Minerals

Precious Gifts from Mother Earth

1. Classification based on Chemical Composition

• Silicates (mostly silica SiO4)

– Quartz, Feldspars, Micas, Amphiboles, Pyroxenes

• Carbonates (CO3)

– Calcite (Ca), Dolomite (Mg), Malachite (Cu), Siderite (Fe)

• Sulfates (SO4)

– Gypsum and Barite

• Oxides and Sulfides (O and S – most ores)– Iron – Hematite– Aluminum – Bauxite and Corundum

• Halides (has a halogen, e.g., F or Cl)

– Fluorite, Halite

• Native Minerals (pure elements not in compounds)

– Gold, Silver, Copper, Sulfur, Carbon (diamond, graphite)

2. Classification Based on How Used

• Industrial Minerals– A naturally occurring rock mineral that can be used

“as-is” for manufacturing or chemical production.

• Ores– A mineral or an aggregate of minerals from which a

valuable constituent, especially a metal, can be profitably mined or extracted.

• Gems– A crystalline mineral that can be cut and polished for

jewelry.

Minerals are All Around Us

Ores– Iron– Copper– Uranium– Aluminum– Lead– Zinc– Tin

Gems– Birthstones– Jewelry

Industrial– Asbestos– Calcium

Carbonate– Diatomite – Gypsum– Kaolin– Perlite– Silica– Talc– Vermiculite– Zeolite