Sometimes you wonder what a mineral really is but its true characteristics are known as chemical compounds that compose of two ore more chemicals elements. However, Sulphur, Copper , Gold, silver and a few other minerals occur as single Native Elements. A mineral it self is rather defined by its chemical formula, and by the arrangement of Atoms within its crystals.
A mineral compound is mainly based on an electrical balance between a positively charge metal, and a negatively charge part in several minerals. Negative charges are carried by a radical combination of atoms that act as a single unit. There are more than 500 known minerals, but only 100 of these are common. For example Silicon and oxygen make up about three quarters of the crust by weight, and silicate minerals such as quartz , feldspar, and olivine are by far the most common minerals in rocks within the earths surface. All of these things commonly make up 90% of all the rocks within the earths surface. The Carbonates such as calcite, and dolomite are known to form sedimentary rocks, such as limestone.
Some minerals do not have specific chemical compositions within their main formations. Instead, they are homogenises that are mixed with two minerals. These homogenous mixtures are commonly describe as Solid Solutions. For example the Olivine group of silicates are known to include forsterite, and fayalite. Foresterite is rather known as a magnesium silicate, while Fayalite is an iron silicate. Most olivine specimens are rather homogenous mixtures of the two, with the relative content of magnesium and iron varying in specimens. These minerals are describe as part of a solid-solution series, in which forsterite, and fayolite are the end members.
Primary Minerals crystalize directly from Magma, and are known to remain unaltered. In most cases they included essential minerals used to assign a classification name to a rock and accessory minerals that are present in lesser abundance, and do not effect the classification of a rock. Secondary Minerals are mainly produce by the alteration of a primary mineral after its geological formation.
Some minerals are consistently found together over large areas because they are found in the same rock type. Other associations are known to occur in encrustations, veins structures, cavities, or thin layers. The fact that certain minerals are likely to be found together can help in the discovery and identification of minerals. Lead, and Zinc ore minerals are most often associated with the minerals Borite, and Calcite, while gold is frequently found in association with quartz outcroppings. Associated minerals that form almost simultaneously, and that are almost present in a specific rock type, are known to make up an assemblage. Orthoclase, albite, biotite, and quartz form an assemblage for granite, and plagioclase, augite, magnetite, and olivine for gabbro. In most cases assemblages are known as the key indicators of the environments in which minerals form.
In most cases the classification of minerals is rather an ongoing study by Mineralogists, and geologists who specifically study mineralogy. The ability to delve deep into the structure, and chemistry of minerals has increased dramatically with advances in instruments, and techniques. The Term Mineral is commonly apply to certain organic substances , such as coal, natural gas, and oil. Most of this is commonly known to have contributed to the nations wealth for centuries. However, these minerals are more accurately referred to as hydrocarbons. Gases and liquids are not , in the strict sense, minerals. Although ice, the solid state of water is a mineral, but liquid minerals are not. Same as liquid mercury that are sometimes found within mercury deposits. Synthetic equivalents of minerals, for example emeralds and diamonds produced in laboratories, are also not considered to be minerals as they do not form naturally. The minerals referred to in food are also not strictly minerals , they are rather known as elements, such as iron, calcium, and zinc.
A chemical formula identifies the atoms present in a mineral, and their proportions. In some minerals, the atoms and their proportions are fixed. Pyrite for example, is always (FeS2), Iron is (Fe),and sulphur is known as (S). In solid solutions, the components may be variable also. For olivine, where complete substitution is possible between iron and magnesium. In nature this formula is known to be determined as Fe, Mg2, Sio4. In most cases these formulas determine that the iron and magnesium are found in varying amounts.
