I

MINERALOGY

Mineral: A mineral is a naturally occurring homogenous inorganic solid substance, having a definite
range of chemical composition, definite internal atomic structure and external form.

Minerals are broadly grouped into two types namely rock forming minerals and ore forming minerals.
Rock forming minerals are those minerals which are abundantly found in rocks (example: quartz, feldspar,
mica, amphiboles, pyroxenes etc.), whereas ore forming minerals are those minerals from which we can extract
metals economically (example: Haematite, Magnetite, Limonite, from which we can extract iron metal).

Distinguish between rock forming and ore forming minerals

Rock forming minerals Ore forming minerals
1. Abundantly present in rocks Extract more than one metal economically
Example: Quartz group, feldspar group, mica group etc. Example: Magnetite, Haematite, Bauxite etc.,
2. Shows non-metallic lustre (Vitreous, Resinous, pearly etc.,) Shows metallic lustre
3. Shows conchoidal /even/uneven fracture Shows uneven fracture
4. Shows medium specific gravity Shows high Specific gravity
5. Shows transparent/translucent/opaque diaphinity Shows opaque diaphinity

Physical properties of minerals: A set of properties which are always distinctive related to the body of
a mineral (example: colour, hardness, shape etc.) are aptly termed as physical properties. The study of physical
properties of minerals is important, since it varies from mineral to mineral.
Physical properties depending upon light:
Colour:The colour shown by a mineral depends upon the absorption of some and the reflection of others
of the coloured rays or vibration composing the ordinary white light. When a mineral absorbs all the vibrations
of the different colours, it appears black. But when it reflects all the vibrations of the different colours, it
appears white. If a mineral reflects the red vibrations and absorbs all other vibrations, it appears red colour.
The colour of the mineral is often its most striking property. Some minerals shows distinctive colour and
are as follows:
White: Calcite, Baryte, Magnesite, Talc, Opal
Blue: Azurite, Sodalite
Green: Beryl, Malachite, Microcline, Chlorite
Yellow: Sulphur, Chalcopyrite, Pyrite
Red: Jasper, Orthoclase, Garnet
Lead grey: Galena, Graphite
Steel grey: Haematite.
The variations of colour in minerals may be due to:
a. Surface alterations
b. Difference in chemical composition
c. Presence of impurities
d. Inclusions of some other mineral matters etc.,

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 Play of colours: On rapidly turning a mineral, a change of several colours may occur in rapid succession. This
is caused by reflection of light from within the mineral. Example: Labradorite.
Change of colours: The colour of mineral changes as it is slowly turned. This is caused by differences in the
reflection of light from the surface of the mineral. Example: Tigers eye.
Iridescence: Iridescence is a display of rainbow or prismatic colours due to the interference of rays of light in
minute fissures containing thin film of air or liquid. It is also related to reflections from the inclusions.
Example: Limonite, Calcite
Opalescence: A milky or pearly reflection from the interior of a specimen. Example: Opal
Fluorescence: A few minerals have the property of glowing or emitting light when they are exposed to
ultra violet light orx-rays, or cathode rays are called florescence. Example: Fluorite. If the emission of light
continues after the light is cut off, they are said to be phosphorescent. Example: some Calcite.
Streak: Streakis the colour of the powder of the mineral and may be obtained by rubbing the fresh
mineral surface on an unglazed porcelain plate called “Streak Plate”. The streak may be of different colours
from the mineral colour.
Examples: Mineral Colour Streak
Galena Steel grey Lead grey
Haematite Metallic black Cherry red
Chalcopyrite Brass yellow Greenish black
Lustre: The appearance of the shining surface of a mineral in reflected light is called lustre. The
intensity of lustre is depending upon the amount and type of reflection of light that take place at their surfaces.
There are several kinds of lustre, among them being the following;
1. Metallic: The ordinary lustre of metals. Example: Galena, Pyrite etc.,
2. Vitreous: The lustre of broken glass. Example: Quartz, Feldspar
3. Resinous: The lustre of resin or wax. Example: Agate, Opal
4. Pearly: The lustre of a pearl. Example: Biotite, Muscovite etc.,
5. Silky: The lustre of silk. Example: Asbestos, Satinspar etc.,
6. Adamantine: The lustre of diamond. Example: Diamond, Corundum etc.,
Diaphinity: Diaphinity is the ability of a mineral to transmit light. There are three types of diaphinities
as follows;
Transparent: Minerals capable of transmitting light and through which an outlines of objects can be
seen clearly. Example: Rock crystal, Muscovite etc.,
Translucent: Minerals capable of transmitting only a part of light and through which an outlines of
objects cannot be seen clearly. Example: Chalcedony, Agate etc.,
Opaque: Minerals that are incapable of transmitting light and the objects are not seen though it.
Example: Magnetite, Haematite etc.,

