pattern of breaking when a mineral does not exhibit cleavage

Chemical composition: unique combination of elements that defines a mineral
Acid test: some minerals react with acid, e.g., calcite reacts with hydrochloric acid
Magnetic properties: some minerals are magnetic, e.g., magnetite

Magmatic minerals: formed from magma, e.g., olivine, pyroxene
Metamorphic minerals: formed during mountain-building processes, e.g., quartz, garnet
Sedimentary minerals: formed through weathering and erosion, e.g., halite, gypsum
Hydrothermal minerals: formed through hot water circulation, e.g., quartz, sulfides

Metallic minerals: source of metals, e.g., iron, copper, gold
Non-metallic minerals: used in industries, e.g., cement, glass, ceramics
Gemstones: valued for their beauty and rarity, e.g., diamonds, rubies, emeralds

Minerals are naturally occurring inorganic solids with a specific chemical composition and a crystalline structure.
Classified into groups based on chemical composition and internal structure, including:
- Silicates (most common, e.g., quartz, feldspar)
- Oxides (e.g., iron oxide, titanium oxide)
- Carbonates (e.g., calcite, dolomite)
- Sulfides (e.g., pyrite, galena)
- Phosphates (e.g., apatite)
- Native elements (e.g., copper, silver, gold)

Color: varies widely, affected by impurities and lighting conditions.
Luster: appearance in reflected light, can be metallic, glassy, earthy, or pearly.
Streak: color in powdered form, often different from original color.
Hardness: resistance to scratching, measured on Mohs scale (1-10).
Cleavage: tendency to break along flat surfaces, can be perfect, good, or poor.
Fracture: pattern of breaking when no cleavage exists.

Chemical composition: unique combination of elements defining a mineral.
Acid test: some minerals react with acid (e.g., calcite reacts with hydrochloric acid).
Magnetic properties: some minerals are magnetic (e.g., magnetite).

Magmatic minerals: formed from magma (e.g., olivine, pyroxene).
Metamorphic minerals: formed during mountain-building processes (e.g., quartz, garnet).
Sedimentary minerals: formed through weathering and erosion (e.g., halite, gypsum).
Hydrothermal minerals: formed through hot water circulation (e.g., quartz, sulfides).