Earth Science Lesson 3

Common Rock-Forming Minerals
When we see the word mineral it may mean different things

to different people – others may identify it with gemstone. In
geology, minerals are naturally occurring chemical compounds
that have been formed by different processes. And most rocks
are mixtures of different minerals that present variations in
texture and composition, depending on how they formed.
Rocks and minerals help us to develop new technologies
and are used in our daily lives.
Rocks consist of minerals. A mineral is a material that
occurs naturally and is generally strong, crystalline, stable
and inorganic at room temperature.
Minerals that undergo different geological processes and
become part of or develop into rocks, in which case they
become known as “rock-forming minerals”, they are
minerals present at the time of a rock's formation and are
important minerals in determining the rock's identity.
All minerals are unique but they show
general characteristics – they are naturally
occurring, Inorganic, solid, had definite
chemical composition, and an ordered
internal structure
Minerals are composed of elements that are abundant on
Earth’s crust namely:
• Silicate – the major rock–forming minerals
• Oxides – consists of metal cations bonded to oxygen anions
• Sulfides – consists of metal cations bonded to sulfide
• Sulfates – usually precipitate out of water near Earth’s surface
• Halides – consists of halogen ion such as chlorine or fluorine
• Carbonates – consists carbonic ion with bonds elements such as calcium

or magnesium to form calcite
• Native metals – consists of single metal such as copper (Cu) and gold (Au)
Around 4000 minerals are identified by scientist,
and almost 90% of small group of these minerals
are rocks of Earth’s crust.

Most of the common rock-forming minerals are silicate
minerals composed primarily of silicon and oxygen.
Several rock-forming minerals include feldspar,
quartz, amphibole, pyroxene, calcite, dolomite,
hematite, halite, gypsum, talc, and chlorite.
The following are the physical properties of minerals:
1. Crystal form and Habit
Minerals have a definite structure which crystallizes in a specific crystal
form.
Habit is the outward appearance of the mineral’s crystal form
2. Cleavage and Fraction
Cleavage is the tendency of a mineral to break or split along planes of
weakness. Minerals that do not have cleavage will fracture in manner.
3. Luster
The quality or appearance of light reflected from the surface of a
mineral
4. Color and Streak
Although color is useful, it should not be relied upon for

identifying minerals because it can be changed by
chemical impurities within structure. Streak is a more
reliable property of minerals than color because streak is
usually consistent in color and it’s the color of a mineral’s
powder.
5. Hardness
This is one of the most useful properties of mineral. It is

the mineral’s ability to resist scratching or abrasion. Quartz,
one of the hardest common minerals (will easily scratch
glass). Diamond, hardest of all (scratch anything, including
other diamonds).
Diamond
6. Specific gravity
A measure to describe the density of minerals.
Most rock-forming minerals have a specific gravity
between 2 and 3.
Other properties of minerals:
• Magnetism – some minerals are attracted to

magnets (e.g. magnetite)
• Taste – taste like salt (e.g. halite)
• Acid reaction – calcite and other carbonates will

react with weak acid
• Feel – some minerals feel soapy or greasy (e.g.

talc)
The chemical properties of minerals comprises chemical
formula and the proposition of elements in the purest form of
the minerals.
All minerals have a certain arrangement of elements in their

crystal structure and that can be presented by a chemical
formula, which presents the proportions of atoms that
introduce them. Example – mineral quartz has a formula SiO2.
The chemical properties of minerals depend on their chemical
formula and crystal structure. Solubility and melting point are
chemical properties commonly used to describe a mineral.
Quartz

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Common Rock-Forming Minerals

When we see the word mineral it may mean different things

general characteristics – they are naturally

occurring, Inorganic, solid, had definite

chemical composition, and an ordered

• Oxides – consists of metal cations bonded to oxygen anions

• Sulfides – consists of metal cations bonded to sulfide

• Sulfates – usually precipitate out of water near Earth’s surface

• Halides – consists of halogen ion such as chlorine or fluorine

• Carbonates – consists carbonic ion with bonds elements such as calcium

and almost 90% of small group of these minerals

are rocks of Earth’s crust.

Although color is useful, it should not be relied upon for

This is one of the most useful properties of mineral. It is

A measure to describe the density of minerals.

Most rock-forming minerals have a specific gravity

• Magnetism – some minerals are attracted to

• Taste – taste like salt (e.g. halite)

• Acid reaction – calcite and other carbonates will

• Feel – some minerals feel soapy or greasy (e.g.

All minerals have a certain arrangement of elements in their

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