MODULE 2, LESSON 2: PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF MINERALS
INTRODUCTION
The lesson in this course dealt with the origin and structure of the Earth. At this point, we will be moving
forward with another module which will talk about the materials and processes occurring within the Earth.
It is important that we have knowledge and understanding of the materials that make up the Earth’s crust,
specifically the rocks and minerals they contain as these have significant effects on our lives especially on
how we adapt and respond to the geological and hydrometeorological phenomena happening on the
Earth’s surface. Today, we will be discussing about the most common rock-forming minerals as well as
the physical and chemical properties which can be used to identify and differentiate them from each
other.
At the end of this session, you should be able to:
a. define the characteristics of a mineral;
b. identify common rock-forming minerals using their physical and chemical properties; and
c. differentiate rock-forming minerals from each other based on their physical and chemical
properties.
DISCUSSION
Minerals
A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic, solid material that has a fixed structure and a definite
chemical composition. In order for something to be considered a mineral, it should satisfy all these
criteria:
a. It is a naturally occurring substance.
b. It is an inorganic substance.
c. It has an orderly internal structure.
d. It has a fixed, (or uniformly variable) chemical composition.
Physical Properties of Minerals
Physical properties are useful when working in the field, where there is usually no access to complex
analytical techniques. Although a particular mineral has different forms, the fundamental physical
properties are still the same. Useful physical properties to identify a mineral include color, streak,
luster, specific gravity, hardness, cleavage, tenacity, and crystal habit.
The color of a mineral depends on the
elements which constitute the crystal lattice
– the arrangement of atoms, or groups of
atoms, in a specific pattern and with high
symmetry. The reflection of certain
wavelengths of light by the crystal lattice
results in the color perceived by the
observer. A lot of minerals can exhibit same
or similar colors. Individual minerals can
also display a variety of colors resulting
from impurities and also from some
geologic processes like weathering.
Examples of coloring: quartz can be pink
(rose quartz), purple (amethyst), orange
(citrine), white (colorless quartz) etc.
Streak is the color of the mineral in its powdered form. It is inherent in almost every mineral, and is a
more diagnostic property compared to color. Note that the color of a mineral can be different from its
streak.
42. Sulfur (Yellow)
43. Malachite (Green)
44. Pyrite (Black)
45. Goethite (Brown)
46. Fluorite (White)
47. Rhodochrosite (White)
48. Hematite (Red)
49. Zincite (Orange)
50. Azurite (Blue)
51. Cinnabar (Red)
Luster is the relative differences in the opacity and transparency of a mineral as light is reflected on
its surface. This describes the 'sparkles' of the mineral surfaces. There are two types:
a. Metallic – generally opaque and exhibit a resplendent shine similar to a polished metal
b. Non-metallic – vitreous (glassy), adamantine (brilliant/diamond-like), resinous, silky, pearly, dull
(earthy), greasy, among others
Specific gravity is the ratio of the weight of the mineral to the weight of the water with an equal
volume. This parameter indicates how many times more the mineral weighs compared to an equal
amount of water (SG 1). For example, a bucket of silver (SG 10) would weigh ten times more than a
bucket of water.
Hardness is the measure of the resistance of a surface to abrasions or scratches. It is generally
measured using Mohs Scale of Hardness designed by German geologist/mineralogist Friedrich
Mohs in 1812. The Mohs Scale of Hardness measures the scratch resistance of various minerals
from a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the hardest, 1 being the softest), based on the ability of a harder
material/mineral to scratch a softer one.
Cleavage is the tendency of the mineral to be split or broken along flat surfaces. These planes exist
because the bonding of atoms making up the mineral happens to be weak in those areas. When
minerals break evenly in more than one direction, cleavage is described by the number of cleavage
directions, the angle(s) at which they meet, and the quality of cleavage (e.g. cleavage in 2 directions
at 90°).
Fracture refers to the texture or shape of the mineral’s surface when the mineral breaks into forms
other than flat surfaces.
Tenacity refers to the behavior of the mineral under deformation or stress such as cutting, crushing,
bending, or hitting.
Crystal habit refers to the growth crystal pattern of a mineral as single or aggregated. The form
reflects the supposedly internal structure (of atoms and ions) of the crystal (mineral). It is the natural
shape of the mineral before the development of any cleavage or fracture. A mineral that do not have
a crystal structure is described as amorphous.
Chemical Properties of Minerals
All minerals have a certain arrangement of elements in their crystal structure. They can be
represented by a chemical formula, which presents the proportions of atoms that constitute them.
