Citizendia

For other uses, see Mineral (disambiguation).

A mineral is a naturally occurring substance formed through geological processes that has a characteristic chemical composition, a highly ordered atomic structure and specific physical properties. Geology (from Greek γη gê, "earth" and λόγος Logos, "speech" lit A rock, by comparison, is an aggregate of minerals and need not have a specific chemical composition. In Geology, rock is a naturally occurring aggregate of Minerals and/or Mineraloids The Earth's outer solid layer the ‘ Lithosphere Minerals range in composition from pure elements and simple salts to very complex silicates with thousands of known forms. A chemical element is a type of Atom that is distinguished by its Atomic number; that is by the number of Protons in its nucleus. A salt, in Chemistry, is defined as the product formed from the neutralisation reaction of Acids and bases. For the Artificial intelligence Androids of the 1990s Science fiction series Space Above and Beyond, see Silicate (AI [1] The study of minerals is called mineralogy. Mineralogy is an Earth Science focused around the Chemistry, Crystal structure, and physical (including optical) properties of Minerals

An assortment of minerals.
An assortment of minerals.

Contents

Mineral definition and classification

To be classified as a true mineral, a substance must be a solid and have a crystalline structure. A solid' object is in the States of matter characterized by resistance to Deformation and changes of Volume. In Materials science, a crystal is a Solid in which the constituent Atoms Molecules or Ions are packed in a regularly ordered repeating It must also be a naturally occurring, homogeneous substance with a defined chemical composition. Traditional definitions excluded organically derived material. However, the International Mineralogical Association in 1995 adopted a new definition:

a mineral is an element or chemical compound that is normally crystalline and that has been formed as a result of geological processes. The International Mineralogical Association ( IMA) is an international group of 38 national societies [2]

The modern classifications include an organic class - in both the new Dana and the Strunz classification schemes. [3][4]

The chemical composition may vary between end members of a mineral system. A chemical substance is a Material with a definite chemical composition. An endmember in Mineralogy is a Mineral that is at the extreme end of a mineral series in terms of purity For example the plagioclase feldspars comprise a continuous series from sodium-rich albite (NaAlSi3O8) to calcium-rich anorthite (CaAl2Si2O8) with four recognized intermediate compositions between. Plagioclase is a very important series of tectosilicate Minerals within the Feldspar family Feldspar is the name of a group of rock-forming Minerals which make up as much as 60% of the Earth 's crust. Sodium (ˈsoʊdiəm is an element which has the symbol Na( Latin natrium, from Arabic natrun) atomic number 11 atomic mass 22 Albite is a plagioclase Feldspar Mineral. It is the sodium endmember of the Plagioclase Solid solution series Calcium (ˈkælsiəm is the Chemical element with the symbol Ca and Atomic number 20 Anorthite is a compositional variety of Plagioclase Feldspar. Mineral-like substances that don't strictly meet the definition are sometimes classified as mineraloids. A mineraloid is a Mineral -like substance that does not demonstrate Crystallinity. Other natural-occurring substances are nonminerals. A nonmineral ( Mineralogy) is a substance found in a natural environment that does not satisfy the definition of a Mineral and is not even a Mineraloid. Industrial minerals is a market term and refers to commercially valuable mined materials (see also Minerals and Rocks section below). Industrial minerals are geological materials which are mined for their commercial value which are not fuel (fuel minerals or Mineral fuels) and are not sources of metals (

A crystal structure is the orderly geometric spatial arrangement of atoms in the internal structure of a mineral. In Mineralogy and Crystallography, a crystal structure is a unique arrangement of Atoms in a Crystal. History See also Atomic theory, Atomism The concept that matter is composed of discrete units and cannot be divided into arbitrarily tiny There are 14 basic crystal lattice arrangements of atoms in three dimensions, and these are referred to as the 14 "Bravais lattices". In Mineralogy and Crystallography, a crystal structure is a unique arrangement of Atoms in a Crystal. In Geometry and Crystallography, a Bravais lattice, named after Auguste Bravais, is an infinite set of points generated by a set of discrete translation Each of these lattices can be classified into one of the six crystal systems, and all crystal structures currently recognized fit in one Bravais lattice and one crystal system. In Materials science, a crystal is a Solid in which the constituent Atoms Molecules or Ions are packed in a regularly ordered repeating This crystal structure is based on regular internal atomic or ionic arrangement that is often expressed in the geometric form that the crystal takes. An ion is an Atom or Molecule which has lost or gained one or more Valence electrons giving it a positive or negative electrical charge Even when the mineral grains are too small to see or are irregularly shaped, the underlying crystal structure is always periodic and can be determined by X-ray diffraction. X-radiation (composed of X-rays) is a form of Electromagnetic radiation.

