Geology Lab: Common Minerals and Their Uses

Chalcopyrite

(Copper sulfide) is just one of the many minerals that contain copper.

Pyrite

(Iron sulfide) is used to generate sulfuric acid which has many industrial uses.

Galena

(Lead sulfide) is mined for lead ore.

Sphalerite

(Zinc sulfide) is a mineral containing zinc ore. Just remember that "Zinc Stinks" when you scratch sphalerite with a nail.

Fluorite

(calcium fluoride) is used as a flux in steel making to draw out impurities in the metals. It is also an important component in oral hygiene; most toothpaste has calcium fluoride included to protect your teeth from decay.

All varieties of Quartz

Are rock formers, although some macrocrystalline varieties such as amethyst are used as ornamental stone and semi-precious gems.

Carbonates

CO3 bonded to metals

What are the concrete, steel, glass, and plaster that make up modern buildings made from?

Calcite, Magnetite, Quartz, and Gypsum.

Ferromagnesium silicates

Contain iron and/or magnesium bonded to silica such as olivine, augite, hornblende, and biotite.

Silicates

Contain silicon (Si) and oxygen (O), often with other metals.

Halides

F, Cl, Br, or I bonded to metals without other non-metals

Olivine

It is also a rock former and is one of the main minerals found in the Earth's mantle.

Non-ferromagnesium silicates

Lack iron and magnesium and have higher percentages of sodium, calcium, potassium, and aluminum. Some common non-ferromagnesium silicates are orthoclase, plagioclase, muscovite, all varieties of quartz, and many others.

Many of the common minerals in the Earth's crust can be categorized into these?

Mineral groups. These groups utilize most of the eight common elements.

Do minerals usually have a single characteristic that defines them?

Minerals do not usually have a single characteristic that defines them, but by using a combination of physical properties, most common minerals can be identified.

How do we use minerals?

Minerals have everyday value and are important in our everyday lives as a component of our economy. Many minerals are used in industrial applications to produce goods and services people use daily.

Muscovite

Muscovite also has another interesting history; because of its diaphaneity, it was often used in place of glass as our population was expanding to the west. Glass was too heavy and fragile to make a long journey in a covered wagon, so muscovite was used to cover windows.

Oxides

O plus metals without other non-metals (Si, C, P, S).

Native Elements

Occur in elemental form (one element only)

Silicates

One or more common metals bonded in a variety of configurations.

Phosphates

PO4 bonded to metals

Sulfides

S bonded to metals

Sulfates

SO4 bonded to metals

Silicate minerals

Silicate minerals are the most abundant minerals in the Earth's crust, which is not surprising as silicon and oxygen are the most abundant elements. Silicon and Oxygen combined is known as silica. Many of the basic rock forming minerals have silica bonded to one or more additional elements such as aluminum, potassium, calcium, iron, and magnesium. Silicate minerals include about one third of all known minerals and make up almost 95% of the Earth's crust. Geologists recognize two sub-groups of silicate minerals: Ferromagnesium silicates and Non-ferromagnesium silicates.

Common mineral groups

Silicate minerals, Carbonate minerals, Oxide minerals, Sulfide minerals, Sulfate minerals, Halide minerals, Phosphate minerals, Native elements, and gemstones.

What do most common minerals of the crust consist of?

Silicon, Oxygen, and one or more common metals bonded in a variety of configurations, known as silicates.

Garnet, Corundum

Some garnet minerals and corundum can be used as abrasives due to their hardness.

Rock formers

Some minerals do not have an economic application, but they provide important structure to Earth minerals and are known as rock formers, the building blocks of rocks.

What does successful mineral identification require?

Successful mineral identification requires systematic determination of physical properties such as luster, streak, hardness, and cleavage or fracture in order to identify a particular specimen.

What dictates which minerals can form and what their atomic structures may be?

The abundances of chemical elements, and the size and charge of ions.

Which mineral groups make up the largest percentage (over 95%) of the crust?

The silicate and carbonate groups.

Other common mineral groups are classified according to...?

Their characteristic anions such as carbonates (CO3 2-), oxides (O 2-), sulfides (S 2-), sulfates (SO4 2-), halides (F-, Cl-, Br-, I-), and phosphates (PO4 3-). Many of the minerals from these groups are somewhat rare, and some are important economic resources.

Minerals are divided into groups or classes by?

Their common negatively charged ion or ion group.

Pure garnets

These are a semi-precious gemstone and used in jewelry making.