Physical properties depending upon state of aggregation:

Crystal Form:Under favorable conditions minerals assume a definite crystal form. In such an
environment the minerals develop as crystals with regular pattern of faces and angles between adjoining
[Link] following descriptive terms are used to describe the crystal forms.

Crystallized: A term denoting that the mineral occurs as well developed crystals.

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Crystalline: A term denoting that no definite crystals are developed, but an aggregate of imperfect crystal grains
have formed, interfering with one another during their growth.
Amorphous: A term used to describe the complete absence of crystalline structure.

Habit:If crystals grow into one another or in a restricted environment, it is possible that no well-formed
crystal faces will be developed. However, crystals sometimes develop certain forms more commonly than
others, although the symmetry may not be readily apparent from these common forms. The term used to
describe general shape of a crystal is habit.

Some common crystal habits are as follow;

Acicular – fine needle like crystals. Example: Actinolite
Amygdaloidal – almond shaped aggregates. Example: Zeolites
Bladed – shaped like a knife blade or a lath. Example: Kyanite
Botryoidal – Consisting of spheroidal aggregations, resembles like bunch of graphs. Example: Chalcedony.
Columnar – aggregates making slender columns. Example: Beryl
Dentritic – branching like trees, twigs. Example: Pyralusite
Fibrous – consisting of fine hair or thread like strands. Example: Asbestos
Foliated – consisting of thin and separable lamellae or leaves. Example: Mica
Granular – even sized coarse or fine grained aggregates. Example: Olivine
Radiating – needles or fibers arranged around a central point. Example: Natrolite
Reniform – kidney shaped. Example: Haematite
Tabular – showing broad flat surfaces. Example: Feldspars
Prismatic – elongated crystals in one direction. Example: Calcite
Oolitic – consisting of small spheroids or ellipsoids that resemble fish eggs. Example: Haematite
Pisolitic – similar to oolitic but spheroids are larger in size. Example: Bauxite
Drusy or cavity filling – small or large crystals having the walls of cavities or projecting from an amorphous or
banded base. Example: Amethyst
Massive – irregular structure. Example: Magnesite
Nodular – Smooth rounded or irregular masses like river gravel/pebble. Example: Flint
Hardness: Hardness may be defined as the resistance offered by the mineral to scratching or rubbing.
The degree of hardness is determined by observing the comparative easy or difficulty in scratching it with
another mineral of known hardness or by a penknife.
For example, the mineral scratches orthoclase feldspar but does not scratch quartz means it has hardness
between 6 and 7. The German mineralogist Fredrich Mohs arranged ten common minerals in order of increasing
hardness and assigned each of the reference minerals a number. This series is commonly known as “Moh’s
scale of hardness and is as follows.