Chemistry and crystal structure together define a mineral. In fact, two or more minerals may have the same chemical composition, but differ in crystal structure (these are known as polymorphs). For example, pyrite and marcasite are both iron sulfide, but their arrangement of atoms differs. The Mineral marcasite, sometimes called white iron pyrite, is Iron Sulfide (FeS2 Similarly, some minerals have different chemical compositions, but the same crystal structure: for example, halite (made from sodium and chlorine), galena (made from lead and sulfur) and periclase (made from magnesium and oxygen) all share the same cubic crystal structure. Halite is the Mineral form of Sodium chloride, Na[[chlorine Cl]] commonly known as rock salt. Chlorine (ˈklɔriːn from the Greek word 'χλωρóς' ( khlôros, meaning 'pale green' is the Chemical element with Atomic number 17 and Galena is the natural mineral form of Lead sulfide. It is the most important Lead Ore mineral Characteristics Lead has a dull luster and is a dense, Ductile, very soft highly Sulfur or sulphur (ˈsʌlfɚ see spelling below) is the Chemical element that has the Atomic number 16 Periclase occurs naturally in contact Metamorphic rocks and is a major component of most basic Refractory bricks Magnesium (mægˈniːziəm is a Chemical element with the symbol Mg, Atomic number 12 Atomic weight 24 Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the

Crystal structure greatly influences a mineral's physical properties. For example, though diamond and graphite have the same composition (both are pure carbon), graphite is very soft, while diamond is the hardest of all known minerals. In Mineralogy, diamond is the allotrope of carbon where the carbon atoms are arranged in The Mineral graphite, as with Diamond and Fullerene, is one of the Allotropes of carbon. Carbon (kɑɹbən is a Chemical element with the symbol C and its Atomic number is 6 This happens because the carbon atoms in graphite are arranged into sheets which can slide easily past each other, while the carbon atoms in diamond form a strong, interlocking three-dimensional network.

There are currently more than 4,000 known minerals, according to the International Mineralogical Association, which is responsible for the approval of and naming of new mineral species found in nature. The International Mineralogical Association ( IMA) is an international group of 38 national societies Of these, perhaps 100 can be called "common," 50 are "occasional," and the rest are "rare" to "extremely rare. "

