MineralsDay 3 Student Notes

Quiz Monday!

MINERALSElements are the basic building blocks

of minerals!But what is a mineral?

◦Naturally Occurring◦Solid Substance◦Orderly Crystalline Structure◦Definite Chemical Composition◦Generally considered inorganic

MINERALS – Is it a mineral?

1. Why would ice be considered a mineral, but water would not?

2. Is coal considered a mineral? Explain.

3. When you “grow a crystal” from a kit, are you creating a mineral? Explain.

4. Name a mineral that you know of – use the definition of a mineral to write a sentence verifying it is a mineral.

Mineral FormationMinerals are formed in a few ways:

◦ Crystallization from magma◦ Precipitation◦ Pressure and Temperature (within the earth)◦ Hydrothermal Solutions

Minerals formed by thecrystallization of magma

Mineral FormationFor each of these ways a mineral is

formed, the bottom line is that elements are bonding together.

Today we are going to talk about the how they are categorized according to which elements are bonded together.

Mineral FormationMineral Groups

Minerals can be classified based on their composition.

We will discuss 6 mineral groups today and how you can know which groups minerals belong to based on their chemical composition.

2.2 Minerals

1. Silicates

•Silicon and oxygen combine to form a structure called the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron. This silicon-oxygen tetrahedron provides the framework of every silicate mineral.

2.2 Minerals

1. Silicates•Use the periodic table to find the symbol for

Silicon. •Use the table to find the symbol for oxygen.•Whenever you see these symbols together in a

compound it will be classified as a silicate.

Example: Orthoclase Feldspar - KAlSi 3O 8

What other elements do you see in this compound?

Other examples: Quartz – SiO2

SiO2 - Quartz – used to make glass and

gemstones.It is one of the most abundant minerals found on earth!

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KAlSi 3O 8 - Feldspar – makes porcelain and china

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Mineral Groups

2.2 Minerals

2. Carbonates•Minerals that contain the elements

carbon, oxygen, and one or more other metallic elements

• Aragonite – a collectors item

Mineral Groups

2.2 Minerals

3. Oxides•Minerals that contain oxygen and one or

more other elements, which are usually metals

Oxides

Ice and snowZincite – used in semiconductors

Mineral Groups

2.2 Minerals

4. Sulfates and Sulfides•Minerals that contain the element sulfur

5. Halides•Minerals that contain a halogen ion plus one or

more other elements

6. Native elements•Minerals that exist in relatively pure form•Name 3 examples of Native Elements:

Sulfides

Galena – mined for leadPyrite – “fool’s gold” – mined

for iron

Applying Mineral GroupsTo which mineral group do each of the

following minerals belong:1.Bornite (Cu5FeS4)2.Cuprite (Cu2O)3.Magnesite (MgCO3)4.Barite (BaSO4)

Answer individually, after 5 minutes you will compare with a partner.

Mineral FormationAnswer the following questions:1.Name the first four major groups of

minerals, and give at least two examples of minerals in each group.

2.Compare and contrast oxides and silicates.Only Oxides What they have

in CommonOnly Silicates