MINERALOGY

Elementary knowledge on symmetry elements of

crystallographic systems

➢ CRYSTALLOGRAPHY
– is a branch of mineralogy which deals with the study
of crystals and the laws that govern their growth,
external shape and internal structure. Most minerals are
crystalline while a few are amorphous (noncrystalline).
When minerals crystallize under favourable conditions,
they take the form of crystals.
➢CRYSTAL
– a solid which possesses a regular geometrical
shape. A crystal is bounded by faces which lie
parallel to the planes of atoms in the crystal
structure.
 01
CRYSTAL SYSTEM
All crystals that occur in nature can be grouped into
six major crystal systems. These crystal systems
are as follows.

1. Cubic or Isometric System – the crystals

belonging to this system have three mutually
perpendicular axes of equal lengths.
2. Tetragonal System – the crystals of this system
are referred to three mutually perpendicular axes. The
two horizontal axes are equal and the vertical axis is
longer or shorter that the other two.

3. Orthorhombic System – The crystals of this

system have three mutually perpendicular axes of
different lengths.
4. Hexagonal System – In the crystals of the hexagonal
system, there are four crystallographic axes. Three of these
are of equal lengths and lie at angles 120° to each other in
the horizontal plane. The fourth axis is vertical and is either
longer or shorter than the other axes.

5. Triclinic System – There are three unequal axes all

intersecting at oblique angles.
7. Rhombohedral system
MINERALOGY
– branch of geology which deals with various
aspects related to minerals such as their
individual properties, their more of formation
and mode of occurrence.
HOW TO CLASSIFY
MINERAL?
1. The substance must exist as a solid under normal
conditions on Earth.
2. The substance must be naturally occurring (not man-
made).
3. The substance must be inorganic (not made of a living
thing).
4. The substance must have a fixed chemical formula (made
of specific elements).
MINERAL VS. CRYSTAL
Most minerals will occur naturally as crystals,
however not all crystals are minerals since
organic crystals are not minerals at all.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
OF MINERALS
A. COLOR – The color of an object is a light dependent
property. It is the appearance of the particular object in
light. A particular color is produced by reflection of some
and absorption of other components of white light. A
mineral shows color of that wavelength of the white light
which is not absorbed by it by virtue of its composition
and atomic structure.
 On the basis of color, a mineral may belong to any
one of the three types:

(i) Idiochromatic
-having a fairly constant color related primarily
to the composition of the mineral. Metallic
minerals belong to this category.
Example: Azurite (Blue)
(ii) Allochromatic – having a variable color; the
variety in color is generally due to minute
quantities of colouring impurities thoroughly
dispersed in the mineral composition. Many non-
metallic mineral like quartz, calcite, fluorite and
tourmaline may occur in more than two colors
depending on the nature of impurities.
Example: Quartz
(iii) Pseudochromatic – showing false color. Such an
effect generally happens when a mineral is rotated in
hand; it is then seen to show a set of colors in
succession. This play of colors is attributed to
simultaneous reflection and refraction from the mineral
surface due to minute inclusions of impurities in the
mineral in different locations.
Example: Bornite
 Some of the peculiar phenomena connected with color in
minerals are briefly explained below.