Chemical Elements Chart
Ac - Actinium Er - Erbium Mo - Molybdenum S - Sulphur
Ag - Silver Es -Einsteinium N - Nitrogen Sb - Antimony
Al - Aluminum F - Fluorite Na - Sodium Sc - Scandium
Am - Americium Fe - Iron Nb -Niobium Se - Selenium
Ar - Argon Fm- Fermium Nd - Neodymium Si - Silicon
As - Arsenic Fr - Francium Ne - Neon Sm- Samarium
At- Astatine Ga - Gallium Ni - Nickel Sn - Tin
Au- Gold Gd - Gadolinium No - Nobelium Sr - Strontium
B - Boron Ge - germanium Np -Neptumium Ta - Tantalum
Ba - Barium H - Hydrogen O- Oxygen Tb - Terbium
Be - Beryllium He - Helium Os- Osmium Tc - Technetium
Bi - Bismuth Hf - hafnium P - Phosphorous Te - Tellurium
Bk - Berkwlium Hg - Mercury Pa - Protactinium Th - Thorium
Br - Bromine H0 - holmium Pb - Lead Ti - Titanium
C - Carbon I - Lodine Pm - Promethium Tm- Thulium
Ca - Calcium In - Indium Po - Polonium U - Uranium
Cd - Cadmium Ir - Iridium Pt - Platinum V - Vanadium
Ce - Cerium K - Potassium Pr - Praseodymium W- Tungsten
Cf - Californium Kr - Krypton Pd- Palladium Xe - Xenon
Cl - Chlorine La - Lanthanum Pu- Plutonium Y - Yttrium
Cm - Curium Li - Lithium Ra- Radium Yb- Ytterbium
Co - Cobalt Lu - Lutetium Rb - Rubidium Zn - Zinc
Cr - Chromium Lw - Lawrencium Rh - Rhodium Zr - Zirconium
Cs - Cesium Md - Mendelevium Rn - Radon Mn - Manganese
Cu - Copper Mg - Magnesium Re - Rhenium Dy - Dysprosium
Minerals are primarily classified according to their chemical composition. Minerals are further classified into subgroups, with each subgroup taking its name from its most typical mineral. A radical is rather known as a group of Atoms that acts as a single unit.
Sulphides are fromed when a metal or semimetal combines with sulphur. In Chalcocite the metallic element is copper.
Native Elements are minerals that are formed of a single chemical element. Metals such as gold and copper, and non-metals such as sulphur and carbon are Native Elements.
Oxides: When oxygen alone combines with a metal or a semi metal, an oxide is then formed. In most cases Corundum is rather considered as an aluminum oxide, with red variety called Ruby.
Halides: This rather known as a Halogen element that comprises of chlorine, Bromine, iodine, and fluorine, that combines with a metal or semi metal, and makesa halide.
Hydroxides: Hydroxide minerals contain a hydroxyl (hydrogen and Oxygen) that's radically combined with a metallic element.
Arsenates, phosphates, and Vanadates: In these minerals, a radical of oxygen, and either arsenic, phosphorous, or Vanadium combines with a semimetal or metal. :
Carbonates: The Carbonate radical is known for consisting of carbon and oxygen, and combines with a metal or a semi metal to from carbonate minerals.
Sulphates, Chromates, Tungstates, and Molybdates: Sulphur, Molybdenum, Chromium, or tungsten from a radical with oxygen that combines with a metal or a semimetal.
Borates and Nitrates: Borates contain radicals of boron and oxygen, and nitrates, are radicals of nitrogen, and oxygen.
Silicates: In this group, silicon and oxygen is known to form a silica radical that combines with metals of semimetals.
Organic Minerals: This group includes some naturally occurring substances, such as shells and corals, that are generated by organic means.
There are certain physical properties determined by the crystalline structure and chemical composition of a mineral. These can commonly help identify minerals without the use of expensive equitment. Even beginners can readily use these pointers.
