MINERAL FAMILIES and RESOURCES

• Classified into 7 groups

• Based upon their chemical composition

I Native Elements:

• consist of a single element

Examples:

Silver (Ag)

Copper (Cu)

Graphite (C)

Sulfur (S)

II Sulfides: -

- compounds of metal and sulfur

Examples:

Galena(PbS)

Pyrite (FeS2)

III Oxides: -

- compounds of metals and oxygen

Examples:

Hematite (Fe2O3)

Corundum (Al2O3)

IV Halides

- made of a combination of metals and the nonmetallic elements known as halogens.

Examples:

Halite (NaCl)

Fluorite (CaF2)

V Carbonates : -

- compounds of metals with carbon and oxygen.

Examples:

Calcite (CaCO3)

Dolomite CaMg(CO3)2

VI Sulfates:

- compounds of metals with sulfur and oxygen

Examples: Gypsum

(CaSO4 H2O)

- compounds of various elements with silicon (Si) and oxygen (O).

- the most abundant group-make up 90% of Earth’s Crust-these elements form a unit called a tetrahedron

Examples: Quartz, clay, talc, mica, olivine

VII Silicates: Largest group

Tetrahedron

• molecular formula

SiO4

Structural Formula

Draw out:

– the arrangement of these atoms determines the crystal shape that resultsThe silica tetrahedron is the basic building block of minerals

Resources

• Ores: naturally occurring solid materials from which a metal or valuable mineral can be profitably extracted.

• Gems: precious or semi-precious stone

• Mineralogy: scientific study of minerals