Differences between minerals and rocks

A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and a specific crystalline structure. A rock is an aggregate of one or more minerals. In Geology, rock is a naturally occurring aggregate of Minerals and/or Mineraloids The Earth's outer solid layer the ‘ Lithosphere (A rock may also include organic remains and mineraloids. A mineraloid is a Mineral -like substance that does not demonstrate Crystallinity. ) Some rocks are predominantly composed of just one mineral. For example, limestone is a sedimentary rock composed almost entirely of the mineral calcite. Limestone is a Sedimentary rock composed largely of the Mineral Calcite ( Calcium carbonate: CaCO3 Sedimentary rock is one of the three main rock types (the others being igneous and Metamorphic rock) Calcite is a carbonate mineral and the most stable polymorph of Calcium carbonate ( Ca[[carbon C]] O 3 Other rocks contain many minerals, and the specific minerals in a rock can vary widely. Some minerals, like quartz, mica or feldspar are common, while others have been found in only one or two locations worldwide. Quartz (from German) is the most abundant Mineral in the Earth 's Continental crust (although Feldspar is more common in The word "mica" is thought to be derived from the Latin word la micare, "glitteren" in reference to the brilliant appearance of this mineral (especially Feldspar is the name of a group of rock-forming Minerals which make up as much as 60% of the Earth 's crust. The vast majority of the rocks of the Earth's crust consist of quartz, feldspar, mica, chlorite, kaolin, calcite, epidote, olivine, augite, hornblende, magnetite, hematite, limonite and a few other minerals. In Geology, a crust is the outermost solid shell of a planet or moon The chlorites are a group of phyllosilicate Minerals Chlorites can be described by the following four endmembers based on their chemistry via substitution Kaolinite is a Clay mineral with the chemical composition Al 2 Si 2 O 5( OH)4 Epidote is a Calcium Aluminium Iron sorosilicate Mineral, Ca2Al2(Fe3+Al(SiO4(Si2O7O(OH The Mineral olivine (when gem-quality also called Peridot) is a Magnesium Iron silicate with the formula ( Mg Augite is a single chain inosilicate Mineral described chemically as (CaMgFeSiO3 or Calcium Magnesium Iron Hornblende is a complex inosilicate series of Minerals Hornblende is not a recognized mineral in its own right but the name is used as a general or field term to Magnetite is not to be confused with Magnesite or Maghemite. Magnetite is a ferrimagnetic Mineral with chemical Hematite, also spelt hæmatite, is the Mineral form of Iron(III oxide (Fe2O3 one of several Iron oxides Limonite is an ore consisting in a mixture of hydrated Iron(III oxide-hydroxide of varying composition [5] Over half of the mineral species known are so rare that they have only been found in a handful of samples, and many are known from only one or two small grains.

Commercially valuable minerals and rocks are referred to as industrial minerals. Industrial minerals are geological materials which are mined for their commercial value which are not fuel (fuel minerals or Mineral fuels) and are not sources of metals ( Rocks from which minerals are mined for economic purposes are referred to as ores (the rocks and minerals that remain, after the desired mineral has been separated from the ore, are referred to as tailings). Mining is the extraction of valuable Minerals or other geological materials from the earth usually (but not always from an Ore body An ore is a volume of rock containing components or Minerals in a mode of occurrence that renders it valuable for mining Tailings (also known as slimes, gangue, tailings pile, tails, leach residue, or slickens) are the materials left over

Mineral composition of rocks

A main determining factor in the formation of minerals in a rock mass is the chemical composition of the mass, for a certain mineral can be formed only when the necessary elements are present in the rock. Calcite is most common in limestones, as these consist essentially of calcium carbonate; quartz is common in sandstones and in certain igneous rocks which contain a high percentage of silica. Limestone is a Sedimentary rock composed largely of the Mineral Calcite ( Calcium carbonate: CaCO3 Calcium carbonate is a Chemical compound with the Chemical formula Ca[[Carbon C]] O 3 Igneous rocks (etymology from Latin ignis, fire are rocks formed by solidification of cooled Magma (molten rock The Chemical compound silicon dioxide, also known as silica or silox (from the Latin " Silex " is an Oxide

