Mineral Classification PDF

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Minerals are classified by their chemical composition and crystalline structure Silicate minerals- most common group of minerals on Earth ● Based on the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron, acts like an anion Chemical weathering- reacting w water, oxygen, and acids in the environment and will oxidize, dissolve, and alter into new minerals (like clay) Quartz is super tough Feldspars are very abundant silicate minerals in the Earth's crust, susceptible to chemical weathering and become clay minerals Clay minerals help to retain the moisture in soil Micas- silicate minerals, come in igneous and metamorphic rocks, cleavage and peel into smooth sheets Ferromagnesian- silicate, lots of iron and magnesium, weather quickly Ore minerals- mined oxide and sulfide minerals Oxide minerals- metal cations combine with oxygen Sulfide minerals- metal cations combine with sulfur, when combined with water will make sulfuric acid Carbonate minerals- composed of cations that have combined with the carbonate group (ex. Calcite) Native Elements- minerals made of a single element (ex. Gold, copper, diamond) Asbestos- a commercial term, hydrous silicate minerals that separate into long, thin fibers and are flexible enough to be woven, incombustible and conduct heat slowly Serpentine- magnesium silicates Chrysotile grows in an asbestiform habit

Amphibole- large group of silicate minerals Health hazards w inhaling asbestiform amphibole and chrysotile fibers: ● Amphibole; lung cancer ● Chrysotile; fibers tend to fray and remained in people's lungs for many years Aspect ratio and length- regulatory agencies regular mineral fibers based on this ● All particles meeting broad dimensional criteria are treated as equally hazardous Non-asbestiform amphibole - will break into small particles with 3:1 aspect ratios Asbestiform amphibole may occur together with talc...