For example some minerals have characteristic colours, the bright blue of azurite, the yellow of sulphur, and the green of malachite allows for easy identification. This is not true of all minerals, such as Fluoride occurs in virtually all colors, so that it is best identified by other properties. In minerals, color is caused by the absorption or refraction of light of particular wavelengths. This can happen for several reasons. One is the presence of trace elements Foreign atoms that are not part of basic chemical makeup of the mineral in the crystal structure. As few as three atoms per million can absorb enough of certain parts of the visible light spectrum to give color to some minerals. Color can also result from the absence of an atom or ionic radical from a place that it would normally occupy in a crystal. The structure of the mineral itself, without any defect or foreign element, may also cause color. For example opal is composed of minute spheres of silica that diffracts light, and the thin interlayering of two feldspars in moonstone gives it color and sheen.
A mineral luster is the appearance of its surface in reflection to light. There are two broad types of lusters that are determined as Metallic and Non-metallic. A metallic luster is that of an untarnished metal surface, such as gold, silver, or copper. These minerals tend to be opaque. Minerals with non-metallic lusters are commonly known for showing transparency or translucency. Vitreous describes the luster of a piece of broken glass. Grassy lusters refers to the appearance of being covered with a thin layer of oil, and silky, which is the appearance of the surface of silk or satin. Dull lusters implies little or no reflection, and earthy luster are the nonlusterous look of raw earth.
The color of the powder that's produce when a specimen is drawn across a surface such as unglazed porcelain is known as a streak. A minerals streak is consistent and is a more useful diagnostic indicator than its color, which can sometimes vary. In most cases streaks can distinguish between minerals that are easy to confuses. For example, the Iron oxide hematite has a red streak, while magnetite, another iron oxide , gives a black streak.
The ability for a mineral to break along a flat, planar surfaces is referred as a Cleavage. It mainly occurs in the crystal structure where the forces that bond atoms are weaker. Cleavage surfaces are generally smooth and reflect light evenly. Cleavage is describe by its direction relative to the orientation of the crystal, and by the ease in which it is produced. If cleavage easily produces smooth, and luster surfaces, its then called perfect. Distinct, Imperfect, and difficult indicates less easy kinds of cleavage. Many minerals may have different quality cleavages in different directions. Some have no Cleavage at all.
Some minerals can break in directions other than along cleavage planes. These breaks, known as fractures, help in identifying minerals. For example, Hackly fractures( with Jigged edges) are often found in metals, while shell-like conchoidal fractures are typical of quartz. Other terms for fractures include even (rough but more or less flat, uneven (rough and completed irregular), and splintery (with partially separated fibers).
The Term Tenacity is known to describe the physical properties of a mineral base on the cohesive forces between atoms in a structures. Gold, Copper, and silver are malleable, and can be flattened without crumbling. Sectile minerals can be cut smoothly with a knife, flexible bend easily, and stay bent after pressure is removed, ductile minerals can be drawn into a wire formation, Brittle minerals are prone to breakage, and elastic minerals return to their original form after they are bent under pressure.
The Hardness of a mineral is the relative of easy or difficulty, in which it can be scratched. A hard mineral will scratch a softer one, but not vice versa. In many cases minerals are assigned by a number that ranges between 1 to 10 on the Mohs Scale, which measures hardness relative to ten minerals of increasing hardness. Hardness also differs from toughness, and strength that determines very hard mineral can also be brittle. Most hydrous minerals that contain water molecules are soft, as are phosphates, sulphates, carbonates, sulphides, and halides. Anhydrous oxides that are made without water molecules, and silicates are relatively hard.
Light changes velocity, and direction as it passes through a transparent or translucent mineral. The extent of this change is measured by the refractive index, most of this is determined by the ratio of the lights velocity in air to its velocity in the crystal. A high index causes dispersion of light into its component colors. Refractive indices can be found using specialized liquids or inexpensive equipment.
Some minerals can also exhibit fluorescence that are known to contribute a visible light of various colors when subjected to ultraviolet radiation. In most cases Ultraviolet lights for testing fluorescence can be obtained from dealers selling collectors equipment. Fluorescence are determined as imperfect indicators of minerals identity because not all specimens of a mineral show fluorescence, even if they look identical to each other within the same location they are found in. .
