earth science 2 chemical

• Composition of minerals


  • Silicates
  • Oxides
  • Sulfides
  • Sulfates
  • Halides
  • Carbonates
  • Natives / Native metals
• Silicates


  • Largest group of minerals
  • Composed primarily of silicon-oxygen tetrahedrons (SiO42−)
• Silicate minerals

  • Olivine (Mg, Fe)2SiO4)
  • Feldspar (KAlSi3O8)
  • Pyroxene, Amphibole, Muscovite
• Oxides


  Consist of metal cations bonded to oxygen anions (O2−)
• Sulfides


  Consist of metal cations bonded to sulfides (S2−)
• Sulfates


  Consist of metal cations bonded to sulfate (SO42−) anionic groups
• Sulfate minerals


  • Gypsum (CaSO4 ∙ 2H2O)
  • Barite / Baryte (BaSO4)
• Halides


  Consist of metal cations bonded to halogens
• Halide minerals


  • Halite / Rock salt (NaCl)
  • Fluorite (CaF2)
• Carbonates


  Consist of minerals with carbonic ion present that easily bond with metals
• Carbonate minerals


  • Calcite (CaCO3)
  • Dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2)
• Natives / Native metals


  Consist of singular metal elements in pure form
• Native metal minerals


  • Copper (Cu)
  • Gold (Au)
  • Bismuth (Bi)
• Crystal structures


  • Isomeric
  • Monoclinic
  • Orthorhombic
  • Tetragonal
  • Hexagonal
  • Triclinic
• Isomeric


  Common crystal system whose unit cell is in the shape of a cube (𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 )
• Monoclinic


  Crystal structure whose axes [(x, y, z) OR (a, b, c)] have different lengths; both x- and z-axes meet at 90° while the y-axis does not
• Orthorhombic


  Crystal structure whose axes [(x, y, z) OR (a, b, c)] have different lengths; all three (3) axes meet at 90°
• Tetragonal


  Crystal structure whose two (2) axes [(𝑥1 , 𝑥2 ) OR (𝑎1 , 𝑎2 )] have equal lengths while the third axis (𝑧 OR 𝑐) is longer; all three (3) axes meet at 90°
• Hexagonal


  Has 4 crystallographic axes consisting of 3 equilateral axes angling at 120° to each other, with 1 perpendicular axis
• Triclinic


  The rhombohedron system - crystal system that is similar to the isometric system, but it has been skewed to 1 side, making it oblique
• Importance of minerals

  • Body's Health
  • Construction Industry
  • Agriculture
  • Chemical Industry
  • Jewelry and Cosmetics
• Environmental damage from mining

  • Air, Land and Water Pollution
  • Damage of Vegetation
  • Ecological Disturbance
  • Degradation of Natural Landscape
  • Geological Hazards