Download Groups of Minerals

Liz LaRosa 5th grade science www.middleschoolscience.com 2010
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As you view the slides, write your notes into the
graphic organizers.

Include all the information from each slide into
the appropriate boxes. Write neatly and carefully.

You will not be expected to memorize this
information, but this information will be used as
a reference throughout our mineral unit and help
you become familiar with the different types of
minerals that exist.

Minerals are divided into groups based on
their chemical composition
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The two main groups all minerals can be
classified into are:
▪ Silicates
▪ Nonsilicates
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Made of Silicon (Si) and Oxygen (O)
▪ Example: SiO4
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Make up 90% of the Earth’s crust
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Combine with elements such as Aluminum
(Al), Iron (Fe), Magnesium (Mg), and
Potassium (K)
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Nesosilicates
 Willemite – Zn2(SiO4)
▪ found in Franklin, NJ
 Garnet - A3B2(SiO4)3
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Sorosilicates
 Hemimorphite
▪ Zn4(SiO4)
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Cyclosilicates
 Beryl
▪ Be3Al2(Si6O18)
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Inosilicates
 Hornblende
▪ (Ca,Na)2(Mg,Fe,Al)5(Al,Si)8O22 (OH)2
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Phyllosilicates
 Talc
▪ Mg3(Si4O10)(OH)2
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Tectosilicates
 Quartz
▪ SiO2
 Opal
▪ SiO2.nH2O
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Do not contain a combination of Silicon (Si)
and Oxygen (O) in their chemical composition
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There are 6 groups of nonsilicates:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Native Elements
Oxides
Carbonates
Sulfates
Halides
Sulfides
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Minerals composed of only one element
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Examples are:
 Gold (Au)
 Copper (Cu)
 Silver (Ag)*
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Elements combine with Oxygen (O)
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Some elements that bond with O are
Aluminum (Al) and Iron (Fe)
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Examples of oxides:
 Chromite - FeCr2O4
 Hematite* - Fe2O3
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Contain Carbon (C) and Oxygen (O) in their
formulas
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Examples:
 Calcite - CaCO3
 Malachite* - Cu2CO3(OH)2
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Contain Sulfur and Oxygen (SO4)
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Examples:
 Gypsum - CaSO4.2H2O
 Barite - BaSO4
 Celestite* - SrSO4
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Compounds formed when Fluorine (F),
Chlorine (Cl), Iodine (I), or Bromine (Br) bond
with Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), or Calcium
(Ca)
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Examples:
 Halite - NaCl
 Fluorite - CaF2
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Elements bonded with Sulfur (S) such as Lead
(Pb), Iron (Fe), or Nickel (Ni)
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Examples:
 Galena - PbS
 Pyrite - FeS2