For example, the mineral quartz has a chemical formula SiO 2. Its crystal structure is a continuous
framework of silicon-oxygen tetrahedra.
The chemical properties of minerals depend on their chemical formula and crystal structure.
Solubility and melting point are chemical properties commonly used to describe a mineral.
Solubility refers the ability of a substance to dissolve in a solvent at a specified temperature. For
example, biotite, a mineral commonly found in igneous rocks, is soluble in both acid and base
solutions. The dissolution releases the loosely-bound potassium ions in the mineral.
Melting point refers to the temperature at which solid turns into liquid. Minerals composed of atoms
that are tightly bonded within the crystal structure have high melting points. For example, quartz
melts above 1670°C.
Common Rock-Forming Minerals
The most common rock-forming minerals are quartz, feldspar, mica, pyroxene, amphibole, and
olivine. All of the following silicate minerals, except for quartz, are mineral groups.
Quartz – Quartz has a chemical composition of SiO2. It is a glassy-looking hard
substance with white streaks. Despite its hardness, with a Mohs hardness of 7,
it is quite brittle. Pure quartz is clear and transparent. Colored varieties of
quartz are due to elemental impurities built into its lattice. The grains of quartz,
in general, are irregular in shape.
Feldspar – Feldspar has a chemical composition of XAl (1−2)Si(3−2)O8, where
X is K, Ca, or Na. It is quite hard with a Mohs hardness of 6. It is a light-colored
material, usually white, but they can have lighter shades of red or green. It has
a glassy luster. In rocks, feldspar forms rectangular crystals that break along flat
faces.
Mica – Mica is any group of hydrous potassium aluminum silicate minerals. The
most common examples are clear muscovite and black biotite. Mica is soft, with
Mohs hardness ranging from 2 to 2.5. It is easily identified by its perfect
cleavage, reducing it to thin smooth flakes. Its shine is responsible for the
flashes of light in rocks such as granite and slate.
Pyroxene – Pyroxene minerals have a general composition of XY(Al,Si) 2O6
where X is Ca or Mg and Y is either Mg, Fe, Al. Augite is the most common of
this group. It has a glassy luster with streaks of white, light green, or light brown.
It is generally black in color and has stubby prismatic crystals. Its key feature is
its two cleavages at around 90°.
Amphibole – Amphibole has a dark color, usually black to dark green, with a
Mohs hardness ranging from 5 to 6. Hornblende is the most common amphibole.
It has a glassy luster and an opaque characteristic. Its crystals are very long and
very thin.
Olivine – Olivine is a silicate mineral with a general chemical composition of
(Mg,Fe)2SiO4, but calcium, manganese, and nickel can be substituted for
magnesium and iron. It is known for its distinct olive-green color and commonly
used in the gemstone industry as peridot. It is a glassy looking and transparent
substance that is almost as hard as quartz. Its crystals have a granular shape.
LEARNING TASKS
A. Observation
Rock salt (asin) is one of the most common mineral found on Earth. Complete the given table below with
the physical properties of rock salt.
Mineral Name
Chemical Composition
Color
Streak
Luster
Hardness
Crystal Form / Habit
Cleavage
Specific Gravity
Other Observable Properties (like taste, solubility, etc.)
B. Quiz
Answer the following 5-item quiz. Your score after taking the quiz will be recorded. Good luck!
1. Which of the following refers to a solid, inorganic, naturally occurring substance with a fixed
structure and a definite composition?
A. salt B. rock C. magma D. mineral
2. Which term refers to the ability of a mineral to resist scratches?
A. luster B. cleavage C. hardness D. crystal habit
3. Why does mica peel into thin sheets?
A. due to its luster C. due to its cleavage
B. due to its color D. due to its specific gravity
4. How would you differentiate amphibole from olivine?
A. by color C. by hardness
B. by luster D. by specific gravity
5. Francis found an unknown mineral that has not been reported before. He observed the behavior
of the mineral when he tried to crush and pulverize it. What physical characteristic of the mineral
was examined by Francis?
A. color B. streak C. luster D. cleavage
REFERENCE
Dela Cruz, A.C., Remotigue, C.T., Dizon Jr., E.A., Dizon, Z.S., Listanco, E.L., Tabugo, S.R.M., Diaz,
M.G.Q., Estacion, J.S., Crisologo, D.T., Guce, J.R.M. (2016). Teaching Guide for Senior High
Prepared and submitted by:
Leslee Anne G. Cortez
Teacher, DIHS