Geology Minerals

Pyrite- Use for making sulfuric acid

Metallic Luster, shiny gold color, cubic crystal, dark streak, heavy (ddense)

Galena- Use for sources of bullets or sources of rechargeable batteries

Metallic Luster, silver color, heavy, 3 directions of cleavage at 90 degrees, black streak

Talc- Use for baby powder

Pearly white to pale, can be scratched with a fingernail, SOAPY FEEL

Calcite- Use for Antiacids

Clear to white, 3 directions of cleavage not at 90 degrees, can be scratched with a penny, FIZZES IN ACID

Halite- use for table slat, De-icing roads

Clear, 3 directions of cleavage at 90 degrees, TASTES SALTY

Quarts- Use for glass, sources of silicon for semiconductors, watch components

Clear, can have prismatic crystal (hexagonal), scratches glass, no cleavage (fracture)

Olivine- Use for jewelry, sources of iron for steel

Yellow-green color, glassy luster, fracture

Hematite- use for jewelry, sources of iron for steel

Reddish brown streak, dull rusty red color or metallic luster, silver color

Magnetite- use for magnets, sources of iron for steel

Magnetic, black dull (metallic luster on fresh surface), dense, dark streak

Potassium Feldspar-use for jewelry and ceramics

Pink color, striations, 2 directions of cleavage at 90 degrees, can scratch glass

Plagioclase Feldspar- use for jewelry and ceramics

Silvery white color, 2 directions of cleavage at 90 degrees, can scratch glass

Garnet- use for sandpaper

Greenish yellow, 12-sided (dodecahedral) crystal, scratches glass

Augite- use for decorative building stones

Blackish green, 2 directions of cleavage at 90 degrees, white streak

Sulfur- use for explosive and gunpowder, fertilizer

Yellow, SMELL LIKE EGG, no cleavage

Gypsum- use for ceramic nad dry walls

White, striated, can be scratched with a fingernail

Biotite Mica- use for electrical insulation and paint filter

Black, 1 direction of cleavage (peel into sheets), scratch with fingernail

Muscovite Mica- use for electrical insolation and make-up

Silvery grey, 1 direction of cleavage (peel into sheets), scratch with fingernail

Graphite- use for industrial lubrication and pencils

Dull metallic luster, silvery grey streak, greasy feel, writes on paper

Kaolinite- use for ceramics

Soft, powdery appearance, STICKS TO FINGER WHEN WET

Corundum- use for ruby and sapphire

Dark red color, can scratch glass and all the other minerals, hexagonal crystals

Copper- use for electric wiring and coins

Copper color, metallic luster

Asbestos 

insolation, not flammable  

5 characteristics a mineral need to have to be consider a mineral?

Natural, inorganic, Solid, Ordered internal structure, Specific chemical composition

How do we identify minerals?

By looking at their crystal form, color, luster-shiny, and cleavage (how it breaks), hardens, magnetism, effervescence, streak, density

Mineral classes

Silicates (has several sub-classes), halides, carbonates, oxides, sulfates, Native elements (silver and gold)

Silicates mineral categories

Independent tetrahedra (bound with other elements), single chains of tetrahedra, double chains tetrahedra, sheets of tetrahedra

Other minerals categories

Carbonates, oxides, Sulfides,