Mineralogy

What are the characteristics of Silicates?

• Contains a combination of silicon and oxygen.

  Makes up 96% of the earth's crust

• Contains Carbonate (CO₃)

  Component of concrete and fireworks

• Contains chlorine or fluorine combines with potassium or calcium

  Used in salt, detergents, and fertilizer

• Not combined with other elements

  Used in precious gems and electronics

What are the characteristics of Carbonates?

• Contains a combination of silicon and oxygen

  Most common type

  Makes up 96% of the earth's crust

• Contains Carbonate (CO₃)

  Component of concrete and fireworks

• Contains chlorine or fluorine combines with potassium or calcium

  Used in salt, detergents, and fertilizer

• Not combined with other elements

  Used in precious gems and electronics

What are the characteristics of Native Elements?

• Contains a combination of silicon and oxygen

  Most common type

  Makes up 96% of the earth's crust

• Contains Carbonate (CO₃)

  Component of concrete and fireworks

• Contains chlorine or fluorine combines with potassium or calcium

  Used in salt, detergents, and fertilizer

• Not combined with other elements

  Used in precious gems and electronics

What are the characteristics of Oxides?

• Contains oxygen and elements other than silicon

  Used in abrasives

• Contains a sulfate group (SO₄)

  Used for drywall, makeup, paint, and toothpaste

• Consists of one or more elements combined with sulfur

  Used in batteries and medicine

What are the characteristics of Sulfates?

• Contains oxygen and elements other than silicon

  Used in abrasives

• Contains a sulfate group (SO₄)

  Used for drywall, makeup, paint, and toothpaste

• Consists of one or more elements combined with sulfur

  Used in batteries and medicine

What are the characteristics of Sulfides?

• Contains oxygen and elements other than silicon

  Used in abrasives

• Contains a sulfate group (SO₄)

  Used for drywall, makeup, paint, and toothpaste

• Consists of one or more elements combined with sulfur

  Used in batteries and medicine

What are the physical properties of Luster?

• The way a mineral reflects light

• Tendency of a mineral to split along specific planes of weakness to form smooth, flat surfaces/Manner in which a mineral breaks along either curved or irregular surfaces

• Ability to resist scratching

• Color of a mineral in powder form (streak plate is used)

What are the physical properties of Cleavage/Fracture?

• Tendency of a mineral to split along specific planes of weakness to form smooth, flat surfaces/Manner in which a mineral breaks along either curved or irregular surfaces

• Ability to resist scratching

• Often and unreliable identification clue

• Color of a mineral in powder form (streak plate is used)

What are the physical properties of Hardness?

• The way a mineral reflects light

• Tendency of a mineral to split along specific planes of weakness to form smooth, flat surfaces/Manner in which a mineral breaks along either curved or irregular surfaces

• Ability to resist scratching

• Color of a mineral in powder form (streak plate is used)

What are the physical properties of Color?

• The way a mineral reflects light

• Tendency of a mineral to split along specific planes of weakness to form smooth, flat surfaces/Manner in which a mineral breaks along either curved or irregular surfaces

• Ability to resist scratching

• Often and unreliable identification clue