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Understanding Minerals: Color, Structure, and Identification

This overview explores the significance of color in mineral identification, noting that while it aids recognition, other properties like streak color can be more reliable. It highlights the structure of silicate minerals, emphasizing the silicate tetrahedron as the fundamental building block, which can form various linkages affecting mineral characteristics. The summary encapsulates essential physical properties of minerals, including crystal structure, color, hardness, and more, aiding in their classification and study.

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Understanding Minerals: Color, Structure, and Identification

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  1. Color is useful in recognizing some minerals, but not all N. Lindsley-Griffin, 1998

  2. Color adds value to gems N. Lindsley-Griffin, 1999

  3. Streak, the color of the mineral’s powder,may be more useful than color in identifying a mineral N. Lindsley-Griffin, 1998

  4. Structure of Silicate Minerals Most rocks consist of silicate minerals. The silicon-oxygen tetrahedron is the building block of silicate minerals Four oxygen ions surround a much smaller silicon ion © Houghton Mifflin 1998; Lindsley, 2000

  5. The silicate tetrahedron consists of 4 large oxygen atoms around a smaller silicon atom Expanded View Two tetrahedrons link together by sharing an oxygen at one corner N. Lindsley-Griffin, 1999

  6. Silicate tetrahedrons can form chains, sheets, and three-dimensional nets by sharing their oxygen atoms. Each influences mineral properties. N. Lindsley-Grifin, 1999

  7. Tetrahedral Linkages A. Isolated tetrahedra - Olivine B. Single chain - Pyroxene C. Double chain - Amphibole D. Sheets - Micas, clay, talc E. Framework - Quartz, feldspar © Houghton Mifflin 1998. All rights reserved

  8. Polymorphs are minerals with the same chemical composition, but different internal atomic structures CaCO3 N. Lindsley-Griffin, 1998

  9. SUMMARY: PHYSICAL PROPERTIES of MINERALS Crystal Structure Crystal Form Interfacial Angles Habit Cleavage Fracture Hardness Luster Color Streak Specific Gravity (Density) © Houghton Mifflin 1998; N. Lindsley-Griffin, 1999. All rights reserved

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