CHAPTER - 7

MINERALS AND ROCKS

• The hot magma in the earth's interior is

Introduction the fundamental source of all minerals.

Minerals • Natural gas, petroleum and coal are

organic minerals.
• The earth is made up of different • Minerals present in the crust are in solid
types of elements. To form minerals in form, while they are in liquid form in the
the earth's crust, these elements are interior.
combined together. • 98% of the crust consist of eight
elements:
− Oxygen
− Silicon
− Aluminium
− Iron
− Calcium
− Sodium
− Potassium
− Magnesium
I m a g e 7.1 : M i n e r a l s
• The rest is constituted by Hydrogen,
• Mineral is an inorganic element Titanium, Phosphorous, Manganese,
naturally occurring, with an ordered
Sulphur, Carbon, Nickel & other
atomic structure, definite chemical
elements.
composition and physical properties.
• The study of minerals is called The Major Elements of the earth’s Crust
mineralogy. ELEMENTS BY WEIGHT (%)
• Minerals are composed of two or three
elements. But sometimes a single Oxygen 46.60
element mineral like Sulphur, Copper, Silicon 27.72
Silver, Gold and Graphite, etc are also
found. Aluminium 8.13
• There are mainly six major mineral Iron 5.00
groups, with which most of the mineral
Calcium 3.63
groups are associated.
• The major mineral groups are Feldspar, Sodium 2.83
Quartz, Pyroxene, Amphibole, Mica, Potassium 2.59
Olivine etc.
Magnesium 2.09
» The crust contains at least 2000
minerals. Others 1.41

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 − Transparent: Light passes through
Physical the mineral and images can be seen

Characteristics of clearly.

• Structure: Particular arrangement of

Minerals the individual crystals: fine, medium,
or coarse grained; fibrous separable
• External Crystal Form: Depends on divergent and radiating.
internal arrangement of molecules-
cube, octahedrons, hexagonal, prisms.
• Hardness: Relative resistance being
scratched. Absolute hardness
• Cleavage: The tendency to break in measured by a sclerometer. 10 minerals
specific directions to create relatively are selected to measure the degree
flat surfaces. It a result of internal of hardness from 1-10. They are: -Talc,
arrangement of the molecule. The Gypsum, Calcite, Fluorite, Apatite,
minerals may cleave in one or more Feldspar, Quartz, Topaz, Corundum
directions and at any angle to each and Diamond.
other.
• Specific Gravity: It is the ratio of the
• Fracture: Internal molecular weight of an object to the weight of an
arrangement are so complex that there equivalent volume of water; the object
are no planes of molecules; the crystal was weighed in air and then weighed in
can split in an irregular way, not along water and the weight of the object in air
cleavage planes. was divided by the difference between
• Lustre: Appearance of a material the two weights.
regardless of colour; each mineral has
a distinctive lustre like metallic, silky,
glossy etc.
• Colour: Characteristic colours Characteristics of
Some of the Major
determined by molecular structure. Ex:
malachite, azurite, chalcopyrite some
because of the impurities found the
crystal. Minerals
• Streak: The color of every mineral Feldspar
powder. It may be the same colour or
may vary as the mineral. Ex. Malachite– • Silicon and Oxygen are major elements
green, fluorite–purple/white. in all types of feldspar.
• Transparency: Transparency means • Potassium, sodium, Aluminium, calcium,
the degree to which a mineral can pass etc are found in specific feldspar
light through. varieties.
• Nearly half of the earth’s crust is
− Opaque: The light is obstructed composed of feldspar which is
by the mineral and cannot pass composed 39% of plagioclase and 12%
through it. of alkali feldspar.
− Translucent: Light easily passes • Its colour ranges from light cream to
through the mineral, but is diffused salmon pink.
so that it is difficult to clearly see
images. • It is commonly used in glass making
and ceramics.

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Olivine Pyroxene
• The major elements of olivine are • The common elements in pyroxene
Magnesium, Iron and Silica. are Aluminium, Calcium, Magnesium,
• Olivine minerals primarily occur in mafic Silicon and Iron.
igneous rocks with a greenish colour. • Nearly 10% of the earth’s crust is made
• Olivine is used commonly in jewellery. up of Pyroxene.
• It is commonly found in meteorites.
• Its colour is usually green or black.

I m a g e 7.2: O l ivi n e
I m a g e 7.4: P y r ox e n e

Quartz
• Quartz constitute one of the most Amphibole
important components of granite and • Calcium, Aluminium, Silicon,
sand. Magnesium and Iron are the major
• It consists of Silica which is hard mineral, elements of amphiboles.
almost insoluble in water. • Nearly 7% of the earth’s crust is made
• It is generally white or colourless. up of amphibole.
• Quartz is mainly used in the • It is black or green in colour and is
manufacturing of radio, radar etc. commonly used in asbestos industries.
• Hornblende is another form of
amphiboles.

