Minerals to Memorize

Geology 200: Fall 2024

Installment #1

Mineral Groups

What is the defining chemical characteristic of each of these mineral groups?

Native elements

Halides

Oxides

Sulfates

Sulfides

Phosphates

Carbonates

Silicates

Non-Silicates

Make sure you can relate each of these back to a specific mineral group!

Apatite: Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH,F,Cl)

Aragonite: CaCO₃

Bornite: Cu₅FeS₄

Calcite: CaCO₃

Chalcocite: Cu₂S

Chalcopyrite: CuFeS₂

Cinnabar: HgS

Corundum: Al₂O₃

Crocoite: PbCrO₄

Diamond: C

Fluorite: CaF₂

Galena: PbS

Graphite: C

Gypsum: CaSO₄-2H₂O

Halite: NaCl

Hematite: Fe₂O₃

Magnesite: MgCO₃

Magnetite: Fe₃O₄

Malachite: Cu₂CO₃(OH)₂

Molybdenite: MoS₂

Pyrite: FeS₂

Rhodochrosite: MnCO₃

Rutile: TiO₂

Sulfur: S

Siderite: FeCO₃

Sphalerite: ZnS

Stibnite: Sb₂S₃

Topaz: Al₂SiO₄(F, OH)₂

Installment #2

Orthosilicates

• Almandine: Fe₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃

• Andalusite: Al₂SiO₅

• Fayalite: Fe₂SiO₄

• Forsterite: Mg₂SiO₄

• Grossular: Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃

• Kyanite: Al₂SiO₅

• Pyrope: Mg₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃

• Sillimanite: Al₂SiO₅

• Spessartine: Mn₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃

• Topaz: Al₂SiO₄(F, OH)₂

• Zircon: ZrSiO₄

• General formula for olivine: (Mg, Fe)₂SiO₄

• General formula for garnet: X₃Y₂(SiO₄)₃

  • What cations can fit into the X and Y structural sites?

  • How does pyralspite differ from grandite?

Installment #3

Single chain silicates

• General pyroxene formula: XYZ₂O₆

  • Which elements fit into the X , Y, and Z sites?

  • How can you distinguish orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene?

• Enstatite: Mg₂Si₂O₆

• Ferrosilite: Fe₂Si₂O₆

• Hedenbergite: CaFeSi₂O₆

• Diopside: CaMgSi₂O₆

• Augite: ‎(Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe,Al)(Al,Si)₂O₆ 

Double chain silicates

• General amphibole formula: A_0-1B₂C₅T₈0₂₂W₂

  • Which elements fit into the A, B, C, T and W sites?

• Tremolite: Ca₂(Mg,Fe)₅Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂

• Actinolite: Ca₂(Mg,Fe)₅Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂

• Hornblende: (Na, K)_0-1Ca₂(Mg, Fe, Al)₅(Si,Al)₈O₂₂(OH)₂

• Glaucophane: Na₂Mg₃Al₂Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂ 

Installment #4

(You will not see these on a quiz, but expect to see these--as well as the minerals above--on Exam 2 and the Final Exam)

Sheet silicates

• Kaolinite: Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄

• Serpentine: Mg₃(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄

• Talc: Mg₃(Si₄O₁₀)(OH)₂

• Muscovite: KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂

• Biotite: K(Mg,Fe)₃(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂

• Chlorite: Mg₃([Si,Al]₄O₁₀)(OH)₂ . (Mg,Al)₃(OH)₆

• Be ready to classify as TO, TOT, TOT+C, and TOT+O

• Be ready to identify di- vs tri-octahedral

Framework silicates

• Quartz: SiO₂

• Chrysotile: SiO₂

• Opal: SiO₂.nH₂O

• Plagioclase feldspar: CaAl₂Si₂O₈ ↔ NaAlSi₃O₈

• Alkali feldspar:  NaAlSi₃O₈ ↔ KAlSi₃O₈