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Table.1: Moh’s Scale of Hardness.
Moh’s standard mineral Hardness Scratchability
Talc (Mg3 Si4 O10 (OH)2 ) 1 Can be scratched by finger nail very easily
Gypsum (CaSO4, 2H2O) 2 Can be scratched by finger nail with some difficulty
Calcite (CaCO3) 3 Can be scratched by copper coin
Fluorite (CaF2) 4 Can be scratched by an iron nail
Apatite (Ca5(PO4)3 F) 5 Can be scratched by an window glass
Orthoclase (KALSi3O8) 6 Can be scratched by an steel pocket knife
Quartz (SiO2) 7 Can be scratched by an pen knife
Topaz[AL2 SiO4 ( F,OH)2] 8 Cannot be scratched by pen knife
Corundum (Al2O3) 9 Cannot be scratched by pen knife
Diamond (C) 10 Can be scratched by another diamond only
By memorize the sentence “The God Can Feed An Orphan Quicker Than Creature Done”, the above table can
remember easily.

Cleavage: The tendency of certain minerals to break along a particular plane when under stress is called
as cleavage. Cleavage surfaces are always parallel to crystal faces of the mineral. The quality of a cleavage can
be described as perfect, good, distinct, poor,indistinct and none. Based on number of cleavage directions,
cleavages are classified into several groups as follows;
Basal cleavage: Good cleavage in one direction. Example: Muscovite, Biotite
Prismatic cleavage: Cleavage in two directions not at right angles to each other. Example: Amphiboles
Cubical cleavage: Cleavage in three directions at right angles to each other. Example: Halite, Galena
Rhombohedral cleavage: Cleavage in three directions not at right angle to each other. Example: Calcite.
Octahedral cleavage: Cleavage in four directions. The cleavage planes are parallel to the octahedral faces.
Example: Fluorite
Dodecahedral cleavage: Cleavage in six directions. Example: Sphalerite.

Fracture: The nature of the broken surface of the mineral other than the direction of cleavage is called
fracture. There are several types of factures as follows;
Conchoidal: The broken mineral surface shows curved, concave or convex concentric rings. Example: Quartz.
Sub conchoidal: A lesser degree of curved, concave or convex concentric rings. Example: Feldspars.
Even: When mineral breaks with a smooth and regular flat surface. Example: Chert.
Uneven: when mineral breaks with a rough and irregular surface. Example: Magnesite
Hackly: When mineral breaks with irregular surface with sharp and jagged elevations. Example: Native copper.

Specific gravity: The specific gravity of a mineral is the ratio of the weight of the mineral to the weight
of an equal volume of water at 4 0 C. Specific gravity of a mineral depends upon their chemical composition and
molecular weight. Various scientific methods have been used to determine the specific gravity. The most
practical methods used are Jolly’s spring balance, Beam balance, Walkers steel yard, pycnometer or specific
gravity bottle, heavy liquids etc., depend upon the size and nature of the minerals. Specific gravity can be
roughly estimated by using the relative terms as
Low (2.5 and less); Less weight. Example: Graphite
Medium (2.5 and 3.5); Medium weight. Example: Quartz, feldspar, calcite
High (3.5 and above); Heavy weight. Example: Galena, Barite

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Physical properties depending upon taste, odour and feel:
Taste: The characters of minerals depend upon taste are only perceptible, when the minerals are soluble in
water. The following terms are used related tastes.
Saline taste – taste of common salt, Example: Halite
Alkaline taste – taste of potash and soda,
Bitter taste – taste of Epsom salt, Example: Sylvite
Cooling taste – taste of nitre or potassium chlorate,
Sweetish astringent taste – taste of alum,
Sour taste – taste of sulphuric acid.

Odour: Some minerals have characteristic odours when struck, rubbed, breathed upon or heated.
Alliaceous or Arsenical: – Odour of garlic, given when arsenic compounds are heated. Example: Orpiment.
Sulphurous: – Odour of burning sulphur, given off by pyrites when struck, or by many sulphides when heated.
Argillaceous: – the odour of clay when breathed upon. Example: Kaolin.
Horse-radish odour: – Odour of decaying horse-radish, given when selenium compounds are heated.
Foetid: – Odour of rotten eggs, given by heating or rubbing certain varieties of quartz or limestone.

