MINERALS

Mineralogy

a branch of Geology specializing in the scientific study of chemistry, crystal structure and physical (including optical) properties of minerals.

Minerals

is a naturally occurring substance that is solid and inorganic representable by a chemical formula, usually abiogenic, and has an ordered atomic structure.

Minerals

the building blocks of rocks

Crystals

orderly packing of atoms is reflected in the regularly shaped objects called

Chemical Element

Building blocks of Minerals.

Atom

Smallest particle of matter that has all the characteristics of an element. It is composed of the following:

Nucleus

the central region of the atom which contains very dense protons and equally dense neutrons.

Protons

Particles with positive electrical charge

Neutrons

particles with neutral electrical charges

Electrons

particles orbiting the nucles which have negative electrical charges.

Compounds

consists of two or more elements bonded together by an electrical force in definite proportions.

Ionic Bonding

in which one atom gives up one or more of its valence electrons to another atom to form ions.

Covalent Bonding

a chemical bond formed by the sharing of a pair of electrons between atoms.

Metallic Bonding

Electrons free to move- a type of bonding that holds atoms together is the result of each atom contributing its valence electrons to a common pool of electrons that are free to move throughout the entire metallic structure.

Mass Number

the total of its neutrons and protons.

Isotopes

Same element (Same number of protons) but differ in the number of neutrons.

Radioactive Decay

The Spontaneous process of nuclei undergoing a change by emitting particles or rays.

Luster

The appearance or quality of light reflected from the surface of a mineral.

Ability to Transmit Light

opaque, translucent or transparent.

Color

generally the most conspicuous characteristic of any material.

Streak

The Color of a mineral in powdered form.

Crystal Shape

refer to the common or characteristic shape of individual crystals or aggregates of crystals.

Hardness

a measure of the resistance of a mineral to abrasion or scratching. This property can be determined by rubbing a mineral of unknown hardness against one of known hardness or vice versa.

Cleavage

the tendency of a mineral to break (cleave) along planes of weak bonding.

Fracture

Minerals that have chemical bonds that are equally, or nearly equally, strong in all directions exhibit this property.

Tenacity

a mineral’s resistance to breaking, bending, cutting, or other forms of deformation.

Density

mass per unit volume

Specific Gravity

a number representing the ratio of a mineral’s weight to the weight of an equal volume of water.

Rock Forming Silicates

contain oxygen and silicon atoms. Except for some like quartz.

Non-silicate Minerals

make up only about ¼ of the continental crust.

Mineral Resources

are earth’s storehouse of useful minerals that can be recovered for use.

Reserves

Resources include already identified deposits from which minerals can be extracted profitably

Ores

denotes useful metallic minerals that can be mined at a profit.