Play of colors – it is the development of a series of

prismatic colors shown by some minerals on turning
about in light. The colors change in rapid succession on
rotation and their effect is quite brilliant and appealing to
the eye. These are caused by the interference of light
reflected from numerous cleavage surfaces of the
mineral.
Example: Diamond
Change of colors – similar to play of
colors except the rate of change of colors
on rotation and their intensity is rather low.
Each color continuous over a latger space
in the mineral before the other takes over.
Example: Labradorite
Iridescence – some minerals show
rainbow colors either in their interior or on
the exterior surface (Similar to those
appearing in drops of oil spilled over water)
either in their interior or exterior surface.
Example: Limonite and Hematite
Tarnish – may be described as a phenomenon
of change of original colors of a mineral to some
secondary colors at its surface due to is
oxidation at the surface. Some minerals tarnish
very quickly that their exterior color is quite
different from the interior color.
Example: Bornite
B. LUSTER – simply defined, it is the shine of a
mineral. It is the intensity of reflection of light
from the mineral surface and depends at least on
three factors.
(i) Metallic luster – minerals which have the
appearance of a metal
Example: Pyrite and Galena
(ii) Submetallic luster
– The feebly displayed metallic
luster
Example:Chromite and Hematite
(iii) Adamantine Luster
– A hard brilliant luster like that of a
diamond. It is due to the mineral’s high
index of refraction
Example: Transparent cerussite and Diamond
(iv) Vitreous Luster
– it is the luster exhibited like a
broken glass.
Example: Quartz
(v) Pearly Luster
- it is the luster exhibited like a
pearls.
Example: Calcite and Talc
vi) Silky Luster
- it is the luster exhibited like silky fibers.
Minerals which crystallize in fibrous
habit commonly show silky luster.
Example: Asbestos and Fibrous gypsum
(vii) Resinous Luster
- it is the luster exhibited like a
resin.
Example: Sphalerite
(viii) Greasy Luster
- it is the luster exhibited like a
grease.
Example: Nepheline
(ix) Dull or Earthy Luster
– Minerals showing no luster are said to
possess dull or earthy luster
Example: Kaolin
C. STREAK
– the color of a mineral powder is called “streak”. It is
more consistent reliable than the body color of a mineral.
The streak is obtained by rubbing a mineral against an
unglazed porcelain plate called the “streak plate”. The
study of streak is most useful in case of colored minerals
which often give a much lighter streak than their body
color. For example, hematite which appears almost black,
gives a red colored streak
D. HARDNESS
-is one of the most useful diagnostic properties of
a mineral. It is defined as the resistance of a
mineral to abrasion or scratching. Hardness is
determined by rubbing a material of unknown
hardness against one of known hardness. A
numerical value is obtained by using the “Mohs
scale of hardness”.
E. HABIT
– may be defined as the size and shape of
the crystals, and the structure of form shown
by the crystal aggregates and
cryptocrystalline masses.
 (i) Accicular – minerals showing needle-like crystals.
Ex: Natrolite
(ii) Fibrous – minerals showing an aggregate of long thin fibers.
Ex: asbestos and satinspar
(iii) Foliated – Minerals with platy habit commonly occur as foliated
aggregates containing thin separable sheets. Ex: Muscovite and Biotite
(iv) Bladed – minerals showing bladed habit occur as small knife
blades. Ex: Actinolite and kyanite
(v) Tabular – minerals showing broad flat surfaces.
Ex: felspar
(vi) Columnar – minerals showing columnar
crystals(tall, tapered, column-like). Ex: tourmaline
(vii) Botryoidal – minerals showing aggregate of rounded
masses resembling bunch of grapes. Ex: chalcedony
(viii) Reniform – minerals showing kidney shaped
form. Ex: iron-ore
(ix) Granular – minerals which occur as aggregate
of equidimensional grains. Ex: Chromite
x) Pisolitic – minerals which occur as aggregate of
rounded grains of a pea size. Ex: Bauxite
(xi) Oolitic - minerals which occur as aggregate of bodies resembling
fish roe. In this case, the rounded grains are of the size of a small
pinhead. Ex: oolitic limestone
(xii) Massive – when non-crystalline or cryptocrystalline minerals
occur as structureless mass, their habit is described as
“massive”(no crystal structure visible). Ex: Flint
F. Cleavage – if a mineral breaks along a flat plane, it is
said to possess a cleavage. If it breaks with an irregular
surface, it is said to be fracture. So cleavage may be
defined as the tendency of a mineral to break more easily
with smooth surfaces along planes of weak bonding.
Cleavage always occurs parallel to a possible crystal
face, it is designated in terms of a crystal face to which it
lies parallel, such as cubic, octahedral, prismatic, basal
and so on.
Example: Galena(cubic)
Example: Fluorite(octahedral)
Example: Mica (basal)
Example: Calcite (rhombohedral)
G. FRACTURE – minerals who do not exhibit
cleavage, break with an irregular surface. The
nature of this broken surface is called “fracture”. In
case of fracture, the breaking should be in any
other direction than the cleavage. Unlike cleavage,
the fracture do not produce smooth surface.
(i) Conchoidal Fracture – It is a curved fracture surface
showing concentric lines like a shell. Ex: quartz and
glass
(ii) Even Fracture – It is a fracture surface which is almost
flat. Ex: Flint
(iii) Uneven Fracture - It is a fracture surface which is irregular and
rough. A large number of minerals show uneven fracture. Ex:
chromite
(iv) Hackly Fracture - It is a fracture surface which is
rough with sharp and jagged points. Ex: native metals
H. ODOR
– some minerals give a characteristic smell
when rubbed, or heated.
(i) Arsenical – The arsenical odor is like the odor
of a garlic. Ex: Orpiment
(ii) Sulfurous – The odor is like the odor of
burning sulfur. Ex: pyrite
(iii) Argillaceous – This odor is like the odor of a
clay, Ex: Kaolin
I. FEEL – is the sensation upon
touching or handling materials. The
different types of feels are “greasy”,
“soapy” and “rough”.
Examples of it respectively are talc, kaolin
and bauxite.
Examples of it respectively are talc, kaolin
and bauxite.
Examples of it respectively are talc, kaolin
and bauxite.
J. TENACITY – denotes the degree or character of
cohesion.
(i) Sectile – Minerals which may be cut with knife
but slices are not malleable.\
(ii) Malleable – Minerals which flatten under the
hammer.
iii) Flexible – Minerals which may be bent
(iv) Elastic – Minerals which spring back
after bending.
(v) Brittle – Minerals which break easily.
Brittle is the opposite of tough.
(vi) Friable – Minerals which crumble easily

(vii) Pulverulent – Minerals which are

powdery and have little or no cohesion
K. FLUORESCENCE – some minerals when
exposed in sunlight or ultraviolet light,
produce a color quite different from their own.
Thus green or colorless fluorite shows a blue
or purple color in ultraviolet light.
Example: Scheelite
L. MAGNETISM
– A few minerals are attracted by a
magnet.
Example: Magnetite
M. SPECIFIC GRAVITY – is a number which
represents the ratio of the weight of a mineral
to the weight of an equal volume of water.
Thus a mineral with a sg of 4 is 4 times heavier
than water.