Other factors are of equal importance in determining the natural association or paragenesis of rock-forming minerals, principally the mode of origin of the rock and the stages through which it has passed in attaining its present condition. Paragenesis is a petrologic concept meaning an equilibrium assemblage of mineral phases. Two rock masses may have very much the same bulk composition and yet consist of entirely different assemblages of minerals. The tendency is always for those compounds to be formed which are stable under the conditions under which the rock mass originated. A granite arises by the consolidation of a molten magma at high temperatures and great pressures and its component minerals are those stable under such conditions. Granite (ˈɡrænɪt is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, Felsic, igneous rock. Magma (Plurals magmas and magmata) is molten rock that sometimes forms beneath the surface of the Earth (or any other Terrestrial planet Exposed to moisture, carbonic acid and other subaerial agents at the ordinary temperatures of the Earth's surface, some of these original minerals, such as quartz and white mica are relatively stable and remain unaffected; others weather or decay and are replaced by new combinations. Carbonic acid (ancient name acid of air or aerial acid) has the formula H2CO3 Weathering is the decomposition of earth rocks, Soils and their Minerals through direct contact with the planet's Atmosphere. The feldspar passes into kaolinite, muscovite and quartz, and any mafic minerals such as pyroxenes, amphiboles or biotite have been present they are often altered to chlorite, epidote, rutile and other substances. Feldspar is the name of a group of rock-forming Minerals which make up as much as 60% of the Earth 's crust. Kaolinite is a Clay mineral with the chemical composition Al 2 Si 2 O 5( OH)4 Muscovite (also known as Common Mica, Isinglass, or Potash mica) is a phyllosilicate Mineral of Aluminium Mafic is an adjective describing a Silicate mineral or rock that is rich in magnesium and iron the term was derived by contracting "magnesium" and "ferric" The pyroxenes are a group of important rock-forming Silicate minerals found in many Igneous and metamorphic rocks. Amphibole (pronounced amfi-bowl defines an important group of generally dark-colored rock-forming inosilicate Minerals composed of double chain SiO4 Biotite is a common phyllosilicate Mineral within the Mica group with the approximate chemical formula K(Mg Fe3AlSi3O10(F The chlorites are a group of phyllosilicate Minerals Chlorites can be described by the following four endmembers based on their chemistry via substitution Epidote is a Calcium Aluminium Iron sorosilicate Mineral, Ca2Al2(Fe3+Al(SiO4(Si2O7O(OH Rutile is a Mineral composed primarily of Titanium dioxide, Ti[[oxygen O]]2 These changes are accompanied by disintegration, and the rock falls into a loose, incoherent, earthy mass which may be regarded as a sand or soil. The materials thus formed may be washed away and deposited as sandstone or siltstone. The structure of the original rock is now replaced by a new one; the mineralogical constitution is profoundly altered; but the bulk chemical composition may not be very different. The sedimentary rock may again undergo metamorphism. Metamorphism can be defined as the solid state recrystallisation of pre-existing rocks due to changes in heat and/or pressure and/or introduction of fluids i If penetrated by igneous rocks it may be recrystallized or, if subjected to enormous pressures with heat and movement during mountain building, it may be converted into a gneiss not very different in mineralogical composition though radically different in structure to the granite which was its original state. Orogeny (Greek for "mountain generating" is the process of natural Mountain building and may be studied as a tectonic structural event as a geographical event and Gneiss (ˈnaɪs is a common and widely distributed type of rock formed by high-grade regional metamorphic processes from preexisting formations that were originally [5]

Physical properties of minerals

Classifying minerals can range from simple to very difficult. A mineral can be identified by several physical properties, some of them being sufficient for full identification without equivocation. In other cases, minerals can only be classified by more complex chemical or X-ray diffraction analysis; these methods, however, can be costly and time-consuming. X-ray scattering techniques are a family of non-destructive analytical techniques which reveal information about the crystallographic structure chemical composition

Physical properties commonly used are:[1]

Talc
Talc
Rough diamond.
Rough diamond.
  1. Talc Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
  2. Gypsum CaSO4·2H2O
  3. Calcite CaCO3
  4. Fluorite CaF2
  5. Apatite Ca5(PO4)3(OH,Cl,F)
  6. Orthoclase KAlSi3O8
  7. Quartz SiO2
  8. Topaz Al2SiO4(OH,F)2
  9. Corundum Al2O3
  10. Diamond C (pure carbon)

Chemical properties of minerals

Minerals may be classified according to chemical composition. They are here categorized by anion group. An ion is an Atom or Molecule which has lost or gained one or more Valence electrons giving it a positive or negative electrical charge The list below is in approximate order of their abundance in the Earth's crust. In Geology, a crust is the outermost solid shell of a planet or moon The list follows the Dana classification system. James Dwight Dana (February 12 1813 &ndash April 14 1895 was an American Geologist, Mineralogist and Zoologist. [1][7]