Feel: soapy, smooth, greasy, harsh or rough, are kinds of feel of minerals that may aid in their identification.
Examples: Soapy feel – steatite, greasy feel – gypsum, smooth feel – agate, harsh feel – native copper.

Physical properties depending upon magnetism, electricity and radioactivity:

Magnetism: Only few minerals are attracted by a bar magnet or horseshoe magnet. Of these, the most common
are magnetite and pyrrhotite. Some specimens of magnetite are themselves behaves like natural magnets are
called lodestone.

Electricity: Most of the minerals with metallic lustre such as native metals and sulphides have a capacity for
conducting electricity. Certain minerals develop an electric charge when subjected to a temperature change are
called pyroelectric minerals. Example: Tourmaline.
Certain minerals develop an electric charge when subjected to stress are called piezoelectric minerals. Example:
Quartz.

Radioactivity: Many minerals containing elements of high atomic weight such as radium, uranium and thorium
are radioactive and emit radiations. Example: Uraninite, Monazite.
Radioactive minerals are detected in the field by using Geiger counter and the scintillometer.

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 A. IDENTIFICATION OF ROCK FORMING MINERALS

Quartz group:
Sl. Physical Specimen No. Specimen No. Specimen No.
No. Properties

1 Habit/Form Crystalline Crystalline Crystalline

2 Colour Colourless Purple, Violet Grey

3 Streak Colourless Colourless Colourless

4 Lustre Vitreous Vitreous Vitreous

5 Cleavage Absent Absent Absent

6 Fracture Even Uneven Even

7 Hardness 7 7 7

8 Specific gravity 2.65 (Medium) 2.65 (Medium) 2.65 (Medium)

9 Diaphinity Transparent/Translucent Transparent/Translucent Transparent

10 Chemical SiO2 SiO2 SiO2

composition

11 Occurrence Acidic Igneous rocks (Granite, Acidic Igneous rocks (Granite, Acidic Igneous rocks (Granite,
Rhyolite, Pegmatite), Rhyolite, Pegmatite), Rhyolite, Pegmatite),
Sedimentary rocks (Sandstone), Sedimentary rocks (Sandstone), Sedimentary rocks (Sandstone),
metamorphic rocks (Quartzite) metamorphic rocks (Quartzite) metamorphic rocks (Quartzite)
and hydrothermal rocks. Some and hydrothermal rocks. Some and hydrothermal rocks.
times as cavity fillings. times as cavity fillings.

12 Uses Glass, ceramics, refractories, Glass, ceramics, refractories, Glass, ceramics, refractories,
flux, piezoelectrics, ornamental flux, piezoelectrics, ornamental flux, piezoelectrics, ornamental
and semiprecious stones. and semiprecious stones. and semiprecious stones.

13 Mineral Name Rock Crystal Amethyst Transparent Quartz

No. Physical Specimen No. Specimen No. Specimen No.

Properties

1 Habit/Form Massive Massive Massive

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2 Colour Rose, Pink Milky white Greenish ground mass with
blood red spots

3 Streak Colourless Colourless Colourless

4 Lustre Vitreous Vitreous Resinous

5 Cleavage Absent Absent Absent

6 Fracture Uneven Uneven Even

7 Hardness 7 7 7

8 Specific gravity 2.65 (Medium) 2.65 (Medium) 2.65 (Medium)

9 Diaphinity Translucent Translucent Opaque

10 Chemical SiO2 SiO2 SiO2

composition

11 Occurrence Acidic Igneous rocks (Granite, Acidic Igneous rocks (Granite, Acidic Igneous rocks (Granite,
Rhyolite, Pegmatite), Rhyolite, Pegmatite), Rhyolite, Pegmatite),
Sedimentary rocks (Sandstone), Sedimentary rocks (Sandstone), Sedimentary rocks (Sandstone),
metamorphic rocks (Quartzite) metamorphic rocks (Quartzite) metamorphic rocks (Quartzite)
and hydrothermal rocks and hydrothermal rocks and hydrothermal rocks

12 Uses Glass, ceramics, refractories, Glass, ceramics, refractories, Glass, ceramics, refractories,
flux, piezoelectrics, ornamental flux, piezoelectrics, ornamental flux, piezoelectrics, ornamental
and semiprecious stones. and semiprecious stones. and semiprecious stones.

