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Minerals — Introduction to Minerals and Mineralogy + 5 more topics

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Course Syllabus

  1. Introduction to Minerals and Mineralogy
  2. Physical Properties of Minerals
  3. Chemical Composition and Classification of Minerals
  4. Formation and Occurrence of Minerals
  5. Major Mineral Groups and Their Significance
  6. Mineral Identification and Analytical Techniques

Study Notes

Introduction to Minerals and Mineralogy

  1. Naturally Occurring: It wasn't made by humans. This means things like synthetic diamonds or concrete aren't minerals.
  2. Solid: At standard Earth surface temperatures and pressures, it must be in a solid state. Ice is a mineral; liquid water isn't.
  3. Inorganic: It doesn't come from living organisms. Shells (calcite), while natural, are organic in origin, so the material of the shell is a mineral, but the whole shell structure isn't typically called a mineral. Coal, formed from ancient plants, isn't a mineral.
  4. Definite Chemical Composition: It has a specific chemical formula or a range of formulas that varies within set limits. For example, quartz is always SiO₂, and halite is always NaCl. Some minerals have small substitutions, like olivine (Mg,Fe)₂SiO₄, where magnesium and iron can swap places.
  5. Ordered Atomic Arrangement (Crystal Structure): Its atoms are arranged in a regular, repeating pattern. This internal order is what gives minerals their characteristic crystal shapes, even if you can't always see them.
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