Hematite and Limonite

These are both used to generate iron ore and as tints or dyes in paints and make-up.

Pure corundum

These are crystallized under specific conditions and will form the precious gems ruby and sapphire.

Phosphate minerals

These are important sources of phosphorus for fertilizers. This mineral group is highly diverse, with only a few species relatively common. Apatite, one of the most common phosphate minerals, is used in the manufacturing of fertilizers, and is occasionally used as a gemstone. Hydroxyapatite is the major component of tooth enamel and bone material.

Native elements

These are minerals composed of a single element, such as diamond and graphite, and precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum. Some minerals, such as copper and sulfur, can exist as chemical elements in their native state and occur as constituents in chemical compounds.

Gemstones

These are minerals cut and polished along planes of weakness. Because of their beauty and scarcity, gemstones have fascinated people for thousands of years. These minerals have been used as religious symbols, crown jewels, court regalia, and good luck charms. Ancient people believed in their mystical powers, and some minerals have been ingested internally or applied externally in hopes of healing and possible immortality. Diamonds were thought to ward off evil spirits, sickness, and floods. Rubies were thought to preserve its owner's health; and topaz was thought to prevent mental disorders. Emeralds were a symbol of immortality and chastity, and were also thought to cure dysentery.

Rock formers

These are minerals that provide structure to Earth minerals. They have no specific industrial use, but they are important constituents to the rocks that provide the base material upon which we live, work, and build.

Orthoclase, Plagioclase, Augite, and Hornblende

These are silicate minerals found in rocks generated by magmatic or volcanic processes.

Industrial minerals

These are used by factories and manufacturers to produce materials for consumers.

Personal Use Minerals

These are used by people in their everyday lives; most times we don't see the mineral in its raw form, rather the minerals have been modified and packaged for our use.

Ore minerals

These are used to produce economic materials, mostly metals, which are used in industry and building materials.

Oxide Minerals

These contain a metal combined with oxygen such as hematite or magnetite, both minerals function as concentrations of iron ores. Rocks with high concentrations of these minerals in the Lake Superior region of Canada and the United States are sources of iron ores for the manufacturing of steel.

Sulfide Minerals

These contain a metal, generally an ore metal such as copper, lead, or silver, combined with sulfur. These minerals are valuable metal sources and are mined in the United States and other countries to supply industry with resources for manufacturing and production. Some common sulfide minerals include galena, pyrite, sphalerite, and chalcopyrite.

Halide minerals

These contain halogen elements such as fluorine, bromine, iodine, or chlorine combined with metals. Many of these minerals are highly soluble, meaning they dissolve in water; some have fluorescent properties. Common halide minerals include halite and fluorite.

Sulfate Minerals

These contain the sulfate ion as part of their structure. These minerals form primarily in evaporitic conditions and sometimes as a result of hydrothermal processes. Some common sulfate minerals include gypsum, anhydrite, and celestite.

Calcite and Dolomite

These examples are carbonate minerals found in limestones.

Apatite and Gypsum

These have agricultural applications as fertilizer and soil enhancers.

Carbonate minerals

These include those that contain the carbonate ion bonded to various metal ions, most often calcium in the form of calcite, or in some cases a combination of calcium and magnesium to form dolomite. Calcite crystals can assume more varied shapes and sizes than do the crystals of any other mineral. More than 600 crystal forms are known for the mineral calcite!

Graphite, Copper, and Sulfur

These native elements have a variety of industrial uses from manufacturing to pharmaceuticals to personal cooking utensils.

Biotite and Muscovite

They can be liquefied and used as a lubricant in industry.

What do coins and jewelry come from?

They come from other minerals and native elements, such as copper, gold, silver, diamonds, and corundum.

Calcite

This can be decomposed by heating to form quicklime, a primary ingredient in cement.

Magnetite

This is another mineral that can be mined for iron ore and has magnetic properties.

Halite

This is sold as common table salt and as a preservative and taste modifier in everything from canned goods to potato chips to McDonald's french fries.

Gypsum

This is the primary mineral in sheetrock and plaster of paris, used in construction and art applications.

Talc

This is used in body powder, foot powder, dusting powder, and many others. It can also be used in make-up and other beauty products. The fine, iridescent material can add shimmer and sparkle to your skin.

Sulfur

This is used in the formation of chemical compounds such as fertilizers and insecticides utilized in agricultural applications.

Quartz

This is used in the making of glass products.