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4.1: Introduction

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    Module 4

    Minerals

    A plant shaped formation of Malachite inside of a geode
    Figure 1. Malachite construction on allophane from Valcroze mine in the South of the France.

    Introduction

    In this module you will be learning about the building blocks of all of the materials that exist on the Earth. Atoms, comprised of protons, electrons and neutrons, form the elements of the Periodic Table. In turn, different elements combine to form different types of minerals. The properties of different materials are directly dependent on the elements that they contain. During this module, you will be learning about different minerals and carrying out a lab experiment to see first hand how properties vary from mineral to mineral.

    Have you used a mineral yet today? While many people may initially say no, answer these questions: Have you brushed your teeth? Have you eaten anything that might contain salt? Did you put on makeup this morning, or do you have painted fingernails or toenails? Have you used a cellphone? What about a car, bike, or public transportation? If you have done any of those things, you have used at least one mineral, and in many cases you have used a great number of minerals. Minerals are very useful and common in everyday products, but most people do not even realize it.

    A mineral is defined as a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and a characteristic crystalline structure. Let’s break that definition down. By naturally occurring, it means that anything humans have created, like the beautiful synthetic bismuth in the figure below, does not count as a mineral.

    m4_Bismuth_Full.jpg
    Figure 2. Bismuth is a chemical element that has the symbol Bi and atomic number 83. This is a bismuth crystal, that may be synthetic (see Hopper crystal).

    To be an inorganic solid, the mineral must not be composed of the complex carbon molecules that are characteristic of life and must be in the solid state, rather than vapor or liquid. This means that water, a liquid, is not a mineral, while ice, a solid, would be (as long as it is not man-made). A definite chemical composition refers to the chemical formula of a mineral. For most minerals, this does not vary (for example, halite is NaCl), though some minerals have a range of compositions, since one element can substitute for another of similar size and charge (for example, the chemical formula for olivine is (Mg,Fe)2SiO4, indicating its magnesium and iron content can vary). The atoms within minerals are lined up in an orderly fashion, so that the characteristic crystalline structure is just an outward manifestation of the internal atomic arrangement. Minerals are not only important for their many uses, but also as the building blocks of rocks.

    Select an image to view larger

    clear srystal mineral specimin
    Figure 3. Quartz is one of the most common minerals in the Earth’s crust, and also one of the most recognizable.

    light blue rock specimen
    Figure 4. Crystals of turquoise, crystals of pyrite, crystals of quartz. Copper Cities Mines, Gila, Arizona

    spikey red-orange mineral specimen
    Figure 5. Wulfenite from the Defiance Mine, Arizona
    green, bumpy, tube-shaped mineral specimen
    Figure 6. Malachite, Bisbee, Arizona – Natural History Museum of Utah

    red-orange crystals in a mineral specimen
    Figure 7. Zincite from Arizona

    m4_chrysocolla_150.jpg
    Figure 8. Malachite, Quartz, Chrysocolla, Globe Arizona. A gorgeous specimen with an antique Ward’s Science Establishment label dating it to pre-WWI in the early 1900s. Ward’s was an active buyer at the time, but an even older (unidentified, calligraphy) label glued to the back indicates this may date to the earliest days of copper camp mining in Arizona.

    Chunky mineral in dark blue, light blue, and red-orange
    Figure 9. Azurite and malachite on iron oxide gossan from Arizona, USA. Blue = azurite, Green = malachite, Reddish-brown = gossan matrix
    m4_GrandCanyon_150.jpg
    Figure 10. Gypsum & Smithsonite & Azurite & Malachite from the Grand Canyon, Arizona.

    Module Objectives

    At the completion of this module you will be able to:

    1. Describe what an atom is and identify the elements that are important in geology.
    2. Name common minerals and describe their structure.
    3. Explain how to identify a mineral from its physical properties, and give examples for common minerals.

    Activities Overview

    See the Schedule of Work for dates of availability and due dates.

    Be sure to read through the directions for all of this module’s activities before getting started so that you can plan your time accordingly. You are expected to work on this course throughout the week.

    Read

    Physical Geology by Steven Earle

    • Chapter 2 (Minerals)

    Module 4 Quiz

    10 points

    Module 4 Quiz has 10 multiple-choice questions and is based on the content of the Module 4 readings.

    The quiz is worth a total of 10 points (1 points per question). You will have only 10 minutes to complete the quiz, and you may take this quiz only once. Note: that is not enough time to look up the answers!

    Make sure that you fully understand all of the concepts presented and study for this quiz as though it were going to be proctored in a classroom, or you will likely find yourself running out of time.

    Keep track of the time, and be sure to look over your full quiz results after you have submitted it for a grade.

    Prepare for Exam 1

    75 points

    For Exam 1, you will be asked to put your knowledge to work in the Great Outdoors or at your local rock shop! You will be assembling a mineral kit with 5 minerals of your choice, composed of samples you have collected yourself or purchased individually. As a result, your kit will be customized according to your own interests.

    You can read more about this in the Exam 1 Instructions.

    This is a “take-home” project. You will submit the results from your project in the Assignments tool during the week of Module 5.

    Keep in mind that even though this exam is available for viewing a week earlier than the other exams you will take in this course, you will not be introduced to some of the content you need to complete this project until Module 5, so you are advised to keep this in mind as you start thinking about your project.

    Your Questions and Concerns…

    Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

    General course questions: If your question is of a general nature such that other students would benefit from the answer, then go to the discussions area and post it as a question thread in the “General course questions” discussion area.

    Personal questions: If your question is personal, (e.g. regarding my comments to you specifically), then send me an email from within this course.

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