I m a g e 7.5: A m p h i b o l e

I m a g e 7.3: Q u a r t z

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Mica » Metallic minerals contain metal in raw
form.
• It is made up of elements like Aluminium, » Metallic minerals are further classified
potassium, Magnesium, Silicon, Iron,
into Ferrous (contains Iron) and Non-
etc.
ferrous (does not contain Iron) metallic
• Nearly 4% of the earth’s crust is made minerals.
up of Mica.
• It is generally found in metamorphic • Non-metallic minerals are a specific
group of chemical elements from
rocks and igneous.
which, if melted, no new product can
• Mica is widely used in electronic be produced. For instance gravel,
instruments. sand, gypsum, dimension stone, halite,
Uranium,.
• Characteristics of Nonmetallic Mineral
Resources:
Types of Minerals
» Nonmetallic minerals are minerals
• Metallic which are either present a non-metallic
shine or luster in their appearance.
» Ferrous (containing Iron): Iron ore, » These minerals do not contain
Manganese, nickel, cobalt, etc.
extractable metals in their chemical
» Non-ferrous: (does not contain Iron): composition.
Copper, lead, tin, bauxite, etc.
» Precious: Gold, silver, platinum, etc.
• Non-metallic
Rocks
» Mica, salt, potash, Sulphur, granite,
Introduction
limestone, marble, sandstone, etc.
• A Rock is a solid, inorganic and natural
• Energy Minerals substance without any specific atomic
structure or chemical composition. It is
» Coal, petroleum and natural gas easy to remember that rocks are made
up of two or more minerals.
• Metallic Minerals are metals that are
• Samples of rocks involve limestone,
hard substance and conduct heat and
granite, marble, slate and sandstone.
electricity with characteristics of luster
Each of this rock type consists of varied
or shine. For example, Gold, Silver,
minerals that can be mixed up with
Tin, Copper, Lead, Zinc, Iron, Nickel,
the rock through different geologic
Chromium and Aluminum.
processes.
• Characteristics of Metallic Minerals
• Let’s consider granite. It mostly made
» Metallic Minerals present a metallic up of three minerals namely: quartz,
shine in their appearance. mica and feldspar.
» Contains metals in their chemical • All of these minerals exist in nature but
composition. mixed up with the rock. Sometimes we
see big chunks of one of these minerals
» Potential source of the metal ores that in granite, but when we take that stone
can be extracted by way of mining. as a whole, we have to call it rock.

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 types of processes:
1. Directly by cooling of magma in the
interior of the earth.
2. By cooling of lava above the surface
of the earth when lava gets poured
on the surface.
• As the Igneous Rocks form the earth’s
first crust and all other rocks are formed
from these rocks, they are also known
as the Primary Rocks or the parents of
I m a g e 7.6: D i f f e r e n t T y p e s of Rocks all rocks.
• Igneous rocks are the most abundant
rocks found in the crust of the earth.
Rocks in the Earth’s • On the basis of location of occurrence,
Crust these rocks can be classified as Intrusive
and Extrusive Igneous Rocks.
• A rock is ultimately an aggregates or a • Intrusive Igneous Rocks
physical mixture of various minerals.
» These are formed when magma cools
• Rocks can be soft or hard and also vary and solidifies below the earth’s surface.
in colors.
» The rate of cooling below the surface
• Quartz and Feldspar are the most of the earth is very slow, contributing to
common minerals found in all types of the development of large crystals in the
rocks. rocks.
• Petrology is the science which deals » That is why the mineral grains of
with the study of rocks. intrusive igneous rocks are very large.
» Rocks vary in their properties, particle » Deep-seated intrusive igneous rocks
size and forming mode. Rocks can be are called Plutonic rocks and shallow
divided into three on the basis of the depth intrusive igneous rocks are called
mode of formation: Hypabyssal Rocks.
» Igneous Rocks » E.g.: Granite, dolerite, etc.
» Sedimentary Rocks • Extrusive Igneous Rocks
» Metamorphic Rocks
» These are formed on the earth's surface
by the cooling of the lava.
» The mineral crystals of extrusive igneous
Igneous Rocks rocks are very fine as lava cools on the
surface very rapidly.
• The cooling of extremely fluid and hot » These rocks are also called Volcanic
liquid Magma forms Igneous rocks. Rocks.
• Asthenosphere is a region below the » Eg: Basalt, Gabbro.
Lithosphere and it is considered as the
primary source of magma. • On the basis of chemical properties,
these are categorised as Basic and
• Igneous rocks can be formed by two Acid Igneous rocks.