A mineral compound is mainly based on an electrical balance between a positively charge metal, and a negatively charge part in several minerals. Negative charges are carried by a radical combination of atoms that act as a single unit. There are more than 500 known minerals, but only 100 of these are common. For example Silicon and oxygen make up about three quarters of the crust by weight, and silicate minerals such as quartz , feldspar, and olivine are by far the most common minerals in rocks within the earths surface. All of these things commonly make up 90% of all the rocks within the earths surface. The Carbonates such as calcite, and dolomite are known to form sedimentary rocks, such as limestone.
Some minerals do not have specific chemical compositions within their main formations. Instead, they are homogenises that are mixed with two minerals. These homogenous mixtures are commonly describe as Solid Solutions. For example the Olivine group of silicates are known to include forsterite, and fayalite. Foresterite is rather known as a magnesium silicate, while Fayalite is an iron silicate. Most olivine specimens are rather homogenous mixtures of the two, with the relative content of magnesium and iron varying in specimens. These minerals are describe as part of a solid-solution series, in which forsterite, and fayolite are the end members.
Primary Minerals crystalize directly from Magma, and are known to remain unaltered. In most cases they included essential minerals used to assign a classification name to a rock and accessory minerals that are present in lesser abundance, and do not effect the classification of a rock. Secondary Minerals are mainly produce by the alteration of a primary mineral after its geological formation.
Some minerals are consistently found together over large areas because they are found in the same rock type. Other associations are known to occur in encrustations, veins structures, cavities, or thin layers. The fact that certain minerals are likely to be found together can help in the discovery and identification of minerals. Lead, and Zinc ore minerals are most often associated with the minerals Borite, and Calcite, while gold is frequently found in association with quartz outcroppings. Associated minerals that form almost simultaneously, and that are almost present in a specific rock type, are known to make up an assemblage. Orthoclase, albite, biotite, and quartz form an assemblage for granite, and plagioclase, augite, magnetite, and olivine for gabbro. In most cases assemblages are known as the key indicators of the environments in which minerals form.
In most cases the classification of minerals is rather an ongoing study by Mineralogists, and geologists who specifically study mineralogy. The ability to delve deep into the structure, and chemistry of minerals has increased dramatically with advances in instruments, and techniques. The Term Mineral is commonly apply to certain organic substances , such as coal, natural gas, and oil. Most of this is commonly known to have contributed to the nations wealth for centuries. However, these minerals are more accurately referred to as hydrocarbons. Gases and liquids are not , in the strict sense, minerals. Although ice, the solid state of water is a mineral, but liquid minerals are not. Same as liquid mercury that are sometimes found within mercury deposits. Synthetic equivalents of minerals, for example emeralds and diamonds produced in laboratories, are also not considered to be minerals as they do not form naturally. The minerals referred to in food are also not strictly minerals , they are rather known as elements, such as iron, calcium, and zinc.
A chemical formula identifies the atoms present in a mineral, and their proportions. In some minerals, the atoms and their proportions are fixed. Pyrite for example, is always (FeS2), Iron is (Fe),and sulphur is known as (S). In solid solutions, the components may be variable also. For olivine, where complete substitution is possible between iron and magnesium. In nature this formula is known to be determined as Fe, Mg2, Sio4. In most cases these formulas determine that the iron and magnesium are found in varying amounts.
