MINERAL GROUPS
Silicates
Carbonates
Halides
Oxides
Native Elements
MINERALS MUST CONTAIN:
Silicon (Si) and oxygen (O) & sometimes other elements
Carbon atom with three oxygen atoms (CO3) & some
other elements
Chlorine (Cl), fluorine (F), bromine (Br) or iodine (I) &
some other elements
Oxygen (O) & other elements
A single element from the periodic table, alone &
unmixed with other elements
Sulfides
Sulfur (S) & other elements
Sulfates
Sulfur with four oxygen atoms (SO4) & other elements
MINERAL GROUP IDENTIFICATION
Read the given material & formula, then identify the
proper mineral group to which it belongs. Put the
answer in the left box.
1.
Barite
BaSO4
2.
Bornite
Cu5FeS4
3.
Calcite
CaCO3
4.
Copper
Cu
5.
Cromite
FeCr2O4
6.
Dolomite
CaMg(CO3)2
7.
Fluorite
CaF2
8.
Gold
Au
9.
Gypsum
CaSO4*2H2O
10.
Halite
NaCl
11.
Magnetite
Fe3O4
12.
Olivine
(Mg, Fe)2SiO4
13.
Pyrite
FeS2
14.
Quartz
SiO2
15.
Silver
Ag
Common Elements of Earth’s Crust
1. What two elements make up most of Earth’s crust?
_______________________
_______________________
2. Given this information and the list of mineral groups, which mineral group (sulfates, sulfides,
native elements, oxides, halides, carbonates, or silicates) do you think most Earth rocks belong
to?
_______________________
3. Name one mineral that falls into this mineral group.
_______________________
4. Do you think sulfides or sulfates would be very common? Why or why not?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
5. Why do you think we recycle aluminum cans?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
6. Using the information in this graph, why do you think soda cans are not made out of iron or
magnesium instead of aluminum?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
VIRGINIA RESOURCES
List all the minerals & metals that are found in the Virginia map above. Then, using your worksheets & the Mineral Resources poster (or the
internet), list what their uses are. Some are given for you.
MINERAL NAME
Kaolin*
USES
Insecticide, fertilizers, plastics
Kyanite*
Furnace bricks, abrasives, brake shoes & cookware
Manganese*
Steel, dry-cell batteries
Phosphate*
Baked goods, beverages, cereals, cosmetics, cleaner
Pyrite*
Source of sulfur dioxide & sulfuric acid
Barite =ore of barium
http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DMR3/economicgeology.shtml