Science

Quarter 1 – Module 3
Rock Forming Minerals
WHAT ARE MINERALS?

A mineral is a product of the earth’s natural processes. It is naturally formed and can be
found in nature. Mineralogists use the criteria to determine whether a material is
classified as a mineral or not.

Characteristics of Minerals
1. naturally occurring- a product of Earth’s natural processes
2. inorganic- it must be product of Earth’s physical processes.
3. homogeneous solid- minerals should have definite volume and rigid shape
4. definite chemical composition—represented by a chemical formula
5. orderly crystalline structure- atoms of minerals are arranged in an orderly and
repeating pattern

Properties of Minerals

The chemical properties of minerals comprise their chemical composition. Gold is

made up of only gold atoms and diamond is only made up of carbon atoms. But most
minerals are made up of chemical compounds and each of them has a unique chemical
formula. For example, quartz is a silicate mineral composed of two oxygen atoms
bonded with a silicon dioxide (SiO2) while feldspar is a silicate of aluminum plus any of
the elements sodium, potassium, iron, calcium, or barium or their combinations. The
basic building block for all silicate minerals is the anion silica, SiO4.

Table 2 gives the seven categories of minerals based on their chemical

composition. Minerals within the same group may exhibit similar characteristics.

Table 2. Categories of Minerals According to Chemical Composition

Group Name Composition Example minerals

Native elements only one element gold, diamond

SiO4 (silica) + one or more

Silicates quartz, feldspar
other elements
O2 (oxide) + one or more
Oxides hematite, magnetite,
other elements
SO4 (sulfate) + one of more
Sulfates gypsum, barite
metallic elements
S2 (sulfide) + one or more
Sulfides pyrite, galena
other elements
Carbonates CO3 (carbonate) + one or calcite, dolomite
 more metallic element
halogen + one or more
Halides halite, chlorite
elements

The chemical composition of minerals is expressed in their physical properties

which are used to identify them. These physical properties are given below:

1. Color and streak

Every mineral has its own distinctive color. However, color alone is not enough to
identify a mineral correctly because some minerals may have similar colors. A more
reliable test is the streak test. This test is done by rubbing a mineral against a piece of
porcelain. Streak is the color given by a mineral in its powder form.

https://geology.com/minerals/streak-test.shtml

Figure 1. The streak of a mineral can be different from its color.

2. Luster

The property of a mineral to reflect light is given by its luster. Mineral luster can
be metallic or non-metallic. Metallic luster can be compared to the shine of a polished
metal. Non-metallic luster can be described as dull, pearly, silky, greasy or glassy.

Table 3. Types of Mineral Luster

Type Description
A. metallic opaque and shiny like polished metal
B. nonmetallic
• adamantine sparkly
• vitreous shiny like glass
• pearly milky or like a pearl
 • silky fibrous and soft-looking
• resinous like a resin or tree sap
• dull earthy or clay-like
• greasy Oily

3. Hardness

Hardness is the resistance of a mineral to scratching. The Mohs Scale of

Hardness describes the hardness of some common mineral in a 1 to 10 scale.

Table 4. Mohs Scale of Hardness

Hardness
Mineral
(in increasing order)
Talc 1
Gypsum 2
Calcite 3
Fluorite 4
Apatite 5
Feldspar 6
Quartz 7
Topaz 8
Corundum 9
Diamond 10

To identify a mineral, its hardness is usually compared with that of common

objects of known hardness in the Mohs Scale as shown in Table 5.

Table 5. Hardness of Some Common Objects

Common Objects Hardness
fingernail 2.5
piece of copper 2.5 to 3.0
iron nail 4.5
glass 5.5
steel file 6.5
streak plate 7

4. Density and Specific gravity

Density describes the amount of matter present in a certain amount of space or

volume. To get mineral density, the mass of a sample is taken using a scale and the
volume is determined through the water displacement method. The density is then
calculated by dividing the mass by the volume of water displaced.

Specific gravity is a measure of a mineral’s density as compared to water. It is

calculated by dividing the density of a mineral by the density of water. A mineral with a
specific gravity of 2 is twice as dense as water.

5. Crystal habit and form

Crystal habit is the growth pattern exhibited by mineral crystals while crystal form
is the external shape of a mineral. Some common crystal habits are cube or cubic,
prismatic, bladed, tabular, radial, botryoidal, fibrous and dendritic. Figure 2 shows the
characteristic appearance of these crystal habits and forms.

Figure 2. Mineral crystals have varying habits and forms.

