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Introduction to Mineralogy

Introduction to Mineralogy. Mineralogy is a mixture of: New concepts – much of it from chemistry and physics with a geologic point of view Fairly complex ideas (but not insurmountable) New vocabulary – many terms Large amounts of memorization

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Introduction to Mineralogy

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  1. Introduction to Mineralogy • Mineralogy is a mixture of: • New concepts – much of it from chemistry and physics with a geologic point of view • Fairly complex ideas (but not insurmountable) • New vocabulary – many terms • Large amounts of memorization • This mixture can make mineralogy seem a bit complicated and esoteric

  2. So why mineralogy? • Minerals are chemical compounds that form from natural earth processes • Minerals are basic building blocks of rocks • Rocks provide record of earth history and are formed by earth processes • Geologists • Study earth history • Study earth processes • Mineralogy is the key.

  3. Objectives Three parts to class (originally three classes): • Learn chemical properties of minerals • Crystallography – spatial arrangement of atoms • Crystal chemistry – what atoms make up minerals and why

  4. Analytical methods: • Physical properties (this week’s lab) – visual observations • Polarizing microscope • X-ray diffraction • Identify, classify and organize minerals

  5. Definition of Mineral A naturally occurring, homogeneous solid, with a defined (but generally not fixed) chemical composition and an ordered atomic arrangement

  6. 1. Naturally occurring • Why not synthetic (man-made)? • E.g. diamonds • Corian countertops (quartz) • Table salt (halite) • Others? San Francisco Bay Salar de Uyuni, Bolivian Altiplano

  7. 2. Homogeneous solid • Minerals can not be PHYSICALLY broken into new compounds • How about chemically “broken”? • What would they break into? • Why solid? Physical Reaction: Big Feldspar → Little Feldspar Chemical reaction: Albite → Na+ + Al3+ + SiO44-

  8. 3. Defined, but not fixed, composition • The compositions of minerals are strictly defined (stoichiometry), but can vary between compositions • For example: • Calcite is CaCO3 but will also contain much Mg, Sr, Fe, Mn etc. • Olivine - (Fe,Mg)2SiO4 - is a group of two main minerals: • Fayalite (Fe2SiO4) • Forsterite (Mg2SiO4)

  9. 4. Ordered atomic arrangement • Crystallography – how atoms are arranged in space. • For example: • Aragonite (CaCO3) and calcite (CaCO3) are different minerals but have identical compositions • This is why minerals are referred to by name rather than formula • Mineral names include both composition (chemistry) and crystallography

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