For Earth and Life Science Senior High School

1. CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
OF MINERALS

2. Chemical properties of minerals
show the presence and
arrangement of atoms in
minerals. Using their chemical
properties, minerals are
identified by how they react to
certain substances.

3. 1. SILICATE CLASS
- largest group of minerals
• contains silicon and
oxygen, with some
aluminum, magnesium,
iron an calcium
• MAFIC (magnesium)
• FELSIC (feldspar)

4. COMMON
EXAMPLES
• Olivine
• Pyroxene
• Amphibole
• Muscovite
• Feldspar

5. USES
• microchips
(conductivity)
• glass and ceramics
• quartz crystals
(vibrations)

6. 2. CARBONATE CLASS
- deposited in marine environments
• shells of dead planktons
• places with high
evaporation rates
• in karsts and caves
• in stalactites and
stalagmites

7. COMMON
EXAMPLES
• Aragonite
• Calcite
• Malachite
• Aragonite

8. USES
• carbon paper
• glass and ceramics
• rayon
• soap and detergent
• livestock mineral
supplement
• soda ash

9. 3. SULPHATE CLASS
- where salty waters slowly
evaporate
• places with high
evaporation rates
• water-sediments

10. COMMON
EXAMPLES
• Barite
• Gypsum
• Celestite

11. USES
• plaster
• algaecide
• mineral supplement
• epsom salt
• surfactant
• lead-acid battery

12. 4. HALIDE CLASS
- contains natural salts
• in lakes, ponds, and other
landlocked seas

13. COMMON
EXAMPLES
• Halite
• Flourite

14. USES
• metal-halide lamps
• steel and aluminum
• fertilizer
• rock salt

15. 5. OXIDE CLASS
- most important class to human
civilization
• carry histories of changes
in Earth’s magnetic field
• precipitates close to
Earth’s surface
• oxidation products during
weathering
• accessory minerals in
igneous rocks

16. COMMON
EXAMPLES
• Hematite
• Corundum

17. USES
• inorganic sunscreen
• flame retardant
• coloring agent
• Alkali batteries

18. 6. SULPHIDE CLASS
- contains most of the economically
significant minerals to man
• includes copper, lead, and
zinc

19. COMMON
EXAMPLES
• Acanthite
• Chalcocite

20. USES
• photocells (CdS)
• fungicide
• infrared sensors (PbS)
• photoluminescent
strips in emergency
lights (ZnS)

21. 7. PHOSPHATE CLASS
- important biological minerals
• found in bones and teeth
of animals (Phosphorous)

22. COMMON
EXAMPLES
• Turquoise
• Wavellite
• Apatite

23. USES
• phosphate fertilizers
• health nutrients
• phosphate salts

24. 8. ELEMENT CLASS
- contains pure native elements
•usually metals
•pure form

25. COMMON
EXAMPLES
• Gold
• Copper
• Bismuth

26. USES
• jewelries, coins
• wires
• cosmetics
• pipes, guns, fish
sinkers, alloy