6. Cleavage and fracture

The tendency of a mineral to break along layers of weak points that form flat
surfaces is called cleavage. Fracture refers to the chipping shape of a mineral when
broken.
 The quality of cleavage are categorized into the following:
a. Perfect – Mineral cleaves without leaving any rough surfaces forming
full flat planes.
b. Good – Mineral cleaves into smooth surfaces but with some rough
edges.
c. Poor – Cleavage is generally characterized by rough surfaces.
d. Indiscernible or indistinct – Cleavage is hardly noticeable.
e. None – Mineral never exhibit any cleavage. Broken surfaces are
fractured and rough

7. Diaphaneity

Also known as transparency, diaphaneity is the degree by which the mineral

transmit light. It can be described as opaque, translucent or transparent.
a. Opaque – The mineral does not transmit light.
b. Translucent – The mineral allows some amount of light to pass through it in a
distorted fashion.
c. Transparent – The mineral allows transmission of light in an undisturbed
manner.

All the properties discussed above are helpful in identifying minerals. The
table below summarizes the observable properties of some common minerals.

Table 6. Properties of Some Common Minerals

Mineral Properties
Name/ crystal
Color Streak Luster Diaphaneity Hardness
Group habit
transparent
Amethyst white, vitreous hexagonal
purple to 7
(Silicate) colorless glassy prism
translucent
colorless,
white, gray, Waxy, botryoidal,
Chalcedoon blue, any color vitreous, rounded
white translucent 6-7
(Silicate) due to dull, greasy, and
embedded silky stalactitic
minerals,
tetrahedron
Chalcopyrite brassy green- , commonly
metallic opaque 3.5 - 4
(Sulfide) yellow/green black massive,
sometimes
 botryoidal.
Diamond brown or Transparent,
none, octahedral
(Native yellow, adamantine translucent, 10
colorless
element) colorless opaque
purple, green, granular,
Fluorite yellow, transparent massive
(Halide) also colorless, white vitreous to octahedral, 4
blue, red, translucent nodular,
black botryoidal,
Galena lead gray
silver, gray metallic opaque cubic 2.5 +
(Sulfide) to black
Gold
golden
(Native golden yellow metallic opaque granular 2.5 - 3
yellow
element)
Massive,
Gypsum white, transparent flat,
vitreous to
(Sulfate) colorless or white to elongated, 2
pearly
grey translucent generally
prismatic
cubes, but
Halite
also
(Halide) colorless white vitreous transparent 2
granular,
fibrous
Tabular to
thick, platy,
Hematite reddish- metallic or radiating,
grey-black opaque 6 – 6.5
(Oxide) brown dull fibrous,
reniform,
botryoidal
Magnetite
black black metallic, dull opaque octahedral 5.5
(Oxide)
Greenish
Pyrite black to
brass- yellow metallic opaque cubic 6 – 6.5
(Sulfide) brownish
black
transparent
Quartz clear, white or white or 6-sided
vitreous to nearly 7
(Silicate) gray colorless prism
opaque
colorless,
Talc foliated to
white,
(Silicate) white pearly translucent fibrous 1
greenish or
masses
yellowish
orange,
Wulfenite yellow, gray, yellowish resinous- transparent thin tabular
to 2.5 - 3
(Oxide) brown, green, - white greasy to opaque
pyramidal
black
Common Rock-forming Minerals

Although there are around 5000 different mineral species, only a few form rocks
and are called “rock-forming minerals”. Most minerals are “accessory minerals” that
occur in small quantities within a rock. The common rock-forming minerals are
plagioclase feldspars, alkali feldspar, quartz, amphiboles, micas, olivine, pyroxenes,
calcite and dolomite.

1. Plagioclase feldspar

Plagioclase feldspar is a group of silicate feldspar minerals that are rich in

sodium or calcium. These minerals form a solid solution series ranging from pure albite,
Na(AlSi3O8), to pure anorthite, Ca(Al2Si2O8). Their color is usually white to gray with
vitreous luster. Their hardness is 6 to 6.5 in the Mohs Scale. Specific gravity is
between 2.5 to 2.8. Crystals are stubby prisms and have perfect cleavage.

Plagioclase feldspar is the most common rock-forming mineral. It is found in most

igneous rocks including granite, diorite, gabbro and basalt. It is an important constituent
of many metamorphic rocks such as gneiss.

Plagioclase feldspar are used in ceramic products, as fillers in paints, plastics

and rubber and as gemstones.

2. Alkali feldspar

Alkali feldspar is another group of silicate feldspar minerals. Minerals under this
group are rich in alkali metal ions. Their composition ranges between NaAlSi3O8 and
KAlSi3O8. They are commonly pink to white in color, with vitreous luster and perfect
cleavage.

Alkali feldspars are very abundant in alkali and acidic igneous rocks like syenites,
granites, and granodiorites.