Silicate class

quartz
quartz

The largest group of minerals by far are the silicates (most rocks are ≥95% silicates), which are composed largely of silicon and oxygen, with the addition of ions such as aluminium, magnesium, iron, and calcium. Quartz (from German) is the most abundant Mineral in the Earth 's Continental crust (although Feldspar is more common in The silicate minerals make up the largest and most important class of rock-forming Minerals They are classified based on the structure of their silicate Ion group Silicon (ˈsɪlɪkən or /ˈsɪlɪkɒn/ silicium is the Chemical element that has the symbol Si and Atomic number 14 Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the WikipediaNaming Magnesium (mægˈniːziəm is a Chemical element with the symbol Mg, Atomic number 12 Atomic weight 24 Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 Calcium (ˈkælsiəm is the Chemical element with the symbol Ca and Atomic number 20 Some important rock-forming silicates include the feldspars, quartz, olivines, pyroxenes, amphiboles, garnets, and micas. Feldspar is the name of a group of rock-forming Minerals which make up as much as 60% of the Earth 's crust. Quartz (from German) is the most abundant Mineral in the Earth 's Continental crust (although Feldspar is more common in The Mineral olivine (when gem-quality also called Peridot) is a Magnesium Iron silicate with the formula ( Mg The pyroxenes are a group of important rock-forming Silicate minerals found in many Igneous and metamorphic rocks. Amphibole (pronounced amfi-bowl defines an important group of generally dark-colored rock-forming inosilicate Minerals composed of double chain SiO4 The garnet group includes a group of minerals that have been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones and abrasives The word "mica" is thought to be derived from the Latin word la micare, "glitteren" in reference to the brilliant appearance of this mineral (especially

Carbonate class

The carbonate minerals consist of those minerals containing the anion (CO3)2- and include calcite and aragonite (both calcium carbonate), dolomite (magnesium/calcium carbonate) and siderite (iron carbonate). Carbonate minerals are those Minerals containing the Carbonate Ion: CO32- Calcite is a carbonate mineral and the most stable polymorph of Calcium carbonate ( Ca[[carbon C]] O 3 Aragonite is a Carbonate mineral, one of the two common naturally occurring polymorphs of Calcium carbonate, Ca[[carbon C]] O 3 Dolomite (ˈdɒləmaɪt is the name of a Sedimentary Carbonate rock and a Mineral, both composed Siderite is also the name of a type of Iron Meteorite. ---- Siderite is a Mineral composed of Iron Carbonate Fe[[carbon Carbonates are commonly deposited in marine settings when the shells of dead planktonic life settle and accumulate on the sea floor. Plankton consist of any drifting Organisms ( Animals Plants Archaea, or Bacteria) that inhabit the Pelagic zone of Carbonates are also found in evaporitic settings (e. Evaporites (iˈvæpəraɪt are water-soluble Mineral sediments that result from the Evaporation of bodies of surficial Water. g. the Great Salt Lake, Utah) and also in karst regions, where the dissolution and reprecipitation of carbonates leads to the formation of caves, stalactites and stalagmites. Great Salt Lake, located in the northern part of the US state of Utah, is the largest salt lake in the western hemisphere the fourth-largest terminal The State of Utah (ˈjuːtɔː or) is a western state of the United States. Karst topography is a landscape shaped by the dissolution of a layer or layers of soluble Bedrock, usually Carbonate rock such as Limestone A cave is a natural underground void large enough for a human to enter A stalactite ( Greek stalaktites, (Σταλακτίτης from the word for "drip" and meaning "that which drips" is a type of Speleothem A stalagmite (from the Greek stalagma ("Σταλαγμίτης" "drop" or "drip" is a The carbonate class also includes the nitrate and borate minerals. In Inorganic chemistry, a nitrate is a salt of Nitric acid with an Ion composed of one Nitrogen and three Oxygen atoms Borates in Chemistry are Chemical compounds containing Boron bonded to three Oxygen atoms written as B(OR3

