Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is a mineral?
What is a mineral?
How are minerals classified based on origin?
How are minerals classified based on origin?
Which mineral is the most abundant in the earth's crust?
Which mineral is the most abundant in the earth's crust?
What percentage of the earth's crust does Quartz make up?
What percentage of the earth's crust does Quartz make up?
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Which mineral is an important source of potassium (K) in soils?
Which mineral is an important source of potassium (K) in soils?
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What happens to Orthoclasefeldspar in the presence of water and carbon dioxide?
What happens to Orthoclasefeldspar in the presence of water and carbon dioxide?
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What is the primary mineral that is the carrier of phosphorus?
What is the primary mineral that is the carrier of phosphorus?
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Which mica is a white mica and an important source of potassium?
Which mica is a white mica and an important source of potassium?
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What is the hardness range of Muscovite?
What is the hardness range of Muscovite?
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Which mineral belongs to the pyroxene group and has a dull green color?
Which mineral belongs to the pyroxene group and has a dull green color?
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Which group of minerals is colloidal in nature and originates from micas and feldspars?
Which group of minerals is colloidal in nature and originates from micas and feldspars?
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What is the hardness of Corundum?
What is the hardness of Corundum?
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Study Notes
Mica Group
- Micas are complex potassium aluminosilicates that often contain iron and magnesium.
- Two important types of micas are:
- Muscovite: a white mica, important source of potassium and silicate clays, with a hardness of 2.0-2.5.
- Biotite: a black mica, containing iron, magnesium, and potassium, and a source of silicate clays.
Amphibole Group
- Amphiboles are silicates of iron, calcium, and magnesium.
- They have a hardness of 5-6.
- Two important types of amphiboles are:
- Hornblende: a black-colored amphibole with distinct cleavage.
- Augite: a dull green pyroxene with distinct cleavage.
Apatite
- Apatite is the most common primary mineral, carrying phosphorus.
- It has a hardness of 5.0.
Carbonate Group
- The carbonate group consists of primary minerals made up of carbonate of calcium and magnesium.
- Examples include:
- Calcite (CaCO3)
- Dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2)
Iron Group
- The iron group consists of oxides of iron in several hydration states.
- Examples include:
- Limonite: with a color varying from brown to black, and a yellow-brown streak.
- Hematite: also known as "paintrock" or red ochre, and a source of hydroxide of clays, iron, and soil color.
Aluminum Group
- The aluminum group consists of oxides of Al in several states of hydration.
- Examples include:
- Corundum (Al2O3): with a hardness of 9.
- Boehmite (AlOOH)
- Gibbsite (Al(OH)3): largely found in highly weathered, old, and infertile acidic soils.
Gypsum
- Gypsum is a secondary mineral with the formula CaSO4.2H2O.
- It has a hardness of 2.0.
- It is a source of calcium and sulfur.
- It can be used as a soil ameliorant and a retarder in cement.
Clay Group
- The clay group consists of hydrated aluminosilicates.
- They are colloidal in nature.
- Examples include:
- Kaolin group: Al4Si4O10(OH)8 (e.g., kaolinite, dickite, nacrite, anauxite).
- Montmorillonite group: Al4Si8O20(OH)4 (e.g., montmorillonite, beidellite, vermiculite, nontronite).
- Hydrous mica group: e.g., illite.
Minerals
- A mineral is a naturally occurring inorganic substance with a fairly definite chemical composition and specific physical properties.
- Minerals can be classified into:
- Primary minerals: originating from the original rocks and appearing prominently in the soil.
- Secondary minerals: originating from the chemical weathering of less resistant primary minerals.
Quartz
- Quartz is the most abundant primary mineral, making up about 13% of the earth's crust and 30-40% of the average soil.
- It has a hardness of 7.0.
- It is colorless in its pure state, insoluble in water, and slightly soluble in alkaline solutions.
- It contributes no plant nutrients to the soil and is very resistant to chemical weathering.
Feldspars
- Feldspars are aluminosilicates containing potassium, sodium, and/or calcium.
- They form clay minerals upon weathering.
- Examples include:
- Orthoclase feldspar (KAlSi3O8): an important source of potassium in soils, with a hardness of 6.0.
- Plagioclase feldspar: Albite (NaAlSi3O8) and Anorthite (CaAlSi2O8).
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Description
Test your knowledge on primary and secondary minerals in rocks and minerals. Learn about the classification of minerals based on their origin, and explore the properties of important primary minerals such as Quartz (SiO2).