Chemical Elements Chart
Ac - Actinium Er - Erbium Mo - Molybdenum S - Sulphur
Ag - Silver Es -Einsteinium N - Nitrogen Sb - Antimony
Al - Aluminum F - Fluorite Na - Sodium Sc - Scandium
Am - Americium Fe - Iron Nb -Niobium Se - Selenium
Ar - Argon Fm- Fermium Nd - Neodymium Si - Silicon
As - Arsenic Fr - Francium Ne - Neon Sm- Samarium
At- Astatine Ga - Gallium Ni - Nickel Sn - Tin
Au- Gold Gd - Gadolinium No - Nobelium Sr - Strontium
B - Boron Ge - germanium Np -Neptumium Ta - Tantalum
Ba - Barium H - Hydrogen O- Oxygen Tb - Terbium
Be - Beryllium He - Helium Os- Osmium Tc - Technetium
Bi - Bismuth Hf - hafnium P - Phosphorous Te - Tellurium
Bk - Berkwlium Hg - Mercury Pa - Protactinium Th - Thorium
Br - Bromine H0 - holmium Pb - Lead Ti - Titanium
C - Carbon I - Lodine Pm - Promethium Tm- Thulium
Ca - Calcium In - Indium Po - Polonium U - Uranium
Cd - Cadmium Ir - Iridium Pt - Platinum V - Vanadium
Ce - Cerium K - Potassium Pr - Praseodymium W- Tungsten
Cf - Californium Kr - Krypton Pd- Palladium Xe - Xenon
Cl - Chlorine La - Lanthanum Pu- Plutonium Y - Yttrium
Cm - Curium Li - Lithium Ra- Radium Yb- Ytterbium
Co - Cobalt Lu - Lutetium Rb - Rubidium Zn - Zinc
Cr - Chromium Lw - Lawrencium Rh - Rhodium Zr - Zirconium
Cs - Cesium Md - Mendelevium Rn - Radon Mn - Manganese
Cu - Copper Mg - Magnesium Re - Rhenium Dy - Dysprosium
Minerals are primarily classified according to their chemical composition. Minerals are further classified into subgroups, with each subgroup taking its name from its most typical mineral. A radical is rather known as a group of Atoms that acts as a single unit.
Sulphides are fromed when a metal or semimetal combines with sulphur. In Chalcocite the metallic element is copper.
Native Elements are minerals that are formed of a single chemical element. Metals such as gold and copper, and non-metals such as sulphur and carbon are Native Elements.
Oxides: When oxygen alone combines with a metal or a semi metal, an oxide is then formed. In most cases Corundum is rather considered as an aluminum oxide, with red variety called Ruby.
Halides: This rather known as a Halogen element that comprises of chlorine, Bromine, iodine, and fluorine, that combines with a metal or semi metal, and makesa halide.
Hydroxides: Hydroxide minerals contain a hydroxyl (hydrogen and Oxygen) that's radically combined with a metallic element.
Arsenates, phosphates, and Vanadates: In these minerals, a radical of oxygen, and either arsenic, phosphorous, or Vanadium combines with a semimetal or metal. :
Carbonates: The Carbonate radical is known for consisting of carbon and oxygen, and combines with a metal or a semi metal to from carbonate minerals.
Sulphates, Chromates, Tungstates, and Molybdates: Sulphur, Molybdenum, Chromium, or tungsten from a radical with oxygen that combines with a metal or a semimetal.
Borates and Nitrates: Borates contain radicals of boron and oxygen, and nitrates, are radicals of nitrogen, and oxygen.
Silicates: In this group, silicon and oxygen is known to form a silica radical that combines with metals of semimetals.
Organic Minerals: This group includes some naturally occurring substances, such as shells and corals, that are generated by organic means.
There are certain physical properties determined by the crystalline structure and chemical composition of a mineral. These can commonly help identify minerals without the use of expensive equitment. Even beginners can readily use these pointers.
