Minerals: identification

Identification of Minerals

Questions How can you identify minerals? How do geologists identify minerals?

Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Crystal form Color Streak Luster Cleavage Fracture Hardness Tenacity Specific gravity Taste Magnetism Reaction with acid Striations

Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals

1. Crystal form Is a set of crystalline faces having a definite geometric relationship to one another Garnet

Quartz

Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals

2. Color Is due to visible wavelengths of light not absorbed Is the most obvious but least reliable property to use for identification Milky quartz Citrine

Colors of ruby and sapphire, varieties of corundum (Al2O3)

Amethyst

Smoky quartz

Colors of Varieties of Quartz

Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals

3. Streak The color of a mineral in powder form

Figure 1.8

Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals

4. Luster Is the intensity of light reflected from a surface

Pyrite

Potassium feldspar Galena Have a metallic luster Has a nonmetallic luster

Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals

5. Cleavage Is breakage along planes of weakness Is due to weak bonding between those planes

Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals

Various Types of Cleavage

Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals

Pyramidal Cleavage Cubic Cleavage, and Rhombohedral Cleavage Displayed by Fluorite, Halite, and Calcite

Fluorite

Halite Calcite

Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals

Distinguishing between Cleavage Planes and Crystal Faces

Cleavage Planes: Repeated like a series of step or terraces

A crytal face: A single surface No repetitions of the crystal face within a crystal

Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals

6. Fracture
Is breakage in random directions Is due to the absence of weak bonding between planes Conchoidal fracture yields scalloped edges like in broken glass

Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals

7. Hardness Is the resistance to scratching Is based on the Mohs Scale 1 talc 2 gypsum 3 calcite 4 fluorite 5 apatite 6 potassium feldspar (orthoclase) 7 quartz 8 topaz 9 corundum 10 diamond

Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals

Mohs Hardness Scale

Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals

8. Tenacity resistance to breaking or bending 9. Specific gravity: an expression of heaviness 3 density of a substance X g/cm SG = = density of water 1 g/cm3 10. Taste Halite (rock salt) tastes salty 11. Magnetism magnetite attracts a magnet

= X

Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals

12. Reaction with acid minerals containing a CO3 ion fizz (release CO2) when in contact with hydrochloric acid 2HCl + CaCO3 Ca2+ + 2Cl- + H2O + CO2 13. Reaction with acid Striations Are saw-tooth lines present on crystal planes due to lamellar twinning (repetition) of crystals on that plane Striations are characteristic of plagioclase feldspar, calcite, dolomite, galena, and sphalerite