ROCKS AND
MINERALS
Minerals
Minerals
Minerals are
naturally formed
crystals that are
composed of one or
more chemical
elements.
Minerals
A mineral is a naturally
occurring inorganic element or
compound having an orderly
internal structure and
characteristic chemical
composition, crystal form, and
physical properties.
Minerals
Common minerals
include quartz,
feldspar, mica,
amphibole, olivine,
and calcite.
Minerals
Minerals display a
highly ordered internal
atomic structure that
has a regular
geometric form.
Minerals
They are
distinguished
from other natural
solid materials by
their crystalline
structure.
Minerals
Economic minerals are
used in a wide range of
applications related to
construction,
manufacturing, agriculture
and energy supply.
Minerals
Properties of
Minerals
Luster
Luster refers to the quality of
light on the surface of the rock,
crystal or material.
A mineral with high luster is
very reflective.
Color
Color is caused by absorption,
or lack thereof, of visible light
by their crystalline structure.
Most minerals may have
various hues example quartz,
can be colorless, pink, gray, or
purple.
Streak
Streak is the color of the
powdered mineral produced
when it is dragged across an
unweathered surface.
Nonmetallic minerals usually
have a colorless or white
streak.
Hardness
Hardness is the mineral’s ability
to resist scratching or abrasion.
Hardness is determined by
comparing the relative hardness
of an unknown specimen with
another mineral with known
harness.
Mohs Scale of Hardness
Cleavage
Cleavage is the tendency of a
mineral to split or cleave along
planes or weakness.
Minerals that breaks easily and
cleanly along one or more
planes are said to have good
cleavage.
Cleavage
If the break is not
defined, the
cleavage is said to
be poor.
Rocks
Some natural solid
materials formed in rocks
are not minerals because
they lack a crystalline
structure, i.e., they are
amorphous, eg., obsidian or
volcanic glass.
Rocks
Rocks are naturally-
occurring aggregate
or combination of
minerals and
mineraloids, such as
fossils and glass.
Rocks
Rocks are
classified
based on
texture and
composition.
Rocks
Texture
Size
shape
Arrangement of mineral
grains
Other constituents
Types of Rocks
IGNEOUS ROCKS are formed as
magma (molten rock) cools and
solidifies. Magma is produced far
below the Earth's surface by heat
generated mainly from
radioactive disintegration of
uranium, thorium
and potassium.
Types of Rocks
The two main types of
igneous rock are extrusive
and intrusive. Extrusive
rocks, or lava, form when
magmas reach the surface
of the Earth through
volcanic fissures or vents.
Types of Rocks
They cool rapidly and are
fine-grained or glassy, eg.,
basalt and obsidian.
Explosive eruptions
produce rocks composed of
rock dust or fragments
(pyroclasts).
Types of Rocks
Types of Rocks
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
are formed by the
accumulation and
cementing of loose
sediment (eg., sandstone)
Types of Rocks
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
the deposition of chemical
compounds held in solution in
water (eg., limestone), or by the
accumulation of animal or
plant debris (e g., coal).
Types of Rocks
Sedimentary rocks may
have a coarse-grained,
gravel-like appearance or
be extremely fine grained,
and may be hard or soft.
Sedimentary Rocks
Types of Rocks
METAMORPHIC ROCKS
are formed when rocks of any
class are subjected to heat and
pressure at depth. This causes
new minerals to form and other
minerals to recrystallize.
Types of Rocks
During the process, material
from the rock may be added or
lost. Marked changes in
temperature (T) and pressure
(P) occur, which may produce
completely new types of rocks.
Types of Rocks
In addition to the formation
of new minerals, existing
minerals may be realigned
into parallel bands and
new textures may be
formed.
Types of Rocks
At sufficiently high
temperatures, the rock may
undergo partial melting to
form magma, which may
then become the source of
an igneous rock.