For example some minerals have characteristic colours, the bright blue of azurite, the yellow of sulphur, and the green of malachite allows for easy identification. This is not true of all minerals, such as Fluoride occurs in virtually all colors, so that it is best identified by other properties. In minerals, color is caused by the absorption or refraction of light of particular wavelengths. This can happen for several reasons. One is the presence of trace elements Foreign atoms that are not part of basic chemical makeup of the mineral in the crystal structure. As few as three atoms per million can absorb enough of certain parts of the visible light spectrum to give color to some minerals. Color can also result from the absence of an atom or ionic radical from a place that it would normally occupy in a crystal. The structure of the mineral itself, without any defect or foreign element, may also cause color. For example opal is composed of minute spheres of silica that diffracts light, and the thin interlayering of two feldspars in moonstone gives it color and sheen.
A mineral luster is the appearance of its surface in reflection to light. There are two broad types of lusters that are determined as Metallic and Non-metallic. A metallic luster is that of an untarnished metal surface, such as gold, silver, or copper. These minerals tend to be opaque. Minerals with non-metallic lusters are commonly known for showing transparency or translucency. Vitreous describes the luster of a piece of broken glass. Grassy lusters refers to the appearance of being covered with a thin layer of oil, and silky, which is the appearance of the surface of silk or satin. Dull lusters implies little or no reflection, and earthy luster are the nonlusterous look of raw earth.
The color of the powder that's produce when a specimen is drawn across a surface such as unglazed porcelain is known as a streak. A minerals streak is consistent and is a more useful diagnostic indicator than its color, which can sometimes vary. In most cases streaks can distinguish between minerals that are easy to confuses. For example, the Iron oxide hematite has a red streak, while magnetite, another iron oxide , gives a black streak.
The ability for a mineral to break along a flat, planar surfaces is referred as a Cleavage. It mainly occurs in the crystal structure where the forces that bond atoms are weaker. Cleavage surfaces are generally smooth and reflect light evenly. Cleavage is describe by its direction relative to the orientation of the crystal, and by the ease in which it is produced. If cleavage easily produces smooth, and luster surfaces, its then called perfect. Distinct, Imperfect, and difficult indicates less easy kinds of cleavage. Many minerals may have different quality cleavages in different directions. Some have no Cleavage at all.
Some minerals can break in directions other than along cleavage planes. These breaks, known as fractures, help in identifying minerals. For example, Hackly fractures( with Jigged edges) are often found in metals, while shell-like conchoidal fractures are typical of quartz. Other terms for fractures include even (rough but more or less flat, uneven (rough and completed irregular), and splintery (with partially separated fibers).
The Term Tenacity is known to describe the physical properties of a mineral base on the cohesive forces between atoms in a structures. Gold, Copper, and silver are malleable, and can be flattened without crumbling. Sectile minerals can be cut smoothly with a knife, flexible bend easily, and stay bent after pressure is removed, ductile minerals can be drawn into a wire formation, Brittle minerals are prone to breakage, and elastic minerals return to their original form after they are bent under pressure.
The Hardness of a mineral is the relative of easy or difficulty, in which it can be scratched. A hard mineral will scratch a softer one, but not vice versa. In many cases minerals are assigned by a number that ranges between 1 to 10 on the Mohs Scale, which measures hardness relative to ten minerals of increasing hardness. Hardness also differs from toughness, and strength that determines very hard mineral can also be brittle. Most hydrous minerals that contain water molecules are soft, as are phosphates, sulphates, carbonates, sulphides, and halides. Anhydrous oxides that are made without water molecules, and silicates are relatively hard.
Light changes velocity, and direction as it passes through a transparent or translucent mineral. The extent of this change is measured by the refractive index, most of this is determined by the ratio of the lights velocity in air to its velocity in the crystal. A high index causes dispersion of light into its component colors. Refractive indices can be found using specialized liquids or inexpensive equipment.
Some minerals can also exhibit fluorescence that are known to contribute a visible light of various colors when subjected to ultraviolet radiation. In most cases Ultraviolet lights for testing fluorescence can be obtained from dealers selling collectors equipment. Fluorescence are determined as imperfect indicators of minerals identity because not all specimens of a mineral show fluorescence, even if they look identical to each other within the same location they are found in. .
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