Sulfate class

Sulfates all contain the sulfate anion, SO42-. Sulfates commonly form in evaporitic settings where highly saline waters slowly evaporate, allowing the formation of both sulfates and halides at the water-sediment interface. Evaporites (iˈvæpəraɪt are water-soluble Mineral sediments that result from the Evaporation of bodies of surficial Water. Sulfates also occur in hydrothermal vein systems as gangue minerals along with sulfide ore minerals. Hydrothermal circulation in its most general sense is the circulation of hot water 'hydros' in the Greek meaning water and 'thermos' meaning heat The term sulfide ( sulphide in British English) refers to several types of Chemical compounds containing Sulfur in its lowest Oxidation An ore is a volume of rock containing components or Minerals in a mode of occurrence that renders it valuable for mining Another occurrence is as secondary oxidation products of original sulfide minerals. Redox (shorthand for reduction-oxidation reaction describes all Chemical reactions in which atoms have their Oxidation number ( Oxidation state Common sulfates include anhydrite (calcium sulfate), celestine (strontium sulfate), barite (barium sulfate), and gypsum (hydrated calcium sulfate). Anhydrite is a mineral - anhydrous Calcium Sulfate, CaSO4 It is in the Orthorhombic crystal system with three directions of perfect cleavage Celestine or celestite ( Sr[[Sulfur S]] O 4 is a Mineral consisting of Strontium Sulfate. Baryte ( Ba[[Sulfur S]] O 4 is a Mineral consisting of Barium sulfate. Gypsum is a very soft Mineral composed of Calcium sulfate dihydrate with the Chemical formula Ca[[sulfur S]] O 4·2 The sulfate class also includes the chromate, molybdate, selenate, sulfite, tellurate, and tungstate minerals. Chromates and dichromates are Salts of Chromic acid and dichromic acid respectively In chemistry a molybdate is a compound containing an Oxoanion with Molybdenum in its highest Oxidation state of 6 The selenate Ion is SeO42&minus Selenates are analogous to Sulfates and have similar chemistry Sulfites (also sulphites) are compounds that contain the sulfite Ion S[[oxygen O]]32− The tellurate Ion is TeO42&minus or TeO66&minus Unlike sulfate tellurate is a somewhat good oxidizer it can be reduced The tungstate Ion is WO42&minus A tungstate (compound is a compound containing the tungstate ion or more complicated Polymeric

Halide class

Halite
Halite

The halides are the group of minerals forming the natural salts and include fluorite (calcium fluoride), halite (sodium chloride), sylvite (potassium chloride), and sal ammoniac (ammonium chloride). Halite is the Mineral form of Sodium chloride, Na[[chlorine Cl]] commonly known as rock salt. A halide is a Binary compound, of which one part is a Halogen Atom and the other part is an element or radical that is less Salt is a Dietary mineral composed primarily of Sodium chloride that is essential for Animal life but toxic to most land plants Fluorite (also called fluorspar) is a Mineral composed of Calcium fluoride, Ca[[Fluorine F2]] Halite is the Mineral form of Sodium chloride, Na[[chlorine Cl]] commonly known as rock salt. Sylvite is Potassium chloride ( K[[chlorine Cl]] in natural Mineral form Sal ammoniac is a rare mineral composed of Ammonium chloride, NH4Cl Halides, like sulfates, are commonly found in evaporitic settings such as playa lakes and landlocked seas such as the Dead Sea and Great Salt Lake. The Dead Sea (יָם הַ‏‏מֶ‏ּ‏לַ‏ח, "Sea of Salt"البَحْر المَيّت, "Dead Sea" is a salt lake between The halide class includes the fluoride, chloride, bromide and iodide minerals. Fluoride is the reduced form of Fluorine. Both organic and Inorganic compounds containing the element fluorine are considered fluorides The chloride Ion is formed when the element Chlorine picks up one Electron to form an Anion (negatively-charged ion Cl&minus A bromide Ion is a Bromine atom with charge of −1 Compounds with bromine in formal Oxidation state −1 are called bromides An iodide Ion is an iodine atom with a &minus1 charge. Compounds with iodine in formal Oxidation state &minus1 are called iodides

