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    7 Carbonates (GL 204 My Lecture)

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    Stanli
    This document discusses carbonate minerals, their properties and applications. It describes several carbonate groups - calcite, aragonite, hydroxycarbonates - and provides details on specific carbonate minerals like calcite, magnesite, siderite, rhodochrosite, smithsonite, dolomite, malachite and azurite. It outlines their chemical formulas, physical properties like hardness and cleavage, typical colors, how they dissolve in acid, and common occurrences like in Zimbabwe's Great Dyke and Magondi Belt.

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    7 Carbonates (GL 204 My Lecture)

    Uploaded by

    Stanli
    64 views12 pages
    This document discusses carbonate minerals, their properties and applications. It describes several carbonate groups - calcite, aragonite, hydroxycarbonates - and provides details on specific carbonate minerals like calcite, magnesite, siderite, rhodochrosite, smithsonite, dolomite, malachite and azurite. It outlines their chemical formulas, physical properties like hardness and cleavage, typical colors, how they dissolve in acid, and common occurrences like in Zimbabwe's Great Dyke and Magondi Belt.

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    7 Carbonates (GL 204; my lecture)

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    This document discusses carbonate minerals, their properties and applications. It describes several carbonate groups - calcite, aragonite, hydroxycarbonates - and provides details on specific carbonate minerals like calcite, magnesite, siderite, rhodochrosite, smithsonite, dolomite, malachite and azurite. It outlines their chemical formulas, physical properties like hardness and cleavage, typical colors, how they dissolve in acid, and common occurrences like in Zimbabwe's Great Dyke and Magondi Belt.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    64 views12 pages

    7 Carbonates (GL 204 My Lecture)

    Uploaded by

    Stanli
    This document discusses carbonate minerals, their properties and applications. It describes several carbonate groups - calcite, aragonite, hydroxycarbonates - and provides details on specific carbonate minerals like calcite, magnesite, siderite, rhodochrosite, smithsonite, dolomite, malachite and azurite. It outlines their chemical formulas, physical properties like hardness and cleavage, typical colors, how they dissolve in acid, and common occurrences like in Zimbabwe's Great Dyke and Magondi Belt.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    of 12

    GL - 204 Fundamentals of Geology

    MINERALOGY
    Carbonates

    Dr. Mulugheta Tewelde


    University of Zimbabwe
    Department of Geology
    Carbonates
    Some applications of carbonate bearing minerals:

    - Source of lime use to neutralize acidic soils


    - Manufacture of cement
    - Road aggregates
    - Processing steel
    - Paper processing
    - Manufacture of ceramics
    - Food and petroleum industry
    Carbonates (contd.)
    Carbonates
    Calcite group Aragonite group Hydroxycarbonates
    Calcite, CaCO3 Aragonite, CaCO3 Malachite, Cu2CO3(OH)2
    Magnesite, MgCO3 Witherite, BaCO3 Azurite, Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
    Siderite, FeCO3 Strontianite, SrCO3
    Rhodochrosite, MnCO3 Cerussite, PbCO3

    Smithsonite, ZnCO3
    Dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2
    Ankerite, CaFe(CO3)2
    Carbonates (contd.)
    Calcite Group
    Calcite, CaCO3:
    - Clear colourless calcite (known as Iceland spar) is used
    for optical prism b/c of double refraction.

    Physical properties:
    H = 3, its typical characteristic includes perfect
    rhombohedral cleavage; Luster usually vitreous.
    Colour is white but can be yellow, green, blue, red and
    gray.  Colour is thus here not diagnostic. Calcite
    effervesces in dilute HCl.

    Cave deposit: when water become charged with CO2, it


    dissolves limestones. Most limestone caves have been
    formed this way (Chinhoyi caves).
    Carbonates (contd.)
    Calcite Group
    Magnesite, MgCO3:
    Magnesite is used in the production of magnesium oxide
    for refractory bricks.

    Physical properties: H = 3.5 – 5, perfect rhombohedral


    cleavage, luster is vitreous, colour is white (grey,
    yellow or brown with impurities).
    it dissolves with effervescence in hot hydrochloric acid.

    Occurrence: In Zimbabwe along the Great Dyke.


    Carbonates (contd.)
    Calcite Group
    Siderite, FeCO3:
    has been used in some places as an ore of iron.

    Physical properties: H = 3.5 – 4, has perfect


    rhombohedral cleavage, luster is vitreous, color is light
    to dark brown, it dissolves with effervescence in hot
    hydrochloric acid

    Occurence: It is found in small quantities in Buchwa


    (Zimbabwe).
    Carbonates (contd.)
    Calcite Group
    Rhodochrosite, MnCO3:
    -Physical properties: H = 3.5 – 4.5, has perfect
    rhombohedral cleavage, luster is vitreous, color is a
    shade of rose-red. also in pale pink and dark brown.
    it dissolves with effervescence in hot hydrochloric acid.

    - Occurrence: In Zimbabwe, along the Great Dyke.


    Carbonates (contd.)
    Calcite Group
    Smithsonite, ZnCO3:
    Used also as a zinc ore together with sphalerite.

    -Physical properties: H = 5; has perfect rhombohedral


    cleavage, luster is vitreous, color is usually dirty brown
    (also in white, green, pink or blue). it dissolves with
    effervescence in cold hydrochloric acid. Resembles
    calcite, but can be differentiated due to its high specific
    gravity.
    Carbonates (contd.)
    Calcite Group
    Dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2:
    Dolomite is a rhombohedral carbonate between calcite
    and magnesite.

    -Physical properties: H = 3.5 - 4, has perfect


    rhombohedral cleavage, luster is usually vitreous, color
    is usually pale pink (can be also colorless, white, green,
    gray or brown). it does not dissolve readily in cold HCl
    (10%). But in powdered form it effervesces.

    - Occurence: in Zimbabwe, it occurs in the Magondi belt


    and are known as Lomagundi dolomites.
    Carbonates (contd.)
    Hydroxycarbonates
    Malachite, Cu2CO3(OH)2:
    it is known also as green copper carbonate and is found
    together with azurite (blue copper carbonate), used in
    ornaments.

    -Physical properties: H = 3.5 – 4; luster is vitreous in


    crystals. Colour is bright green (a diagnostic feature), it
    dissolves with effervescence in cold HCl.

    - Occurrence: In Zimbabwe, it is common in the Magondi


    belt.
    Carbonates (contd.)
    Hydroxycarbonates
    Azurite, Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2:
    - Physical properties: H = 3.5 – 4, luster is vitreous,
    colour is azure-blue. it dissolves with effervescence in
    cold HCl.

    - Occurrence: Also like malachite, it is found in the


    Magondi belt.

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