Geologists have identified more than 3,000 minerals. Most common minerals are formed of more than one element, such as gold and silver, are made of single elements. All minerals is always solid and have a characteristic crystal structure.
Mineral characteristic, A mineral must has this following criteria:
• found in nature and occurs naturally,
• inorganic,
• has a crystal structure (arrangement of atoms),
• has a specific range of chemical compositions,
• has characteristic physical properties (shape and volume).
How to identifying a mineral
Geologists use the physical properties of minerals to identify them and every mineral has specific characteristic that can be used to classified them. The physical properties of minerals are:
Mineral characteristic, A mineral must has this following criteria:
• found in nature and occurs naturally,
• inorganic,
• has a crystal structure (arrangement of atoms),
• has a specific range of chemical compositions,
• has characteristic physical properties (shape and volume).
How to identifying a mineral
Geologists use the physical properties of minerals to identify them and every mineral has specific characteristic that can be used to classified them. The physical properties of minerals are:
Hardness, every mineral has different hardness, hardness of minerals is seeing as how easy its to scratch. The hardness scale usually used to measure mineral hardness is Mohs hardness Scale. To check a mineral’s hardness, scratch it with the hardness of one of a set of reference minerals, then see where it fits on the Mohs’ Scale.
The hardness of mineral based on mohs scale
- Talc
- Gypsum
- Calcite
- Fluorite
- Apatite
- Orthoclase
- Quartz
- Topaz
- Corundum
- Diamond
Color, Some minerals vary in their color and only few of them have special characteristic of color. Mineral color is not good method to identify a mineral.
Density, is the mass of mineral. One method of measuring the density of a sample entails the use of one dense liquid and another miscible liquid of lower density. A solution of the two substances is created in which a crystal of the mineral in question remains suspended and neither sinks nor floats.
Fracture , takes place when a mineral sample is split in a direction which does not serve as a plane of perfect or distinct cleavage. A mineral fractures when it is broken or crushed. Fracture does not result in the emergence of clearly demarcated planar surfaces; minerals may fracture in any possible direction. Descriptions of fracture include splintery, jagged, and conchoidal defined as the smooth curves found on broken glass.
Cleavage, may be determined by the examination of surfaces which have actually broken. It may also be determined by inspection of the interlacing systems of cracks which permeate the structure of certain specimens. These systems of cracks are beautifully apparent within transparent crystals such as fluorite or calcite.
Luster, is another identifying trait of minerals. It is how shiny the mineral appears or whether they are opaque or transparent. A mineral’s luster can be described as adamantine, pearly, silky, dull, resinous and vitreous, A common type of mineral luster is vitreous, meaning “like glass.”
Streak
Since mineral color cannot always be used to identify a mineral, geologists sometimes use streak. Streak is a mineral’s fine powder. To look at streak, powder the mineral or run it along a ceramic plate. Not all minerals have identifiable streak; quartz, for example, would be more likely to scratch the ceramic plate. Metallic minerals have the best streak.
Density, is the mass of mineral. One method of measuring the density of a sample entails the use of one dense liquid and another miscible liquid of lower density. A solution of the two substances is created in which a crystal of the mineral in question remains suspended and neither sinks nor floats.
Fracture , takes place when a mineral sample is split in a direction which does not serve as a plane of perfect or distinct cleavage. A mineral fractures when it is broken or crushed. Fracture does not result in the emergence of clearly demarcated planar surfaces; minerals may fracture in any possible direction. Descriptions of fracture include splintery, jagged, and conchoidal defined as the smooth curves found on broken glass.
Cleavage, may be determined by the examination of surfaces which have actually broken. It may also be determined by inspection of the interlacing systems of cracks which permeate the structure of certain specimens. These systems of cracks are beautifully apparent within transparent crystals such as fluorite or calcite.
Luster, is another identifying trait of minerals. It is how shiny the mineral appears or whether they are opaque or transparent. A mineral’s luster can be described as adamantine, pearly, silky, dull, resinous and vitreous, A common type of mineral luster is vitreous, meaning “like glass.”
Streak
Since mineral color cannot always be used to identify a mineral, geologists sometimes use streak. Streak is a mineral’s fine powder. To look at streak, powder the mineral or run it along a ceramic plate. Not all minerals have identifiable streak; quartz, for example, would be more likely to scratch the ceramic plate. Metallic minerals have the best streak.
How Do Minerals Form
Minerals can form in two ways:
Crystallization of melted materials
- Minerals form as hot magma cools inside the crust, or as lava hardens on the surface. When these liquids cool to the solid state, they form crystals.
Crystallization of materials dissolved in water ( form by Evaporation )
- If you have a hot water solution (sugar and hot water), when the water cools the atom(s) leave the solution and crystallize as minerals.
- A SOLUTION is a mixture in which one substance dissolves in another.
