The topics covered in this chapter can be summarized as follows.
| 2.1 | Electrons, Protons, Neutrons, and Atoms | An atom is made up of protons and neutrons in the nucleus and electrons arranged in energy shells around the nucleus. The first shell holds two electrons, and outer shells hold more, but atoms strive to have eight electrons in their outermost shell (or two for H and He). They either gain or lose electrons (or share) to achieve this, and in so doing become either cations (if they lose electrons) or anions (if they gain them). |
| 2.2 | Bonding and Lattices | The main types of bonding in minerals are ionic bonding (electrons transferred) and covalent bonding (electrons shared). Some minerals have metallic bonding or other forms of weak bonding. Minerals form in specific three-dimensional lattices, and the nature of the lattices and the type of bonding within them have important implications for mineral properties. |
| 2.3 | Mineral Groups | Minerals are grouped according to the anion part of their formula, with some common types being oxides, sulphides, sulphates, halides, carbonates, phosphates, silicates, and native minerals. |
| 2.4 | Silicate Minerals | Silicate minerals are, by far, the most important minerals in Earth’s crust. They all include silica tetrahedra (four oxygens surrounding a single silicon atom) arranged in different structures (chains, sheets, etc.). Some silicate minerals include iron or magnesium and are called ferromagnesian silicates. |
| 2.5 | Formation of Minerals | Most minerals in the crust form from the cooling and crystallization of magma. Some form from hot water solutions, during metamorphism or weathering, or through organic processes. |
| 2.6 | Mineral Properties | Some of the important properties for mineral identification include hardness, cleavage/fracture, density, lustre, color, and streak color. |
Questions for Review
1. What is the electrical charge on a proton? A neutron? An electron? What are their relative masses?
2. Explain how the need for an atom’s outer shell to be filled with electrons contributes to bonding.
3. Why are helium and neon non-reactive?
4. What is the difference in the role of electrons in an ionic bond compared to a covalent bond?
5. What is the electrical charge on an anion? A cation?
6. What chemical feature is used in the classification of minerals into groups?
7. Name the mineral group for the following minerals:
| calcite | biotite | pyrite | |||
| gypsum | galena | orthoclase | |||
| hematite | graphite | magnetite | |||
| quartz | fluorite | olivine |
8. What is the net charge on an unbonded silica tetrahedron?
9. What allows magnesium to substitute freely for iron in olivine?
10. How are the silica tetrahedra structured differently in pyroxene and amphibole?
11. Why is biotite called a ferromagnesian mineral, while muscovite is not?
12. What are the names and compositions of the two end-members of the plagioclase series?
13. Why does quartz have no additional cations (other than Si+4)?
14. Why is color not necessarily a useful guide to mineral identification?
15. You have an unknown mineral that can scratch glass but cannot scratch a porcelain streak plate. What is its approximate hardness?