13 Mineral Name Rosy Quartz Milky Quartz Blood stone

Sl. Physical Specimen No. Specimen No. Specimen No.

No. Properties

1 Habit/Form Massive Massive Banded

2 Colour Pale grey Light grey to brown Pale blue, grey

3 Streak Colourless Colourless Colourless

4 Lustre Resinous to dull Resinous Resinous

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 5 Cleavage Absent Absent Absent

6 Fracture Even Even Even

7 Hardness 7 7 7

8 Specific 2.65 (Medium) 2.65 (Medium) 2.65 (Medium)

gravity

9 Diaphinity Opaque Translucent to opaque Translucent

10 Chemical SiO2 SiO2 SiO2

composition

11 Occurrence Acidic Igneous rocks Acidic Igneous rocks (Granite, Acidic Igneous rocks (Granite,
(Granite, Rhyolite, Rhyolite, Pegmatite), Rhyolite, Pegmatite), Sedimentary
Pegmatite), Sedimentary Sedimentary rocks (Sandstone), rocks (Sandstone), metamorphic
rocks (Sandstone), metamorphic rocks (Quartzite) rocks (Quartzite) and hydrothermal
metamorphic rocks and hydrothermal rocks rocks
(Quartzite) and hydrothermal
rocks

12 Uses Glass, ceramics, refractories, Glass, ceramics, refractories, Glass, ceramics, refractories, flux,
flux, piezoelectrics, flux, piezoelectrics, ornamental piezoelectrics, ornamental and
ornamental and semiprecious and semiprecious stones. semiprecious stones.
stones.

13 Mineral Name Flint Chalcedony Agate

Sl. Physical Properties Specimen No. Specimen No. Specimen No.

No.

1 Habit/Form Massive/banded Massive Amorphous

2 Colour Grey, pale brown, pale pink Red White

3 Streak Colourless Colourless Colourless

4 Lustre Resinous Resinous Dull

5 Cleavage Absent Absent Absent

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6 Fracture Even Even Uneven

7 Hardness 7 7 7

8 Specific gravity 2.65 (Medium) 2.65 (Medium) 2.0-2.2 (Low)

9 Diaphinity Translucent to opaque Translucent to opaque Opaque

10 Chemical SiO2 SiO2 SiO2 nH2O

composition

11 Occurrence Acidic Igneous rocks (Granite, Acidic Igneous rocks (Granite, Acidic Igneous rocks (Granite,
Rhyolite, Pegmatite), Rhyolite, Pegmatite), Rhyolite, Pegmatite),
Sedimentary rocks (Sandstone), Sedimentary rocks Sedimentary rocks (Sandstone),
metamorphic rocks (Quartzite) (Sandstone), metamorphic metamorphic rocks (Quartzite)
and hydrothermal rocks rocks (Quartzite) and and hydrothermal rocks
hydrothermal rocks

12 Uses Glass, ceramics, refractories, Glass, ceramics, refractories, Glass, ceramics, refractories,
flux, piezoelectrics, ornamental flux, piezoelectrics, ornamental flux, piezoelectrics, ornamental
and semiprecious stones. and semiprecious stones. and semiprecious stones.

13 Mineral Name Chert Jasper Opal

Feldspar group:

Sl. No. Physical Properties Specimen No. Specimen No. Specimen No.

