GEOL 280: Systematic Mineralogy Pt 1

In 1789, who proposed the first chemical classification for minerals?

A.G Werner

What are the two systems of mineral classification?

Dana and Strunz Systems

____________ minerals form directly from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava, precipitation from solution, or from hydrothermal fluids.

Primary.

___________ minerals form by the weathering (chemical or physical reactions) of primary minerals.

Secondary

Secondary minerals often form through reactions involving what elemental compounds?

H2O or CO2

What mineral classification system reflects the progress of quantitative chemical analysis during the 19th century, but is not commonly used in the modern age?

Dana System

The strunz classification system is mainly based on what?

Dominant anion or anion group

Internal mineral structure.

List the 6 divisions of minerals.

1. Class

2. Family

3. Group

4. Species

5. Series

6. Varieties

What is the mineral class division based on?

Anion or anion group

What is the mineral family division based on?

Chemical features

What is the mineral group division based on?

Structural similarities

What is the mineral series division based on?

Solid solution

What is the mineral varieties division based on?

Cation substitution

Name the mineral varieties modifiers for cation substitution.

• aluminian

• calcian

• chromian

• ferroan

• ferrian

• magnesian

• manganoan

Newly discovered minerals must be approved by what organization before becoming official?

International Mineral Association

What are the three types of minerals?

Metals, nonmetals, and energy minerals.

__________ minerals are rich in Mg and Fe and poor in silica, and commonly dark colored.  

Mafic

________ minerals are rich in Si and Al and are commonly light colored.

Felsic

What is the first classification group of the Strunz system?

Native Elements

There are only about ____ elements that are found in native states on Earth.

20.

What are native elements?

Elements composed of a single element and uncombined with other elements

What type of minerals are targeted by mining companies?

Native elements

What are the three groups within the native elements classification?

Metals, Semi-metals, and Non-metals

What are some elements in the “gold group” of the metals classification within native elements?

Gold, silver, and copper

What are some elements in the “gold group” of the metals classification within native elements?

What are some elements in the “platinum group” of the metals classification within native elements?

Platinum, palladium, osmium, iridium

What are some elements in the “iron” group within native elements?

Iron, kamacite, taenite

What are some minerals within the “semi-metals” group of native elements classification?

Arsenic, bismuth, antimony, selenium, tellurium

What are some minerals within the “non-metals” group of native elements classification?

Sulfur, carbon (diamond form), graphite

Native elements are _____ minerals, extracted for a purpose.

Ore

What type of bonding do metals possess when uncombined with other elements?

Weak metallic bonding

All metal group minerals are built on a face centered _______ lattice with atoms in a ___-fold coordination

cubic; 12

What are some properties of Gold and Platinum group minerals?

Soft, malleable, ductile, sectile, good conductors of heat and electricity

Which mineral is found in hydrothermal fluids in magma during late fractionation or veins in quartz or pyrite, and rarely alloys with other elements?

Gold

Which mineral is found in hydrothermal ore deposits rich in sulfides, arsenides, and bismuthides?

Silver

Which mineral is found in sulfide-poor hydrothermal ore deposits, lava flows, or during secondary oxidation of Cu-sulfide minerals?

Copper

Platinum group minerals are built on a face centered _______ lattice with atoms in a ___-coordination

cubic; 12

Platinum group minerals are harder and have higher melting points than _______ group minerals.

Gold.

Which mineral is extremely rare, occuring in mantle-derived ultramafic rocks as inclusions, and can result in a series of minerals when undergoing a phase transformation?

Platinum

What are some properties of sulfur?

Brittle, low specific gravity, low hardness, easily ignites and melts.

Sulfur crystallizes in what system?

Orthorhombic

Describe the atomic structure of sulfur.

Octagonal rings of S atoms are connected by weak van der Waals bonds

What are some properties of graphite?

High electrical conductivity, perfect cleavage along 0001, low hardness, low specific gravity

Describe the atomic structure of graphite.

Not close packed, hexagonal C sheets are connected by strong covalent bonds but between layers there are weak van der Waals bonds

What are some properties of diamonds?

Describe the structure of diamond.

Not close packed, has strong covalent bonds in all three dimensions with octahedral cleavage along 111, four neighboring atoms in tetrahedron surround atoms

How would you compare the structure of graphite and diamond?

Turn one of the 3-fold axis of diamond parallel to 6-fold axis of graphite, and you’ll see that the rings of carbon on graphite are on a flat plane and diamond’s are not