Mineral Classification

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Mineral Classification

• In case you havent figured it out!

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Minerals are classified by chemical composition

• 1. Minerals with the same anion or anionic group
  have unmistakable family resemblances. For
  example, the carbonates resemble each other more
  closely than say the minerals of Cu.
• 2. They occur together in nature, for example, it
  is very common to find both calcite and dolomite
  in the same rocks.
• 3. It agrees with the naming of inorganic
  compounds in chemistry.

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And at the next level

• Once minerals have been grouped by chemical
  composition, they can be further separated into
  groups on the basis of internal structure.

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Native Elements

• Metals
• Semi Metals
• Non Metals

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Sulfides

• Including sulfarsenides arsenides and tellurides

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Sulfosalts

• In these minerals, As and Sb play a role more
  akin to metals than anions. Many important Ag
  minerals are sulfosalts.

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Oxides

• a) simple and multiple where O combines with one
  or metals (cations)
• Simple
• Multiple
• b) hydroxides with OH- group and H2O molecules

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Halides

• these minerals have Cl, Br, F, and I as anions

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Carbonates

• Based on the carbonate radical
• Hexagonal orthorhombic and monoclinic
• You have examples of all three!

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Nitrates

• NO3 radical
• Only 7 known minerals

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Borates

• (BO3)-3 can form polymers--about 100 known
  minerals
• So are they iso, meso, or aniso desmic?

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Phosphates

• (PO4)-3 are usually hydrous as well

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Sulfates

• (SO4)-2 can be hydrous or anhydrous

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Tungstates (WO4)-2

• scheelite and wolframite are both ore minerals
  for W

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Silicates (SiO4) -4

• The most important group of minerals!!
• Nesosilicates
• Sorosilicates
• Cyclosilicates
• Inosilicates
• Phyllosilicates
• Tectosilicates

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Why can they form so many structures?

• Mesodesmic
• Remember this term?

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Nesosilicates
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Sorosilicates
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Cyclosilicates
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Inosilicates
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Phyllosilicates
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Tectosilicates
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What is the best way for you to remember formulas

• General formulas!!
• Next time