Mineral Science and Importance

Mineralogy/Mineral Science

• The study of the chemistry, atomic structure, physical properties, and genesis of minerals
• Over 4,700 minerals have been identified and approved, but only a couple hundred are really common

Importance of Minerals

• Minerals are the source of many resources used in everyday life, such as lead, copper, iron, or gold
• They are also the source of dietary supplements like magnesium, iron, or calcium
• Some minerals are valued for their beauty and are used in jewelry

Definition of a Mineral

• A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic, crystalline solid with a specific chemical composition
• A mineral must form through natural geologic processes and not be man-made
• A mineral cannot be composed of the complex hydrocarbon molecules that are the basis of life-forms
• A mineral has a specific chemical composition that can be described by a chemical formula

Examples of Minerals

• Halite (rock salt): chemical composition NaCl, made of sodium and chlorine with one sodium atom for every atom of chlorine
• Granite: composed of multiple minerals, including quartz, plagioclase feldspar, potassium feldspar, and biotite

Definition of a Rock

• A rock is a naturally formed aggregate of minerals or mineral-like substances
• Some rocks are composed of a single mineral, such as limestone, which is composed of calcite

Difference between Rocks and Minerals

• Rocks are composed of minerals, and minerals are composed of atoms of elements bonded together in an orderly crystalline structure
• The mineral's chemistry and internal structure determine its physical properties

Identification of Minerals

• Most minerals cannot be identified just by looking at the mineral
• Physical and chemical properties are used to help identify minerals
• Physical properties, such as color or shape, can be observed without changing the identity of the substance
• Chemical properties, such as flammability or reactions with different substances, can only be observed by changing the identity of the substance

Physical Properties of Minerals

• Color is a physical property, but it's not very helpful in identifying most minerals due to many minerals coming in a variety of colors.