1 Habit/Form Tabular Tabular Tabular

2 Colour Flesh red Green Grey, white

3 Streak Colourless Colourless Colourless

4 Lustre Vitreous Vitreous Vitreous

5 Cleavage Perfect Perfect Perfect

6 Fracture Even Even Even

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7 Hardness 6 6 6

8 Specific gravity 2.7 (Medium) 2.7(Medium) 2.7 (Medium)

9 Diaphinity Translucent to opaque Translucent to opaque Translucent to opaque

10 Chemical composition KAlSi3O8 KAlSi3O8 NaAlSi3O8-CaAl2Si2O8

11 Occurrence In acid and partially In acid and partially In acid and partially
intermediate igneous rocks intermediate igneous rocks intermediate igneous rocks
like Granite, Syenite, like Granite, Syenite, like Granite, Syenite,
Felsites, Rhyolite Felsites, Rhyolite and in Felsites, Rhyolite
pegmatites and alkali rocks

12 Uses Opalescent glass, porcelain, Opalescent glass, porcelain, Opalescent glass, porcelain,
enamel, ceramics, enamel, ceramics, enamel, ceramics,
ornamental and ornamental and ornamental and
semiprecious stones. semiprecious stones. semiprecious stones.

13 Mineral Name Orthoclase Microcline Plagioclase

Mica group:

Sl. No. Physical Properties Specimen No. Specimen No.

1 Habit/Form Foliated Foliated

2 Colour White Black, brown

3 Streak Colourless Colourless

4 Lustre Pearly Pearly

5 Cleavage Present Present

6 Fracture Uneven Uneven

7 Hardness 2.5 2.5

8 Specific gravity 2.8-2.9 (Medium) 2.8-3.4 (Medium)

9 Diaphinity Transparent Transparent to translucent

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10 Chemical composition KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH,F)2 K(Mg,Fe)3(Al,Fe)Si3O10(OH,F)2

11 Occurrence Intrusives ; greisens, pegmatites, Magmatic; in pegmatites, contact

hydrothermalites, metamorphosed rocks metasomatic, metamorphic rocks (Schists)
(Schists)

12 Uses Electrical industry for condenser, as Electrical industry for condenser, as

insulating material b/w commutator insulating material b/w commutator
segments and in heating elements segments and in heating elements

13 Mineral Name Muscovite Mica Biotite Mica

Carbonate group:

Sl. No. Physical Specimen No. Specimen No. Specimen No.

Properties

1 Habit/Form Tabular,Crystalline Tabular,Crystalline Massive

2 Colour White Grey White

3 Streak White White White

4 Lustre Vitreous Vitreous Dull to earthy

5 Cleavage Perfect (3 sets) Perfect (3 sets) Perfect

6 Fracture Subconchoidal/Uneven Subconchoidal/Uneven Subconchoidal/Uneven

7 Hardness 3 3.5-4 3.5-4.5

8 Specific gravity 2.71 (Medium) 2.85 (Medium) 2.8-3 (Medium)

9 Diaphinity Transparent to translucent Translucent Opaque

10 Chemical CaCO3 CaMg(CO3)2 MgCO3

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 composition

11 Occurrence Limestone, Marble, altered Transformation of Occurs rarely as sedimentary

basic igneous rocks sedimentary CaCO3 by rock. Alteration of rocks that
magnesium bearing solutions, consist largely of magnesium
rarely hydrothermal silicate by carbonate water,
commonly associated with
Talc-chlorite or mica schist

12 Uses Optical accessories, Extract Ca, Mg metal, Refractory bricks, cement

cement, chemical industry refractory bricks, as flux in and flooring , extract Mg
and as fertilizer blast furnace metal

13 Mineral Name Calcite Dolomite Magnesite

Asbestos:

Sl. Physical Properties Specimen No.

No.

1 Habit/Form Fibrous

2 Colour Grey, White

3 Streak Light grey

4 Lustre Silky

5 Cleavage Present

6 Fracture Uneven

7 Hardness 2-3

8 Specific gravity 3 (Medium)

9 Diaphinity Opaque

10 Chemical Complex silicate of Fe, Mg,

composition Ca and Al

11 Occurrence It is formed as a retrograde

hydrothermal alteration of
ultrabasic rocks like
Peridotite.