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• They are formed because of Sedimentary Rocks
solidification of basic lava (low viscous) » Chemically formed Sedimentary Rocks
or acidic (high viscous).
• Acidic igneous rocks contains 65% or • Mechanically formed/ Clastic
more of Silica. They are dark coloured, Sedimentary Rocks
hard and very strong (E.g.: Granite).
» They are formed under extreme pressure
• Basic igneous rocks contain not more and cementation by the consolidation
than 55% of Silica and have more of sediments.
Magnesium and Iron. They are dark
in colour, weak enough and weathers
» Eg: Conglomerate, Breccia, Sandstone,
Shale, etc.
easily (Eg: Basalt, Gabbro).
• Organically/ Biologically formed
Sedimentary Rocks

» These rocks are formed through the

consolidation of organic matter derived
from plants and animals.
» E.g.: Coal, limestone, chalk, chert, etc.
• Chemically formed Sedimentary Rocks
» They are formed by various chemical
reactions.
» Eg: Halite, Potash, Limestone, etc.
I m a g e 7.7: I g n e o u s R o c k F o r m at i o n s

Sedimentary Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks
• By successive deposition of sediments,
these rocks are formed. • The word metamorphic means ‘change
of form’.
• These sediments are eroded from any
previous existing rock like igneous, old • Hence, these rocks get formed under
sedimentary rocks or metamorphic. the action of temperature, volume
changes and pressure on original form
• Lithification is called the process of
of rocks.
successive deposition and formation of
sedimentary rocks. • Under the influence of pressure or heat
on original rocks, metamorphic rocks
• They have a layered or stratified
are formed that cause their colour,
structure due to successive depositions
hardness, structure and composition to
and are hence often referred to as
change.
Stratified Rocks.
• Depending on the mode of formation, • Metamorphism is called the process of
recrystallization and reorganisation of
sedimentary rocks can be classified as:
materials within the original rock.
» Mechanically formed/ Clastic • When metamorphism occurs without
Sedimentary Rocks any major chemical alteration, it is
» Organically/ Biologically formed referred to as Dynamic Metamorphism.

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• If the impact of heat induces
metamorphism, it is referred to as
Thermal Metamorphism. It has two
types: Regional Metamorphism and
Contact Metamorphism.
• If the reorganisation happens when
it comes into direct contact with the
hot magma, it is called as Contact
Metamorphism.
• If the rocks are metamorphosed due
to tremendous pressure or heat and
formed due to tectonic shearing, it is
I m a g e 7.8: S c h i s t , a type of M e ta m o r p h i c
referred as Regional Metamorphism.
Rock
• On the basis of the presence or absence
of bands of mineral grains Metamorphic
Rocks can be classified into Foliated
(Gneiss, Slate, Schist) and Non-Foliated
Rock Cycle
(Marble, Quartzite) Metamorphic Rocks. • Rocks do not remain for a long time
in their original form, but can undergo
transformations.
• The rock cycle is continuous process
by which old rocks are turned into new
ones. The rock cycle is shown in the
following diagram.

mineral
The gravel, sand, silt, mud, clay, lime, soil
dissolution vein

Rock Cycle
calcite
vein
quartz
mineral chert
sediments precipitation travertine

weathering and erosion deposition

igneous rocks
vulcanism crystallization
conglomeraste
sandstone
mudstone
rhyolite sedimentary rocks siltstone
andesite uplift shale
basalt
greywacke
limestone
maerl
metamorphism chert
gypsum
(heat and pressure) salt
coal
plutonism
magma melting metamorphic rocks
granite, diorite, gabbro

slate, argillite, schist, gneiss, marble, metasandstone,

quartzite, greenstone, serpentinite, metachert

I m a g e 7.9: R o c k C yc l e .

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Rock Vs Minerals
Rocks Minerals

A rock in inorganic and solid naturally A mineral is a solid, inorganic substance,

formed substance without any chemical like rocks, which has a definite chemical
composition or atomic structure. composition and crystalline structure.

Rocks comprise of minerals. Minerals does not comprise of rocks.

Rocks exist in the tiny form which is also Minerals are easily distinguishable in
microscopic in nature. nature.

These occur in the solid form on the earth’s Minerals are said to occur in the form of
crust. mineral deposits.

Minerals have very distinctive properties

Rocks exhibit some physical properties like like shape, colour, texture, crystal habit,
colour, texture, shape and pattern. hardness, specific gravity, fracture, lustre
and tenacity etc.

Few examples of minerals are Feldspar,

Some examples of rocks are sand, pebbles,
Olivines, fossil fuels like coal, petroleum
shells, etc.
etc.

Rocks do not possess definite shape and Minerals are said to have definite shape
are found in different colours. and definite colour.

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