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Mineral Families and Mineral Resources
Classification of Minerals
•Minerals are classified or grouped into families according to their chemical composition
Mineral Families• Native Elements: consist of a single element
• Halides: consist of a metal plus a halogen (Cl, F, Br)
• Carbonates: consist of a metal and carbonate group (CO3)
• Sulfides: consist of metal and sulfur
• Sulfates: consist of a metal and sulfate group (SO4)
• Oxides: consist of metal and oxygen
• Silicates: consist of silicon and oxygen (SiO4 or SiO2)
examples:•Native Elements: Graphite, and Sulfur
•Halides: halite, fluorite
• Carbonates: Calcite, Dolomite
• Sulfides: Pyrite, Galena
• Sulfates: Gypsum
•Oxides: Magnetite, Hematite
• Silicates: Quartz, olivine, garnet, mica, feldspar, amphibole etc...
Silicates: The largest mineral
family• Largest family of minerals
•most common
• basic unit-tetrahedron
• consists of SiO4
Other facts:
•Rare minerals of great beauty and value are classified as gems (ex: diamonds, rubies)
•Minerals that have a commercial value and use and can be extracted from the earth are ores. These are usually metals. (ex: lead, iron)
•We are studying minerals or mineralogy.