Oxide class

Oxides are extremely important in mining as they form many of the ores from which valuable metals can be extracted. An oxide is a Chemical compound containing at least one Oxygen atom as well as at least one other element Mining is the extraction of valuable Minerals or other geological materials from the earth usually (but not always from an Ore body An ore is a volume of rock containing components or Minerals in a mode of occurrence that renders it valuable for mining They also carry the best record of changes in the Earth's magnetic field. Earth 's magnetic field (and the surface magnetic field) is approximately a Magnetic dipole, with one pole near the North pole (see They commonly occur as precipitates close to the Earth's surface, oxidation products of other minerals in the near surface weathering zone, and as accessory minerals in igneous rocks of the crust and mantle. Redox (shorthand for reduction-oxidation reaction describes all Chemical reactions in which atoms have their Oxidation number ( Oxidation state Weathering is the decomposition of earth rocks, Soils and their Minerals through direct contact with the planet's Atmosphere. The mantle is a part of an Astronomical object. The interior of the Earth, similar to the other Terrestrial planets, is Chemically divided Common oxides include hematite (iron oxide), magnetite (iron oxide), chromite (iron chromium oxide), spinel (magnesium aluminium oxide - a common component of the mantle), ilmenite (iron titanium oxide), rutile (titanium dioxide), and ice (hydrogen oxide). Hematite, also spelt hæmatite, is the Mineral form of Iron(III oxide (Fe2O3 one of several Iron oxides Magnetite is not to be confused with Magnesite or Maghemite. Magnetite is a ferrimagnetic Mineral with chemical Chromite is iron magnesium chromium oxide (Fe MgCr2O4 It is an Oxide Mineral belonging to the Spinel group The spinels are any of a class of Minerals of general formulation XY2 O 4 which Crystallize in the cubic (isometric Ilmenite is a weakly magnetic titanium-iron oxide Mineral which is iron-black or steel-gray Rutile is a Mineral composed primarily of Titanium dioxide, Ti[[oxygen O]]2 Ice is a Solid phase, usually crystalline, of a Non-metalic substance that is liquid or gas at Room temperature, such as Ammonia The oxide class includes the oxide and the hydroxide minerals. In Chemistry, hydroxide is the most common name for the diatomic Anion OH− consisting of Oxygen and Hydrogen

Sulfide class

Many sulfide minerals are economically important as metal ores. A sulfide mineral is a Mineral containing Sulfide (S2- as the major Anion. An ore is a volume of rock containing components or Minerals in a mode of occurrence that renders it valuable for mining Common sulfides include pyrite (iron sulfide - commonly known as fools' gold), chalcopyrite (copper iron sulfide), pentlandite (nickel iron sulfide), and galena (lead sulfide). Chalcopyrite (ˌkælkoʊˈpaɪraɪt kal-co-pie-right —"kal" as in " cal endar" "co" as in co de is a Copper Pentlandite is an Iron - Nickel sulfide ( Fe, Ni)9 S 8 Pentlandite usually has a NiFe ratio of close to 11 The sulfide class also includes the selenides, the tellurides, the arsenides, the antimonides, the bismuthinides, and the sulfosalts (sulfur and a second anion such as arsenic). The selenide Ion is Se2&minus A selenide is a chemical compound in which Selenium serves as an Anion with Oxidation number The telluride Ion is Te 2&minus It is the final stable member of the series of dianions O 2&minus S 2&minus An arsenide ion is an Arsenic atom with three extra electrons and charge &minus3 Antimonides are compounds of Antimony with more Electropositive elements Sulfosalt minerals are those complex Sulfide minerals with the general formula AmBnSp where A represents a Metal such as Copper

Phosphate class

The phosphate mineral group actually includes any mineral with a tetrahedral unit AO4 where A can be phosphorus, antimony, arsenic or vanadium. Phosphate minerals are those Minerals that contain the tetrahedrally coordinated Phosphate (PO43- Anion along with the freely substituting Phosphorus, (ˈfɒsfərəs is the Chemical element that has the symbol P and Atomic number 15 Antimony (IPA (Received Pronunciation, /ˈæntɪmoʊni/ (US is a Chemical element with the symbol Sb (stibium meaning "mark" and Arsenic (ˈɑrsənɪk is a Chemical element that has the symbol As and Atomic number of 33 Vanadium (vəˈneɪdiəm is a Chemical element that has the symbol V and Atomic number 23 By far the most common phosphate is apatite which is an important biological mineral found in teeth and bones of many animals. Foundations of modern biology There are five unifying principles The phosphate class includes the phosphate, arsenate, vanadate, and antimonate minerals. The arsenate Ion is As[[Oxygen O]]43&minusAn arsenate (compound is any compound that contains this ion Vanadium(V oxide ( vanadia) is the Chemical compound with the formula V2O5 The antimonate Ion is Sb(OH6&minus where Sb is Antimony and (OH is the Hydroxyl group