Alkali feldspar is used to manufacture glass and ceramics and are sometimes
used as gemstones.

3. Quartz

The third largest group of rock-forming minerals is quartz. It is made up of silicon

dioxide (SiO2). Pure quartz is colorless but can have variations in color due to
impurities. It has a white streak and vitreous luster. Its crystals are usually hexagonal
and prismatic. Its hardness is 7 and specific gravity is 2.65.

Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals. It is found in many metamorphic,

sedimentary and igneous rocks that are high in silica such as granites and rhyolites.

Quartz is used in making glass, abrasive, foundry sand, hydraulic fracturing

proppant and as gemstones.

4. Mica

Mica is a collection of hydrous potassium, aluminum silicate minerals. It has a

variety of colors that ranges from light to dark. It can be colorless, rosy, purple, silver,
gray, dark green, brown or black. Its luster is described as splendent but some appear
pearly. Its hardness is 2.5 – 4. Specific gravity varies with composition at 2.76 to 3.2. It
cleaves perfectly into thin elastic sheets.

Mica is among the most important rock-forming minerals. It is found in all rock
types – igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic.

Mica is largely used in the electrical industry as capacitors.

5. Amphiboles

Amphiboles are also silicate minerals. They are generally black or brown in color
but can also be dark green, white, gray, colorless or pale green. They have a white
streak and vitreous luster. Their hardness is about 5-6. Crystal habit can be columnar to
fibrous to granular.

Amphiboles are component of many igneous and metamorphic rocks.

Amphiboles are used in construction as paving stones and as a veneer or facing

on buildings, as crushed stone for road and railroad bed.

6. Pyroxene

Pyroxene minerals belong to the silicate group that generally contain

magnesium, iron, calcium and aluminum. They are usually dark brown or black but
some occur in a wide range of colors. They have white streak and vitreous to dull luster.
Their hardness is 5 to 7 while specific gravity is 3 to 4. Their cleavage often have nearly
square cross-section

Pyroxenes are found in igneous and metamorphic rocks throughout the world.
 Pyroxenes are used as crushed stone and dimension stones, as gem materials,
and as an important source of lithium.

7. Olivine

Another group of silicate minerals is olivine. Their chemical composition range

between Mg2SiO4 and Fe2SiO4. They are usually green in color but can be yellow-green,
bright green, brownish-green or brown. They have colorless streak and vitreous luster.
Their hardness ranges from 6.5 – 7. Specific gravity is 3.2 to 4.4. They exhibit poor
cleavage and brittle with conchoidal fracture.

Olivine is typically found in igneous rocks such as basalt, gabbro and peridotite.

Olivine is commonly used as a gemstones.

8. Calcite
Calcite is a rock-forming mineral from the carbonate group. Its chemical formula
is CaCO3. It is usually white but can also occur as colorless, gray, red, green, blue,
yellow, brown or orange. It has a white streak and vitreous luster. Its hardness is 3 and
specific gravity is 2.7. It cleaves perfectly into three directions.

Calcite is found everywhere in sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rocks. It is

a principal component of limestone and marble which make up a good portion of the
crust.

Calcite is used as an acid neutralizer, a low-hardness abrasive and a soil

conditioner.

9. Dolomite
Dolomite is a calcium magnesium carbonate with a chemical composition of
CaMg(CO3)2. Its color can be colorless, white, pink, green, gray, brown or black. It has a
white streak and a vitreous to pearly luster. Its hardness is 3.5 to 4 at Mohs Scale. Its
specific gravity is 2.8 to 2.9. It has a perfect cleavage.

Dolomite is a primary component of the sedimentary rock dolostone, of the

metamorphic rock dolomitic marble and of the sedimentary rock dolomitic limestone.

Dolomite is useful as construction aggregate. It is a source of magnesia for the

chemical industry and agricultural soil treatments.
Here are the key concepts discussed in this module:
SUM UP:
• Minerals are inorganic, naturally-occurring, crystalline solids with definite
chemical composition.
• The chemical property of a mineral constitutes its chemical composition which
is expressed in its physical properties.
• Some physical properties of minerals are color and streak, hardness, cleavage
and fracture, luster, crystal form and habit, density, specific gravity and
diaphaneity. These properties are used to identify minerals.
• Although there are thousands of mineral, only very few groups are involved in
rock-formation. Major rock-forming minerals are plagioclase feldspar, alkali
feldspar, quartz micas, amphiboles, pyroxene, olivine, calcite and dolomite.
• Minerals are used in a wide array of products such as jewelries, ceramics,
dyes, salts, cosmetics and technologies. Minerals are also important in the
electrical, steel and construction industries.

Here are the key concepts discussed in this module:

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