12 Uses Fire proof materials,

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insulators, lubricants, asbestos
sheets, board and paints

13 Mineral Name Asbestos

 Silicate group:
Sl. Physical Properties Specimen No.
No.

1 Habit/Form Massive

2 Colour White, Green, Gray

3 Streak White

4 Lustre Pearly

5 Cleavage Present

6 Fracture Uneven

7 Hardness 1

8 Specific gravity 2.7-2.8

9 Diaphinity Opaque

10 Chemical composition Mg3 Si4 O10 (OH)2

11 Occurrence Occurs in Metamorphic

rocks

12 Uses Used as Paint, Paper,

Ceramics, Cosmetics,
Roofing, Talc powder is
employed as a carrier
for pesticides and 13
fungicides.

13 Mineral Name Talc

 Sl. Physical Properties Specimen No.
No.

1 Habit/Form Tabular

2 Colour White

3 Streak White

4 Lustre Silky

5 Cleavage Perfect

6 Fracture Even
B. IDENTIFICATION OF ORE
FORMING MINERALS 7 Hardness 2

Oxides and 8 Specific gravity 2.3 -2.5

hydroxides:
9 Diaphinity Translucent

10 Chemical composition CaSO4. 2H2O

11 Occurrence It occurs as a sedimentary

deposits.

12 Uses Fertilizers, fillers, plaster of Paris,

optical accessories. It is also used
in the manufacture of Cement.

13 Mineral Name Gypsum

Physical Specimen No. Specimen No. Specimen No. Specimen No.

Properties

1 Habit/Form Crystalline Banded Granular Oolitic

2 Colour Black Black, Red Black, Brown Brown, yellow, reddish

brown

3 Streak Black Cherry red Black, Brown Yellow to brown

4 Lustre Metallic Metallic Metallic Dull

5 Cleavage None Poor Absent Absent

6 Fracture Uneven Uneven Uneven Uneven

7 Hardness 6 5.5-6.5 5.5 2-4

8 Specific 5.15 (High) 5.26 (High) 4.6 (High) 2-3.5 (Medium)

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 gravity

9 Diaphinity Opaque Opaque Opaque Opaque

10 Chemical Fe3O4 Fe2O3 FeCr2O4 Al2O32H2O

composition

11 Occurrence As magmatic As sedimentary, Primary mineral of As a secondary product,

segregation, magmatic, contact- ultrabasic igneous commonly formed under
contact- metamorphic and rocks, peridotites, subtropical to tropical
metamorphic and hydrothermal deposits serpentinites, basic climatic conditions by the
hydrothermal gabbros leaching away of silica
deposits from aluminium bearing
rocks.

12 Uses Ore of Iron, Ore of Iron, manufacture Ore of Chromium, used Ore of Aluminium, as
manufacture of of steel in plating, manufacture refractory and abrasive
steel of steel material

13 Mineral Name Magnetite Hematite Chromite Bauxite

Sulphide Group:

Sl. No. Physical Properties Specimen No. Specimen No. Specimen No.

1 Habit/Form Granular/Massive Radiating /Massive Massive

2 Colour Lead gray Golden yellow Golden yellow

3 Streak Lead gray Black Black

4 Lustre Metallic Metallic Metallic

5 Cleavage Imperfect Imperfect Imperfect

6 Fracture Uneven Uneven Uneven

7 Hardness 2.5 6.0-6.5 3.5-4

8 Specific gravity 7.5 4.9-5.7 4.2

9 Diaphinity Opaque Opaque Opaque

10 Chemical composition PbS FeS2 CuFeS2

11 Occurrence Occurs in Sedimentary In Metamorphic rocks. In the Metamorphic

rocks rocks.

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12 Uses Galena is the most Pyrite is used in the Copper ore having 34.5%
important lead ore manufacture of Sulphur of Copper.
containing 66% of lead & Sulphuric acid.
is found in combined
state with zinc. Also
used in lead piping.

13 Mineral Name Galena Pyrite (Fool’s Gold) Chalcopyrite

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