Element class

The elemental group includes metals and intermetallic elements (gold, silver, copper), semi-metals and non-metals (antimony, bismuth, graphite, sulfur). This group also includes natural alloys, such as electrum (a natural alloy of gold and silver), phosphides, silicides, nitrides and carbides (which are usually only found naturally in a few rare meteorites). Electrum is a naturally occurring Alloy of Gold and Silver, with trace amounts of Copper and other metals

Organic class

The organic mineral class includes biogenic substances in which geological processes have been a part of the genesis or origin of the existing compound. [2] Minerals of the organic class include various oxalates, mellitates, citrates, cyanates, acetates, formates, hydrocarbons and other miscellaneous species. [3] Examples include whewellite, moolooite, mellite, fichtelite, carpathite, evenkite and abelsonite. Whewellite is a mineral hydrated Calcium oxalate, formula Ca[[carbon C]]2 O 4· H2O. Moolooite is a rare blue-green Mineral with the formula Cu++(C2O4·n(H2O (n Copper Oxalate Mellite, also called honeystone, is an unusual Mineral being also an Organic chemical. Fichtelite is a rare white mineral found in Fossilized wood from Bavaria. Carpathite (also pendletonite and karpatite) is a rare hydrocarbon mineral Tetracosane, also called tetrakosane, is an Alkane Hydrocarbon with the Structural formula CH3(CH222CH3 Abelsonite, synonym Nickle Porphyrin is a Mineral of Nickel, Carbon, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen with formula NiC31H32N4

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ a b c Klein, Cornelis and Cornelius Hurlbut, Jr. This is a List of Minerals for which there are Wikipedia articles It is currently not possible to have a "complete list of minerals". The Tucson Gem Mineral & Fossil Showcase is one of the premier Gem and Mineral shows in the world Industrial minerals are geological materials which are mined for their commercial value which are not fuel (fuel minerals or Mineral fuels) and are not sources of metals ( In many places mineral water is often colloquially used to mean Carbonated water (which is usually carbonated mineral water as opposed to tap water Mineral processing, otherwise known as mineral dressing is the practice of beneficiating valuable minerals from their Ores Industrial mineral treatment processes usually combine Mineral wool, also known as mineral fibers or man-made mineral fibers are Fibers made from natural or synthetic Minerals or Metal Mining is the extraction of valuable Minerals or other geological materials from the earth usually (but not always from an Ore body Norman Levi Bowen was born in Kingston, Ontario, Canada June 21, 1887 and died on September 11, 1956. A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or Minerals are extracted Dietary minerals are the Chemical elements required by living Organisms other than the four elements Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, and In Geology, rock is a naturally occurring aggregate of Minerals and/or Mineraloids The Earth's outer solid layer the ‘ Lithosphere (1985) Manual of Mineralogy, Wiley, 20th ed. , ISBN 0-471-80580-7
  2. ^ a b http://www.minsocam.org/msa/ima/ima98(04).pdf Ernest H. Nickel, 1995, The definition of a mineral, The Canadian Mineralogist, vol. 33, pp. 689 - 690
  3. ^ a b http://www.mindat.org/dana.php?a=50 Dana Classification 8th edition - ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
  4. ^ http://www.mindat.org/strunz.php?a=9 Strunz Classification - Organic Compounds
  5. ^ a b This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition article "Petrology", a publication now in the public domain. The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1910–1911 is a 29-volume reference work that marked the beginning of the Encyclopædia Britannica The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone
  6. ^ http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/Products/Pglossary/mineral.html USGS Photo glossary of volcano terms
  7. ^ http://www.minerals.net/mineral/sort-met.hod/dana/dana.htm Dana classification - Minerals. net

Dictionary

mineral

-noun

  1. (geology) Any naturally occuring inorganic material that has a (more or less) definite chemical composition and characteristic physical properties.
  2. Any inorganic material (as distinguished from animal or vegetable).
  3. Any inorganic element that is essential to nutrition; a dietary mineral.
  4. (UK) Mineral water.
  5. (Ireland, informal) A soft drink, particularly a single serve bottle or can.

-adjective

  1. of, related to, or containing minerals
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